Embark on a technical trek of the Lago Superior circuit, stopping for a box lunch at the hanging glacier of Punta Guanaco peak. The hike is steep and ascends on eroded rock and gullies until it reaches the dramatic landscape of Baguales Glacier, named after the wild horses the original settlers found there. Enjoy the exhilarating views of glacial lakes and cascading waterfalls before returning via the same path to Glacier Hut Camp for dinner.

Rise early for a hike with breathtaking views of the Jeinimeni, El Tronador and Las Llaves Mountain ranges and ragged peaks. Our path leaves behind the open alpine to enter the lush northwest evergreen forest. Walk down to the Avilés Valley, around lagoons to an old Lenga Forest, and to a remote, newly constructed wilderness camp. Along the way, catch glimpses of the past as we trek past abandoned shelters built by gauchos.

Hike up the north Avilés Valley and through beech forests in search of the endangered Magellanic woodpecker and Huemul deer. Reach up to a side debris of Mount Tronador, with great views of the surrounding glaciers, then return to camp for an early dinner.

The last day of the first backcountry trek traverses the wide rivers of the Avilés Valley. Depending on weather conditions, enjoy exhilarating river crossings, complete with rope systems and harnesses! Follow cattle trails used by gauchos to get their animals to summer pasture, including some narrow-cut trails beside a canyon. Arrive back at Chelenco Lake (Lago General Carrera), near the old mining village of Fachinal, and meet the van for a rugged, bumpy drive back to Chile Chico. Take in spectacular views of the lake and surrounding mountain terrain.

Cross back and forth across the border with Argentina today, driving via the Argentinian town of Los Antiguos, then south to Monte Zeballos within the Argentinian side of Patagonia National Park. Return to Chile at Entrada Baker Pass, once used by the pioneers to colonize the Aysen region. Drive along the park, stopping at the restored house of a British pioneer, passing guanaco herds and lakes with flamingos and crested ducks. This once overgrazed sheep and cattle ranch now protects an abundance of Patagonian steppe grasslands and rebounding wildlife. The national restoration project here is one of the largest of its kind in the world. Visit the information center to learn about the fascinating details of this project. Arrive late this afternoon at the peaceful Borde Baker Lodge on the emerald-colored Baker River.

Drive to Cochrane, stopping for a short walk to stretch the legs, then continue to San Lorenzo Camp, your base for the next two nights. From the camp trailhead, hike through a beech forest and past heart-shaped Corazon Lake, then deep into the Tranquilo Valley and up to the Cordon Cochrane Mountain range amphitheater with its shimmering hanging glaciers and array of amazing unclimbed peaks. Return to San Lorenzo Camp for dinner and overnight.

Take a trail through a beech forest that opens onto a valley with views of the San Lorenzo Mountains. Explore the remains of a rustic hut built by Alberto De Agostini, an Italian priest and mountaineer who was the first to summit San Lorenzo. Weather permitting, eat lunch with views of an alpine lake and the pinnacles of the massif. Return to San Lorenzo Camp for a typical gaucho barbeque with the locals, complete with music and tales of the legendary pioneers and adventurers who first explored this rugged land.

After an early breakfast, take a bumpy road back to the Borde Baker Lodge. En route, stop for a short hike to Mirador Confluencia. The afternoon is at your leisure; enjoy fishing, take a well-deserved soak in the hot tub, or simply relax. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner at the lodge.

Rise early for a morning departure to Balmaceda Airport. It's a long drive along the Carretera Austral, but the spectacular views of General Carrera Lake, beech and larch trees, and the Patagonian Andes are worth it. Enjoy a packed lunch along the way.