Its reserves are estimated at 5,000 million tons. 1.2 1907–1908: Great Boulder Chamber and dye tracing. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: These caves are one of the most spectacular caves in the world. It’s all I wish for you. Even in the middle of the summer… Patagonia is fearless and the weather absolutely unpredictable. There is no bus terminal in Puerto Tranquilo. thanks for the comment. Jenny – Owner, writer & photographerJenny, 34, French, has lived for the past 10 years across Oceania and Ireland while also travelling long-term in Latin America, North America and Europe. We stayed at the Cabaña Silvana with 4 other travellers and really enjoyed our time there. General Carrera Lake is the biggest lake in Chile and second biggest fresh-water lake in South America. The Volkswagen Hover Car is a pod-like zero-emissions vehicle that uses electromagnetic road networks to float above the road. - Marble Chapel) are located on Lake General Carrera/Buenos Aires (Depends which side of the lake you are on) Patagonia. Ranging from rugged uplands, lakes and forests through to gently rolling drumlins, the landscapes of the Geopark represent a complex Earth history dating back as far as 895 million years ago. Depending on the time of the year, you may be forced to take the bus as the boat stops running early April and starts again in November/December. Cabana – for 6 people: 10,000 CLP pp/pn (€14) – same price as a bed in a dorm, Marble Caves by boat: 9,000 CLP (€12.60) – Negotiated; Expect twice more to rent a kayak, Read more about all of the Amazing Things to do in the region. The Marble Caves (Most famous of them is the “Capilla de Mármol” – Marble Chapel) are located on Lake General Carrera/Buenos Aires (Depends which side of the lake you are on) Patagonia, Chile, the boat tours usually leave from Puerto Tranquillo (a little town), Río Ibáñez. These are brilliant places to take pictures and witness the gorgeous myriad of colours dropping into the General Carrera lake. Not only did he tell us all about the caves he gave great recommendations on other things to do in the area. Facts about Marble Mountain The interior of the Marble Mountains is full of this material, marble. Facts As you approach the caves, the marble shows its most vibrant colours. It was a great adventure that we shared with more or less the 15 other travellers who were also on our night bus from El Chalten. Marble Caves The Marble Caves is a group of caves made of marble, situated in the Chile portion of the General Carrera Lake, in South Steven. From Santiago de Chile, I would recommend to fly to Balmaceda (nearest airport to Coyhaique) and continue from there by car. What about saving this post to your Pinterest board? Learn how your comment data is processed. The Marble Caves and Marble Cathedral are best reached via Puerto Tranquilo, Chile. Hi Claudia, we were there at the end of march/early-April. The Marble Caves of Puerto Rio Tranquilo | Chile. 1.4 1966–1967: Skreen Hill 2, 3 and Legnabrocky Way. The amazing vibrant blue and grey cave chambers, (submerged to some extent) all lay in memorizing turquoise waters of Carrera/B.A Lake. Visiting these marble caves could just be the out of the world experience you are chasing. As far as I am aware there aren’t any company offering the online pre-booking unfortunately. 1.5 1982–1985: show cave development. Oh my god, I am so happy. It took thousands of years. They are one of the most inspiring and beautiful places we have had the chance to see in this part of the world.
The town has now opened a bit to tourism, so you can find a few hostels, hospedajes and cabanas. More specifically, the Marble Caves are sitting on a peninsula of marble that borders Lake General Carrera (as it is called in Chile). love the Marble caves Glad you made it! We are also on the platform and we love pinning great travel tips. I don’t think you should be worried about having a boat in December. Exploring the marble caves in Chile is going to be the cave exploration you didn’t know you needed. Until the completion of the road, many villages in the region were only accessible by sea or land, via Argentina, where the Gauchos ruled the transport routes. Great thing to do particularly when the weather isn’t good. It is the famous Patagonian wind and the waves which are the maestros of this incredible carving work on the solid marble bordering the lake. Actually with all the downtime currently, we decided to make our own travel blog – Travel Made Me Do It (travelmademedoit.com). With no access to such cars, many decide to hitch-hike, take the local bus that only runs during the summer months, or even cycle. 1.3 1935–1938: Skreen Hill and connections. It requires a short ride by speedboat or, with good weather, a half-day kayak trip. Hi Guys!! Moreover, as from the 1st of April, Patagonia shut down! Chile’s Cavernas de Mármol, or “Marble Caves,” is one of those places, but that didn't stop us from curating some photos that showcase this system of caves in Patagonia. With the sun, the waving shapes of blue, yellow and white light, reflect into the crystal clear water below.
