6 Best Sights in Coyhaique, The Southern Coast

Just 64 km (40 miles) south of Coyhaique, this national park is home to one of the most beautiful mountain chains in the region, crowned majestically by the rugged Cerro Castillo. Glacier runoff fills the lakes below the mountain, and the reserve is also home to several species of deer, puma, and guanaco. Cerro Castillo could be called one of the best hikes in Patagonia, but it gets only a tiny percent of visitors compared with its more popular counterpart to the south, Torres del Paine. One excellent hiking route begins at Las Horquetas Grandes, 8 km (5 miles) south of the park entrance. From there, go along La Lima River until Laguna Cerro Castillo, where you can begin your walk around the peak, and then head toward the nearby village of Villa Cerro Castillo. There is bus service from Coyhaique, but it's better to come here in your own rented vehicle. It's also preferable to hike with a guide, as trails are not always clearly marked. Senderos Patagonia (aysensenderospatagonia.com, 9/6224–4725) offers several options for both day hikes and multiday expeditions, as well as horseback rides through the park. 

The Carretera Austral leads to this monument in the northeastern corner of town. On the broad median of the Avenida General Baquedano, a solitary shepherd with his horse and his dog lean motionless into the wind behind a plodding flock of sheep.

This award-winning museum, which recently moved to a larger space, has a collection of black-and-white photos of early 20th-century pioneering in this region, as well as sections devoted to archaeology and geology of Aysén. One of the most fascinating collections features Father Antonio Ronchi, an Italian Catholic missionary who assisted communities throughout the region during the 1960s.

This is the center of town and the nexus for its attractions, including the town's cathedral and government building.

The 2,150-hectare (5,313-acre) Reserva Nacional Coyhaique, about 4 km (2½ miles) north of Coyhaique, provides hikers with some stunning views when the weather cooperates. If it's raining you can drive a 9-km (5½-mile) circuit through the park.

This classic fishing spot in Aysén is dotted with waterfalls tumbling down steep canyon walls. A lovely waterfall called the Cascada de la Virgen is a 1-km (about a mile) hike from the information center, and another called the Velo de la Novia is 8 km (5 miles) farther. About 1 km from Coyhaique, along the banks of the Simpson River, you can also see the Piedra del Indio, a rock shaped in the profile of an indigenous individual. Get to the park via the highway that connects Coyhaique with Puerto Aysén; the park entrance is 32 km (20 miles) northeast of Coyhaique.