Villa O'Higgins, Remote village in Aysén Region, Chile.
Villa O'Higgins sits at the southern end of the Carretera Austral near Lake O'Higgins and the Mayer River, surrounded by the mountains of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. The settlement spreads across rugged terrain where mountains meet waterways and glacier-carved valleys.
The first settlers arrived in 1914 when Chilean and European colonists moved to this frontier region, though the village itself was not established until 1966. This late development shaped it as one of the southern region's younger communities.
The February festival Tropeando pa' no olvidar brings residents together to celebrate their cowboy heritage through music, food, and live demonstrations. This event reflects how the community honors its frontier roots and way of life.
The village offers basic lodging, restaurants, and guides for outdoor activities, with most services available within easy walking distance. Finding what you need is straightforward since the settlement is compact and accessible.
From here, travelers can follow a route to El Chaltén in Argentina that weaves together trekking, boat crossings, and bus rides across borders. This cross-border connection is one of the few ways to link two countries' landscapes in a single journey.
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