Hike in Bosque Encantado (Enchanted Forest) in Patagonia

To get here: From the nearest town of Puyuhuapi, go to the Southern most point of town and hitchhike along the Carretera Austral. It should be relatively easy as this is the only road drivers can take to leave town and most locals are very generous with rides. Ask to be dropped off at Bosque Encontado, the entrance is off of the Carretera Austral. Make sure to come early so you can leave the park and catch a ride back before it gets dark. 

Register and pay a $5 fee at the entrance and enter through the gates to begin the hike. The first half of the hike is through a damp mostly evergreen forest. The abundance of various lichens, moss, ferns and fungi along the trail is characteristic of this region in Patagonia. Expect the trails to be a little muddy, as this region receives a lot of rain throughout the year. 

Once out of the forest, the path takes you above the tree line and continues to traverse and climb across loose rocks and the river. At this point the glacier will now be visible on one side and the evergreen valley on the other. Once at the top, you will have unobstructed views of the glacier and glacier fed lake below. I will never forget how serene this landscape was for me. It was probably one of my most memorable views in Patagonia.