Lago General Carreras (Argentina)

I hitched from Coyhaique to the shores of the lake. My idea had been to take the ferry from Puerto General Ibáñez to get to Chile Chico, a village on the frontier with Argentina. The crossing is supposed to be nice, although it can be quite rough, according to the wind.

But I was out of luck, I missed the only ferry of the day...Too bad, rather than crossing the lake in two hours, I would go round it in 24 hours because, in any case, I absolutely had to cross over the frontier the day after tomorrow.

I made my first stop at Puerto Rio Tranquilo, to go and visit the marble chapels on the lake. The weather was good and the sun reflected in a magnificently blue-emerald green water was magnificent. Then I carried on my tour of the lake by bus and hitching, because the bus was going along the Carretera Austral whereas I was heading to the Argentine frontier. So where I stopped had more to do with the cars which were willing to give me a lift. I had a short stop at Puerto Guadal and finally arrived in Chile Chico at the beginning of the evening. Phew - made it! The next day, there was a strong wind and I was quite glad I had missed the ferry because a traveller I met at the hotel told me you needed a strong stomach to cope with the crossing the day before...So my tour of the lake and its little detours were well worth it!