“Andrés, my girlfriend doesn’t fish. Is there anything for her while I’m on the river for eight hours?”
“Andrés, I want to bring my family. What can the non-fishers do?”
These are some of the questions I get most often. And the short answer is: don’t worry — there’s far more than you might think.
The Aysén region is one of the most spectacular places on the continent, whether you’re holding a fly rod or not. At Koon Outfitters we design programs for mixed groups — couples, families, friends — where each person lives their own experience during the day and everyone meets up at dinner to share stories.
One thing before we start: don’t underestimate fishing. I’ve seen it happen many times — someone who “definitely didn’t want to fish” ends up casting their first fly by day three. Floating down a river or standing in front of a blue lake in Aysén is worth at least one chance. But if the answer is still no, that’s completely fine — there’s plenty to do.
Around Coyhaique
- Trekking in Coyhaique National Reserve and Río Simpson National Reserve
- Five minutes from downtown Coyhaique lies the Coyhaique National Reserve, with well-marked trails winding through lagoons, mountains and viewpoints with panoramic views over the city. Perfect for a quiet morning or a short outing with no advance planning required.
- The Río Simpson National Reserve, 30 minutes away, is a step up entirely. It covers 40,000 hectares of native forest, canyons and the river that gives it its name — one of the finest fly fishing rivers in the country, which already says something about the landscape. Its slopes are home to the huemul, the pudú, the puma and a wide variety of wild ducks. Options range from a half-hour walk to full-day excursions, along trails equipped with bridges and viewpoints.
Condor Watching — Condoreras
- An hour from Coyhaique, before sunrise, awaits one of the most awe-inspiring spectacles in the region. The Andean condor is Chile’s national symbol, and in Aysén watching one glide across the sky never loses its effect. At Condoreras, the landscape shifts dramatically from deciduous forest to open coirón grassland steppe, with thousands of sheep on the estancias and the silence of the Patagonian early morning as the backdrop.
- It’s a half-day program that requires an early start. The reward, for those who experience it, is hard to forget. (Condors are wild animals; sightings cannot be guaranteed.)
Mountain Biking
- Aysén has quietly become a growing destination for mountain biking — trails with views that rival anywhere on the continent, without the crowds of better-known circuits. We work with a professional company that organizes outings at various difficulty levels, with equipment included and certified guides. There are options for absolute beginners and those looking for a real challenge.
Cerro Castillo Area
- If there is one place in Aysén made especially for non-fishers, this is it.
- Cerro Castillo National Park offers the most impressive trekking in the entire region. Its trails, still far from mass tourism, cross glaciers, lenga and ñirre forests, emerald-colored lagoons and valleys where you can walk for hours without passing another soul. For many travelers who discover it, it becomes the highlight of the entire trip — even above more famous Patagonian destinations.
- For those not looking for a multi-day trek, there are half-day and full-day options from Villa Cerro Castillo. One of the most iconic routes climbs to the viewpoint at the southern face of the peak, with panoramic views over the Río Ibáñez Valley and a round trip of approximately 7 hours. Horseback rides with local gauchos are also available — riders who know every corner of the territory and turn the experience into something far more authentic than a conventional tour.
- One detail that surprises many visitors: the huemul — the Andean deer, an endangered species and symbol on Chile’s national coat of arms — is frequently spotted along the roads and valleys of the area. Seeing it in its natural habitat, with no fences or glass between you, is one of those moments that stays with you.
- Cerro Castillo is also the gateway to the Marble Caves — just 120 km away — and to Patagonia Park, for those who want to extend the adventure.
The Marble Caves (Capillas de Mármol)
- The Marble Caves are three limestone formations — the Cathedral, the Chapel and the Cave — carved over millennia along the shores of Lago General Carrera by wind and water. They have been a Nature Sanctuary since 1994 and are among the most photographed destinations in Chilean Patagonia, for good reason.
- Lago General Carrera, with its 1,850 km² of turquoise glacial waters, is the largest lake in Chile. From Puerto Río Tranquilo, the caves are accessed by motorboat or kayak, navigating through arches and caverns where colors shift constantly depending on light, time of day and water level: vibrant blues at midday, silvery tones at dusk, an almost luminous white on overcast days. It is one of those places that words can only partially describe.
- The best visiting conditions occur between December and March, when lower water levels allow boats to venture deeper into the formations.
Photography
- Patagonia is a dream destination for anyone with an eye for photography, and Aysén in particular has a quality of light that photographers search for around the world without finding quite so easily.
- The southern light is soft, lateral, almost cinematic — it works at any hour of the day, not just during the golden hour. The contrasts are constant: white glaciers over turquoise water, dark forests against dramatic skies, a huemul appearing between the trees in the distance. With a professional camera or a phone, a full day in Aysén slips by without warning.
- The Lago General Carrera area, Cerro Castillo, the fjords of Queulat National Park and the banks of the Baker River are scenes that practically photograph themselves.
Archaeology and Culture
- This is what few people know about before arriving — and what tends to surprise them most when they look back on the trip.
- On the banks of the Río Ibáñez, just minutes from Villa Cerro Castillo, stands the Paredón de las Manos — a national monument featuring over 100 negative handprints painted onto a 35-meter rock wall. They are estimated to be between 3,000 and 10,000 years old, made by hunters and gatherers who inhabited Patagonia long before the Tehuelche people. What exactly they mean remains a mystery, and that mystery is part of the appeal.
