Cerro Castillo National Reserve

Parque Nacional Cerro Castillo is a large protected area in Aysén featuring sharp mountain peaks, hanging glaciers, and deep-blue lakes ringed by forests. The landscape changes dramatically with elevation, moving from beech woodlands at lower altitudes to bare rock and ice higher up.

The area became a protected reserve in 1970 and gained national park status in 2018 after efforts by the Chilean government and a conservation organization. This upgrade reflected growing recognition of the region's ecological importance.

The Aonikenk people, skilled hunters of Patagonia, moved through these lands before adapting to horseback riding in the eighteenth century.

A major hiking trail winds through the park and connects marked campsites with water access, requiring several days to complete. Visitors should prepare for sudden weather changes and steep elevation gains on this route.

The park sits within a conservation corridor designed to protect South Andean deer, with populations slowly growing here. These rare animals are seldom spotted, making any sighting a notable moment for visitors in this region.