Off the Beaten Path: Cochamó Valley, Chile

Tucked away in the Andes of the Los Lagos Region of Chile, lays the Cochamó Valley, a relatively unfrequented destination for hikers and climbers alike. Revered for its granite rock faces and primary forests, the Cochamó Valley is commonly referred to as the Yosemite of South America, and for good reason!

The valley offers world-renowned rock climbing opportunities (1000m or 3300ft tall rock walls) and serves as a central base for hikers to explore the surrounding Cerros, or Hills. Here, you will also find unique bird and plant life, stunning rock formations, and starry night skies! Cochamó Valley provides a secluded backpacking experience less than 70km east of the port town, Puerto Montt.

This article will provide a general overview of the park, hiking opportunities and driving directions. If you are looking to hike, climb, or get off the beaten track in Chile, keep reading!

When to Go

According to Cochamó’s website, the season is marked by the opening/closing dates of the campsites and lodges in La Junta, located in the base of the valley. Generally, the season stretches from November to Mid-April. Hikers are encouraged to visit the valley throughout the season, while climbers are advised to come December through March when conditions are safer. December offers the most daylight at nearly 15 hours. January and February are considered the driest months of the year, but also the busiest. In March, the days are noticeably shorter, yet the conditions are drier than the month of April.

What to Expect

To enjoy the sights of Cochamó, you will need a minimum of three days, as there is a requisite 4-6 hour muddy trail to access La Junta. This 13km access trail is relatively flat with thick forest coverage, making the journey slightly redundant. However, this long stretch quickly pays off as the trail opens into grassy pampas, surrounded by the granite rock faces of the Cochamó Valley. Most visitors allocate two full days for this trail— one day to hike in, another to hike out.

Hiking and climbing conditions in the Cochamó Valley are not necessarily for the faint of heart; the park website advises visitors to consider the following before planning a trip:

Information taken from the Cochamó website

Camping and Lodging

Once in the valley, there are a select number of camping and lodging sites available. Campo Aventura Cochamó and Camping La Junta offer primitive camping with communal compost toilets, sinks, covered areas and solar showers for $5000-8000 Chilean Pesos per night, $8-13 USD. Refugio Cochamó offers private rooms and bunk rooms, accompanied by warm meals, internet and electricity for $17,000-$48,000 Chilean Pesos per night, $28-79 USD. Camping and lodging are limited, so it is advised to make reservations beforehand, especially in the high season of January and February.

Pulling my way across Rio Cochamó to access Campo Aventura Cochamó

Campo Aventura Cochamó

Hikes

There are four senderos, or hiking trails, trekkers can take from La Junta up into the valleys of Cochamó Valley— namely, Trinidad, Arco Iris, Apheatro, and Paloma. The trails are generally steep and range in difficulty from intermediate to strenuous, however all offer exquisite views of the surrounding valley and granite rock faces. It is important to note that Cochamó Valley is not a national park, and therefore the trails can generally be a lot more primitive, with colored plastic ribbons to mark the route. Make sure to check with camping/lodging managers regarding trail conditions before setting out.

Directions to Cochamo Valley from Puerto Montt/ Puerto Varas

To get to Cochamó and the trailhead from Puerto Montt or Puerto Varas, use Highway 5 that connects Puerto Varas and Puerto Montt. Exit at Puerto Varas and drive through town to the lake. Get on the lakeside road, H-225 and take it 45km southeast, towards Ensenada and Volcán Osorno. Just after Ensenada, you will come to a junction; make a slight right towards Ralun-Cochamó on V-69. Take V-69 for 47.5km through Ralun, along the Estuary Relonquavi's coast to Cochamó town. Pass the town by 3km and the road will soon parallel the Cochamó river. Before the bridge, turn left on a gravel road and take it almost to the end, about 8km. Here, you can park your car at Camping Los Pozones for 2,000 Chilean Pesos, $4 USD, per day. Once parked, walk to the end of the road and enter the gate which marks the trailhead.

Good Luck and Happy Trails!