Puerto Río Tranquilo: Kayak tour to Marble Chapels

Summary

Kayaking the blue waters to Chile’s Marble Chapels with locals

You’ll paddle across Lago General Carrera from Puerto Río Tranquilo with a local guide who knows every curve of the Marble Chapels. Feel the chill air on your face as you glide into swirling stone tunnels, pause for photos, and share quiet moments with a small group — an experience that lingers long after you’ve dried off.

What’s the experience like?

You open your eyes and there’s this weird hush — just the sound of water slapping gently against the kayak and a sort of mineral tang in the air. We’d started from Puerto Río Tranquilo, still shaking off sleep, bundled up because even in summer Patagonia likes to remind you who’s boss. Our guide, Nico, handed out these thick waterproof jackets that made us look like mismatched astronauts. He’s lived here over a decade and knows every joke about the wind (there are a lot). I remember him grinning as he explained how to hold the paddle so you don’t end up spinning in circles — which I managed anyway for a bit.

The short drive out to Bahía Mansa was quiet except for someone’s thermos hissing open in the backseat. Once we hit the water, it was all blue on blue — sky, lake, then suddenly those marble caves just rising up like something half-finished. The Marble Chapel and Cathedral are bigger than they look in photos, all swirled rock and cold shadows. Nico pointed out streaks where minerals have run down for centuries; I tried to imagine what this place looked like before anyone named it anything at all. There was this moment inside one of the tunnels where everyone stopped paddling at once and it got so still you could hear your own breath echoing off stone.

I didn’t expect my hands to get so cold even with gloves (bring snacks if you’re like me and need distraction). The group was tiny — just five of us plus Nico — so nobody felt rushed or lost in a crowd. He took photos for us since our phones were zipped away safe in dry bags (which honestly is a relief because I’m clumsy). On the way back, someone asked how many times he’d done this route; he just shrugged and said “enough to know when rain is coming by smell.” That stuck with me for some reason.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Marble Chapels Kayak Tour

• Fill out form 24 hours before tour
• Travel to Bahia Mansa (6 km)
• Receive instructional talk
• Row kayak to Marble Tunnel (15 minutes)
• Tour Marble Sanctuary (1 hour)
• Row back to Bahia Mansa (15 minutes)

Top questions

How long does the Marble Chapels kayak tour take?

The tour lasts about 3 hours total, including 1.5 hours of rowing time.

Where does the kayak tour start?

The activity begins at an office in Puerto Río Tranquilo’s main square.

Is transportation included from Puerto Río Tranquilo?

Yes, private transportation is included from town to Bahía Mansa (about 6 km).

What should I bring for the kayak tour?

You only need spare underwear, water, beanie, sunscreen, sunglasses; gloves and snacks are recommended on cold days.

Are guides local on this kayak tour?

Yes, guides have lived in Puerto Río Tranquilo for more than 10 years.

Is kayaking experience required?

No prior experience is needed; there’s an instructional talk before starting.

How big are the groups on this tour?

Groups are small: minimum 1 person, maximum 6 people per outing.

Are photos included on the Marble Chapels kayak tour?

Yes, photographs are taken by your guide during the activity.

What’s included

Your day includes entrance tickets to Bahía Mansa, private transport from Puerto Río Tranquilo to the launch point and back again, all necessary clothing (so your own clothes stay dry), use of fishing kayaks with safety gear provided, a dry bag for your phone or camera, plus photographs taken by your local guide along the way before returning to town together.