Rock Climbing in Patagonia

Where to climb in Patagonia?

Patagonia is one of the most visited places by climbers from all over the world, and this is due to the quality and great variety of climbing opportunities, both in Chile and Argentina.

Climbing in the Aysen Region, Chilean Patagonia

The Aysén region is home to various climbing areas along the Carretera Austral, including sport climbing, multi-pitch climbing, traditional climbing, and big wall climbing, and the highest concentration of climbing areas is found in Coyhaique and Villa Cerro Castillo.

Below we will mention the most popular places for climbing in the Aysen Region.

Coyhaique

Coyhaique is one of the largest cities in the Aysén region, where you can find everything you need to stock up on supplies, climbing walls, mountain gear stores, and more. It is quite central to climbing areas.

Bajo Hondo, Villa Ortega

This sector is located north of Coyhaique in Villa Ortega, where slab climbing and some cracks predominate, and it has approximately 20 routes with grades ranging from V+ to 7c+

To reach this area, take the southern highway north of Coyhaique and head towards Villa Ortega. Once in Villa Ortega, take the turnoff to Ñerihuao, where you can't miss the walls along the roadside.

Camping is not permitted in this area.

Elizalde

Elizalde is undoubtedly an incredible place for sport climbing Fanatics, with around 80 routes and grades for all tastes, incredible sector for the community to enjoy, with grades ranging from V+ to 8a.

To reach this sector, from Coyhaique, take the road south to the Simpson junction and head towards Lake Elizalde. The sector is on the side of the road and has rocks painted with the name and grade of the route at the foot of the Line

Camping is not permitted in this area.

*The sector is PRIVATE, not public.*

*Classic rules to remember:*

- Wear a helmet

- Keep your distance from the base of the route if you are not climbing.

- Keep children away from the base of the route.

- Avoid bringing pets (the owner of the field has animals in front).

- Use the bathroom at home before leaving.

- No camping, no fires, and take your trash with you.

- Do not cross the fence in front, it is PRIVATE. This particular behavior endangers the sector, since the entire field, including where we climb, belongs to the same owner, who passes through there daily.

El Escudo

It is undoubtedly an incredible place for traditional / mixed climbing, and single and multi-pitch routes, where local route setter Felipe Maturana has developed some more difficult routes on the "Escudo Alto".

Access to this place is on the left side of "Abastible", skirting the terrain and following the intuitive path at the foot of the wall

Cerro Mackay

Cerro Mackay, visible from Coyhaique, where its columnar walls inspire anyone who sees them, is one of the most famous multi-pitch climbing areas in the region, where the most classic and visited routes were opened by Pere Vilarasau, Pablo Miranda and Felipe Maturana.

It has many routes up to 350m, both sport and traditional.

We can recommend these routes:

Euforia

Genocidio Pimpinelas

Mate Marley (PDF topo)

Maquina a propulsion

There are many more!

Access is private land along a trail marked by Kaya. "La ruta al divisadero" requires contacting the owner to open the gate, and there are other access points from the city from "Socovesa"

Rio Ibañez

Puerto Ibañez is a town near Villa Cerro Castillo, where there is also a port for crossing by ferry (www.navieraustral.cl) to Chile Chico. This area has a significant number of climbing areas.

El Aguila

Known for its multi-pitch climbing, both sport and traditional, where we also find a good number of single-pitch sport climbing routes.

Admission must be arranged in advance with the owners.

Villa Cerro Castillo

Formerly a passing town, is growing and increasing its potential in the area, whether it be climbing, mountaineering, trekking, mountain biking, skiing, or ice climbing. It is well known for its Cerro Castillo National Park and also for the amount of sport climbing near the town, where Pere Vilarasau developed and promoted it.

Aerodromo

This sector is the closest to the village, where it has the largest number of routes, schools, and high grades up to 7c+. and has rocks painted with the name and grade of the route at the foot of the Line

It is a private sector, where there is no charge, and access is in front of the Villa Cerro Castillo Aerodrome. You can walk there from the Village.

Camping is not permitted in this area.

Rincon Campero

This sector is about 2 km from La Villa, where there is a fee at the entrance paid directly to the owners.

It has a main sector with routes ranging from 6a to 8b aprox., and a cave at the end of the site with higher grade routes and projects.

and has rocks painted with the name and grade of the route at the foot of the Line

To get there, head south of the village, cross the Chacao bridge where there is a gate on the right-hand side indicating the climbing area. To pay the entrance fee, go to the house opposite and speak to the owners. Camping is allowed in the area, but you must speak to the owners first.

Alero

Area for cloudy, windy, rainy days and winter. Alero, as its name suggests, is a sheltered spot. It is not a training area and has routes up to 8a or higher. It shares the same vehicle access as the Cueva de las Manos cave and the museum, a heritage site in the area.

There is a fee that is managed by Don Domingo, and access to the sector is through the side of his house.

Chabela

One of the most popular areas in Villa Cerro Castillo, where there are trails for all levels, there are areas set up for camping and cooking, and you can get there from the village on foot or by car during the day.

Entrance is arranged with the owners at the access gate, as is camping.

Chile Chico

Chile Chico is another place where many people pass through on their way to climb "Cerro Apidame"; Patagonia's Devil's Tower, where its columnar formations and endless possibilities for climbing invite the world's most daring climbers to explore.

It also has a sport climbing area in the village developed by locals, with many routes and levels of difficulty.

Cerro Apidame

Cerro Colorado or Cerro Apidame is one of the most iconic places in Patagonia for climbing. Its columnar basalt formation makes it very attractive for crack climbing enthusiasts.

From Chile Chico, take a road south and enter private land until the end of the road. From here, it is a 2-3 hour walk to the campsite, which has water, and it is 45 meters from the campsite to the base of the route.

Piedra del Indio

The sport climbing sector has been growing and developing locally, with great potential and very good rock. The grades of new routes are unknown.