Puerto Chacabuco Shore Excursion: Patagonian Asado & Glaciers

Cross the longest suspension bridge in Chile, then eat where the pioneers did

A guided shore excursion from Puerto Chacabuco through Chilean Patagonia with port pickup and return, visiting the Presidente Ibañez Bridge, Pangal valley, Cascada del Leon waterfall and Ghost Lagoon before a traditional Patagonian asado lunch with lamb from the spit. The tour runs five hours and includes a professional guide in English, Spanish or German, plus all meals and transport in a vehicle suited to the terrain.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Patagonian nature and culture

• Pick up from Puerto Chacabuco
• Cross Presidente Ibañez suspension bridge
• Visit Puerto Aysén city
• View glaciers at Bahia Acantilada
• Explore Fantasma (Ghost) Lagoon
• Drive through Pangal valley to Cascada del leon waterfall
• Enjoy Patagonian ASADO with lamb and local dishes
• Cross oldest suspension bridge on foot
• Visit Los Coipos Lagoon
• Return to Puerto Chacabuco port

The Experience

The tour starts at the port with pickup in an adequate vehicle, then heads directly into Patagonia. The first stop is the Presidente Ibañez Bridge—the longest suspension bridge in Chile, designed by Eiffel—which you cross to reach Puerto Aysén, an old city four kilometres above the Aisén Fjord. From there, a short drive takes you to Bahía Acantilada, where the glaciers of the Andes rise around you and the light shifts constantly across the landscape. This is where most travelers stop to photograph.

The route then turns off-road for about ten kilometres through Pangal valley, a former glacier now filled with distinct flora and fauna. The destination is Cascada del León, the waterfall at the valley's end. Patagonian weather changes fast—which means the colors and light shift throughout the day—so the guide will time the stops around what the conditions allow. On the return to the main road, you visit Ghost Lagoon, where you can see how the region looked in the middle of the last century before fire swept through it. The landscape here is clearly built for photography.

Lunch is a Patagonian asado, a traditional barbecue unique to this region. You're served lamb from the spit, potatoes, salad and sopaipillas—a Chilean starter made of dough—all prepared by local Campesinos. This is where the tour shifts from landscape to culture; the meal and the people cooking it show you the habits of the rural population that have shaped this land. On the way back, you cross the oldest suspension bridge in the region on foot (it is not dangerous), visit Los Coipos Lagoon to listen for the Chucao—one of Patagonia's most typical birds—and return to the port in time for your ship.

What’s included

• Port pickup and return in a vehicle suited to the terrain.
• a professional tour guide fluent in English, Spanish or German.
• lunch featuring a traditional Patagonian asado with lamb from the spit, potatoes, salad and sopaipillas.

Good to know

Moderate physical level

Operated by Top Private Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're arriving by cruise ship without a rental car—pickup at the port and timed return to your ship means you don't arrange transport or worry about missing departure. The five-hour loop covers the major Patagonian landmarks and ends with a meal cooked by locals, so you see both the landscape and the culture that built it.

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Top questions

What is the Presidente Ibañez Bridge and why does the tour cross it?

The Presidente Ibañez Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in Chile, designed by Eiffel, the engineer who built the Eiffel Tower in Paris. You cross it at the start of the tour to enter the Patagonian interior from Puerto Chacabuco.

What happens at Cascada del León?

Cascada del León is a waterfall at the end of Pangal valley, a former glacier now filled with distinct plant and animal life. The tour drives about ten kilometres off-road through the valley to reach it, and the guide times the stop based on the weather and light conditions.

What is a Patagonian asado and what does it include?

A Patagonian asado is a traditional barbecue unique to this region, prepared by local Campesinos. Lunch includes lamb from the spit, potatoes, salad and sopaipillas—a Chilean starter made of dough—and gives you insight into the culture and habits of the rural population.

What is Ghost Lagoon and what can you see there?

Ghost Lagoon shows how the region looked in the middle of the last century, after it was almost completely destroyed by fire. The tour visits it twice—once early in the day and again on the return—so you can see how the landscape and light have changed.

How does the tour time work with my ship's schedule?

At booking, you provide your ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time. The guide plans the return to the port so you're back in time for your ship to depart; the tour itself takes five hours from pickup to drop-off.

What should I bring and wear for this tour?

Wear comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen and sunglasses. The tour operates in all weather, so dress appropriately for Patagonian conditions, which change fast. Bring a camera if you plan to photograph the glaciers, valleys and light.