Paso León

Crossing the Andes

From the Patagonian Steppes this multi-day trail crosses the international border before meandering through an ancient millennial forest into Chile’s Cochamó valley and eventually finishes at the Pacific ocean.

The Paso León trek offers an unforgettable experience for hiking enthusiasts seeking to explore the wild beauty of Patagonia. It’s a medium-difficulty trek, accessible to most hikers who have already experienced multi-day hikes and tent camping.

The journey begins in the Patagonian town of Bariloche, Argentina. From there, we will travel to the border and hike to Cochamó, where we will base camp and spend a few days exploring the beautiful valleys above on day hikes, before returning to civilization in the relaxed town of Puerto Varas, Chile.

We propose two different trip lengths:

A 9 days trip to see everything, and a 6 days trip for someone who’s on a shorter time schedule.

The trek takes place in the heart of the Valdivian forest, where the air is thick with the scent of ancient trees and the soft murmur of hidden streams. Here, the scenery seems as timeless as the towering ancient alerces and coihues trees. The emerald canopy shields the world in a serene green glow.
Walking along moss-covered trails, each step brings us deeper into a world untouched by time.


As we approach the Pacific Ocean, gigantic granite mountains emerge from the pristine forest.

Paso León to Cochamó - 9 days

We highly recommend this trek! Spending an extra 3 days in the La Junta Valley to discover the hidden gems of Cochamó is absolutely worth it.
After completing a 5-day journey crossing from Bariloche to Cochamó, we will set up a base camp at La Junta Camping. From there, the plan is to soak in the beauty of the 'Yosemite of South America' and embark on day hikes into the upper valley, where you'll witness the towering granite domes, often called the 'sleeping giants' of the valley.

Trekking
Previous experience

Difficulty
Medium

Duration
9 Days

Meeting
Bariloche

Transfer
Included

Season
November to April

Overnight
Tent

Backpack
15 kg

Itinerary

**Day 1**: Bariloche to the international border. After a 2.5-hour drive along the Manso River, we will arrive at the international border. We’ll need to complete some paperwork, and then embark on a short hike and set up our camp for the first night.

**Day 2**: We will move camp to the Torrentoso River. 11 km / 300m elevation gain.

**Day 3**: We will move camp to the beautiful Lake Vidal Gormaz, where we will share local food with the residents of the area. 15 km

**Day 4**: The forest becomes denser and more mysterious as we make our way to camp near the old hut “El Arco”. 12 km

**Day 5**: On our last morning of moving camp, we will cross a few streams and hike 11 km, emerging into the stunning La Junta valley. Here, massive granite walls rise from the Valdivian jungle, with waterfalls cascading down the cliffs, and the deep blue Cochamó River cutting through the center. We will set up our camp at La Junta, the finest of the campgrounds, and stay there until the final day. 12 km

**Day 6**: This day serves as a backup in case of bad weather, or a rest day to take short walks exploring the valley, relax on unique beaches, enjoy a rope swing, or visit the Toboganes.

**Day 7**: We will take a day trip to Trinidad Valley, home to the gigantic Cerro Trinidad and the Trinidad Lagoon. If the group feels motivated and strong, we will push on to Monster Pass for a glimpse of La Bestia Valley, a place where time seems to have stood still since the Jurassic period. We will return to our base camp in La Junta. 14 km

**Day 8**: We’ll take a day trip to the Anfiteatro Valley. The immense gray stone cirque here offers a humbling experience, making one feel small in its presence. The trail is lined with trees that are over 1,000 years old. 12 km

**Day 9**: In the morning, we will take down the campsite and start our hike towards the Pacific Ocean. After re-entering civilization, we will take a bus back to Puerto Varas to celebrate with a rewarding feast and a night in a comfortable bed. 13 km

Paso León to Cochamó - 6 days

Same as the 9 days trip, but instead of spending 3 days discovering the valley of Cochamó we will spend only 1 night in La Junta, Cochamó camp ground.

After a 5 days trek to cross the from Bariloche to Cochamó, we spend one night in La Junta camp ground. From there we will start our journey back to civilization the next morning.
The trip starts in Bariloche, Argentina and ends in Puerto Varas, Chile

Trekking
Previous experience

Difficulty
Medium

Duration
6 Days

Meeting
Bariloche

Transfer
Included

Season
November to April

Overnight
Tent

Backpack
15 kg

Itinerary

**Day 1**: Bariloche to the international border. After a 2.5-hour drive along the Manso River, we will arrive at the international border. We’ll complete the necessary paperwork before embarking on a short hike to set up our camp for the night.

**Day 2**: We will move camp to the Torrentoso River. 11 km / 300m elevation gain.

**Day 3**: We will move camp to the beautiful Lake Vidal Gormaz, where we will share local food with the residents of the area. 15 km

**Day 4**: The forest becomes denser and more mysterious as we make our way to camp near the old hut El Arco. 12 km

*Day 5**: We will cross a few streams and hike 11 km, emerging into the stunning La Junta valley. Here, massive granite walls rise from the Valdivian jungle, with waterfalls cascading down the cliffs, and the deep blue Cochamó River cutting through the center. We will set up our camp at La Junta, the finest of the campgrounds, and stay there until the final day. 12 km

**Day 6**: In the morning, we will take down the campsite and start our hike towards the Pacific Ocean. After re-entering civilization, we will take a bus back to Puerto Varas to celebrate with a rewarding feast and a night in a comfortable bed. 13 km

  • Paso León hike in Patagonia - ©Vianney Lhoumeau

    Enjoying Paso León's views at lunch time

  • Cochamó hike in Patagonia - ©Vianney Lhoumeau

    Anfiteatro Valley

  • Cochamó hike in Patagonia - ©Vianney Lhoumeau

    Cochamo's Milton Adams mountain on a stormy day

  • Cochamó climb in Patagonia - ©Vianney Lhoumeau

    Climbers drinking mate after a long day on the wall

  • Pacific Ocean in Cochamó town

  • Paso León hike in Patagonia - ©Vianney Lhoumeau

    Rest day in La Junta campground

  • cochamo's hike in Patagonia - ©Vianney Lhoumeau

    The Monster Pass in Trinidad valley

  • Patagonia's valdivian forest

  • Rest day in the shade of the forest

  • Paso León hike in Patagonia - ©Vianney Lhoumeau

    Alerces trees at sunrise

  • Paso León hike in Patagonia - ©Vianney Lhoumeau

    Sunbathing in pristine patagonian waters

Our services.

  • Season

    From spring to autumn

    Depending on the rain during early and late season. December, January and february being the least rainy months.

  • Dificulty

    Medium

    No particular difficulty. You need to be able to carry a 15 kg backpack for 13 km during the day.

  • Length and fitness

    We will walk aproximatly 12 km per day with 400 m of elevation gain with a 15 kg backpack.
    If choosing the 9 days option we will hike 12 km and gain 1000 m of elevation per day with a light day pack during the 3 days in Cochamó Camp ground.

  • What's included

    AAGM Mountain/trekking guide with First Aid training

    Accommodation in campground

    Breakfast/Lunch/Tea/Dinner

    Emergency communication device

    Insurance

    We can arrange pick up at your hotel.

Book with us