- At the base of the trail, right on the riverbank, the Museo Escuela of Villa Cerro Castillo is worth the stop: housed in the old village school built by the settlers themselves in 1955, it offers a window into the history of Aysén’s colonization and rural life from over 60 years ago. The full circuit — museum, trail and rock wall — is low difficulty and suitable for the whole family.
- Aiken del Sur Park, 30 minutes from Cascadas Park, rounds out the experience with educational trails and panels on the flora, fauna and anthropology of the region.
- For those with a genuine interest in history, archaeology or indigenous cultures, this combination of places is hard to find anywhere else.
Activities by Companion Profile
Everyone is different, and Aysén has something for every profile. The key is planning it before you arrive.
For the adventurous:
- Challenging trekking in Cerro Castillo (7-hour trails with panoramic views over the Río Ibáñez Valley)
- Mountain biking on the Coyhaique trails, for all skill levels
- Rafting on the Río Baker — class 2 and 3+ rapids on Chile’s most powerful river (Baker River program)
For those who prefer a slower pace:
- Afternoons with coffee and a book, looking out over the river or mountains from the lodge
- Easy horseback riding along the Río Simpson (half day, Los Torreones ranch)
- Gentle walks through Coyhaique National Reserve with no prior preparation needed
- A visit to Puerto Aysén: a port city with a local market, waterfront and fjord surroundings
- Free time at the lodge to write, paint or simply rest with no agenda
For the culturally curious:
- The Paredón de las Manos in Villa Cerro Castillo — rock art up to 10,000 years old in the Río Ibáñez Valley
- The Museo Escuela of Villa Cerro Castillo, gateway to the archaeological site
- Aiken del Sur Park with educational trails on regional flora and anthropology
- The Regional Museum of Aysén in Coyhaique
Recommended Programs for Couples and Families
Program 1 — Coyhaique and Cascadas Park: the most flexible option
- The angler heads out each morning with their guide toward the rivers of the area — Simpson, Manihuales, Aysén and others depending on the day’s conditions. The rest of the group has a wide menu of options: condors before dawn, a horseback ride along the Río Simpson, Aiken del Sur Park, a walk through Coyhaique National Reserve, mountain biking, or simply a quiet afternoon looking out at the mountains from the lodge. Activities are arranged around each person’s interests, with no scheduling conflicts with the fishing.
- From Coyhaique or Cascadas Park it is also possible to arrange a full-day excursion to Laguna San Rafael: 125 nautical miles by catamaran through the Patagonian channels to the foot of the San Valentín glacier, one of the most breathtaking sights in the region. For those who want something different, Queulat National Park is three hours away and offers a completely distinct experience: glaciers descending toward the sea, fjords and coastal rainforest.
- Ideal for: groups with varied interests who want individual freedom and shared moments in between.
Program 2 — Cerro Castillo: the favorite for non-fishers
- The angler has access to spectacular lakes — Ardillas, Tamango, Alto, Quetros — all within short distance of the lodge. The rest of the group has one of the most impressive national parks in Chile: trekking to the viewpoint at the southern face of the peak, chances of spotting huemules in the valleys, horseback rides with local gauchos, the Paredón de las Manos with its Museo Escuela, and — just 120 km away — the Marble Caves on Lago General Carrera.
- The last evening of the program includes a traditional asado at the estancia’s quincho — the best way to close a shared trip.
- Ideal for: groups where the non-fishers want to make the most of the trip every bit as much as the angler.
Program 3 — Baker River: adventure for everyone
- The angler has the Baker and Lago Bertrand. The rest of the group has some of the most memorable experiences in all of Patagonia: rafting the rapids of Chile’s most powerful river, Patagonia Park in the Chacabuco Valley, the Marble Caves, the Exploradores Glacier and Caleta Tortel — the village with no streets, connected only by cypress boardwalks built over the water.
- The route also takes in the most spectacular stretch of the Carretera Austral, with stops at viewpoints and small towns that don’t appear on conventional itineraries.
- Ideal for: groups where everyone wants adventure and nature, just in different forms.
What Nobody Tells You Beforehand
They’ll probably end up fishing. I’ve seen it too many times. People who arrived saying “I definitely don’t want to fish” and by day four they’re casting with the guide. The environment is contagious — the landscape, the fish, the stillness. Something clicks. Don’t push it, but leave the door open.
Meals together are the best part of the trip. After eight hours apart, sitting down to eat together has something special to it. Everyone brings their day — their views, their stories. I’ve seen that strengthen relationships in ways nobody expected when they first booked the trip.
Sometimes the companions enjoy it more than the angler. If they’re adventurous, curious, nature lovers or simply people who let themselves be surprised, Patagonia will enchant them. And that’s exactly what we’re after: that they come back together next time.
What to Avoid
❌ Leaving companions at the cabin “because they’ll find something to do.” That’s not a vacation — it’s a punishment.
❌ Planning nothing for the rest of the group and assuming nature alone is enough without structure.
❌ Settling for a generic tourist tour. There are far better things to do in Aysén.
❌ Not talking before the trip: do they want adventure? Rest? Culture? A mix? The answer changes everything about how the program is designed.
In Summary
Patagonia is not a destination for fishers only. It’s for couples, families and groups with different interests who want to share an experience without having to do exactly the same thing.
The trip works best when everyone is happy with their day. That’s what we’ve learned after many years of organizing these journeys: a trip to Patagonia isn’t “you fish while the others wait.” It’s “we all experience Aysén in different ways and talk about it at the same table.”
Tell us who’s coming and what they enjoy — we’ll design a program that works for everyone. Write to us at info@koonoutfitters.com or get in touch directly.