It requires a short ride by speedboat or, with good … You might be able to get a ride or hear about a weekly bus heading south. The only issue could be the… Read more ». The Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark contains some of the finest landscapes in the north of Ireland. The caves are accessible by boat. In this part of Patagonia, most of the tourists found here are either cycling or hitch-hiking the Carretera Austral as part of a long-term trip. The Marble Caves (Most famous of them is the “Capilla de Mármol” - Marble Chapel) are located on Lake General Carrera/Buenos Aires (Depends which side of the lake you are on) Patagonia, Chile, the boat tours usually leave from Puerto Tranquillo (a little town), Río Ibáñez. Once on site, there are a few caves you can enter or get closer to. So let’s not say never, you might have the chance to go there one day If it is a dream, I am sure you’ll make it happen. From El Chalten, Argentina, there are 2 ways to start the Carretera Austral: 1) a boat and a 2-day trek crossing the border to Villa O’Higgins, where you will need to make your way up from the start of the Carretera Austral (this will take a few days) or 2) a night bus to the town Los Antigos, and then cross the border to the Chilean town of Chile Chico. While 2 of our friends got lucky and hitched a ride, 7 of us hopped in a paid mini-van. From Puerto Rio Tranquilo, you can take a couple of other day excursions to the Glacier National Park and visit the Valle Exploradores by mountain bike or on foot. Local people living in the Marlbank area many years ago believed the rock in the was Marble, hence … Many of whom we would spend the next few days with or sporadically meet along our route north through South America. The elevator costs 30,000 VND (1€), price that allows us to go up and then down. For the people willing to camp, we would recommend the Camping Pudu, and for those with a higher budget, you should consider the Cabaña Valle Exploradores which is very cosy and offers more comfort. Bookmarking this for when we eventually get there, Hi Meryl, Patagonia is incredible. It is an impressive canvas of colours that many people skip. These happen to be on the second largest freshwater lakes in South America. Some of the best landscapes we have ever seen have been there. When water drips from cave ceilings, usually from groundwater, it may form stalagmites, the spiky rock formations inside of a cave that resemble pins. They were formed in top of the lake. Caves are formed when water wears into rock, eroding openings and creating caverns that people later explore. Myself and my travel partner are planning on adding the Marble Caves into our roadtrip itinerary from Santiago to Punta Arenas. Those spikes are made with the same materials as limestone. Patagonia is on our bucket list! You can take a local bus to or from Coyhaique (Cochrane route). Marble Facts Marble is a type of limestone that forms when limestone is subjected to a lot of pressure over a long period of time. Currency (average) : €1 = 713 CLP / 16.38 ARS. Seeing a whale breaching or a turtle hatching…>> Favourite countries: New-Zealand, Bolivia, Ireland and Canada.>> Wishlist: Svalbard, Newfoundland, Alaska and African Savanna.>> Philosophy: “We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us. The Marble Caves is geological formation of unusual beauty. Her organisation and curiosity make her a great travel companion always looking for DIY and off-the-grid adventures. It can be warm during the day but really cold at night. At its deepest, it has a depth of 1,923 feet (586 m). NEXT READ: What to do along the Carretera Austral. And even if the road is open, be aware the local transportation stops during the cold snowy months and a lot of the locals head north, looking for sun, so there wont be much cars to hitch-hike with. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - PHOTOS AND TEXTS CANNOT BE USED WITHOUT PERMISSION
It is the famous Patagonian wind and the waves which are the maestros of this incredible carving work on the solid marble bordering the lake.. Thanks for all the great information provided. He, therefore, started to build the 1,200 km long road going from Puerto Montt to Villa O’Higgins, right at the border with the Argentinian town of El Chalten. Click on the photo to save this blog post for later. You can find these fascinating formations on the outskirts of Lake General Carrera along the Chile/Argentina border. The famous Patagonian wind is also often a real pain, so think… Read more ». Brilliant trip to the Marble Arch Caves on Friday 9th Oct. Our tour guide Victor was fantastic! The clear waters and designs of the marble caves. Travelling all this way just for the Marble Caves would be a very complicated and long journey. It seems they are the only ones heading this route that early in the morning. These caves have formed in a pure marble and are bathed in the deep blue water of General Carrera Lake The Marble Chapel (Capilla de Mármol) is located in the commune of Chile Chico, in Port Calm (Puerto Tranquilo). Great craic too & so friendly. Most accommodation close and the local transportation stop running. The Marble Caves of Patagonia, Chile, are beautiful vibrant blue caverns, partially submerged in the equally stunning turquoise waters of Carrera Lake. In this article, you will learn more about the incredible Marble Caves of Puerto Rio Tranquilo, and of course, how to get there and visit them. We had a wood fire stoves and a kitchen all to our selves. 1.1 18th–19th century: The Junction, Grand Gallery and Pool Chamber. It is the high season and there are a lot of locals offering tours throughout the day.
This happened to me too. For these reasons, it is recommended to get to the Marble caves before April but if you find yourself in Coyhaique during the off-season, check the road conditions with the locals. This unique geological formation cannot be directly accessed by land. Im considering going next year, but will probably only have time in early May so I’m not sure if that is still a possibility. The caves are on the Chilean side of the lake. We haven’t had much rain but when it happened it was pouring for days… Tbh, you can have any type of weather, so it might be best to be prepared and pack good gears. In addition to the marble structure of these caves, the stunning location is cherry on the top. That is why many … Since I travelled for 18 months in Latin America, I packed for all 4 seasons and I used everything in Patagonia. Thanks for a very useful post and the photos are awesome. Do not hesitate to negotiate the price if you are a group of people, you should be able to drop the price a little. I hope you get done someday to see for yourself. Both names are internationally accepted, but the marble caves are on the Chilean side. Many people class this network of marble caves as the most beautiful cave … Spend time along the Carretera Austral and every lake, mountain or village will have something to make you stop in your tracks. The local guides know exactly where to go and will give you the directive or will take the lead. We reached Los Antigos at sunrise and tried to reach the border which was opening at 8 am. I was wondering what time of the year you were visiting the caves though? It helped to plan our trip. Keep reading. With migration formality complete, we hoped to catch another ride but there were absolutely no cars crossing to Chile. Here is a list of 3 places we know about through friends or we visited during our trip. As for example, the bus from El Chalten to Bariloche is most year out of service by the end of April, and the boat from Villa O’Higgins in the south of the Carretera austral doesn’t run past the month of March. Marble Arch Caves- … The Marble Caves Chile Chico – is the largest deposit of marble on the earth. the lively effect. Carved into the Patagonian Andes, the Cuevas de Mármol are located on a peninsula of solid marble bordering Lake General Carrera, a remote glacial lake that spans the Chile-Argentina border. © COPYRIGHT TALES FROM THE LENS
It takes about 4.5 hours and cost 10,000 CLP (€15). General Pinochet didn’t want to have his southern regions to be at the mercy of its neighbouring country, which he didn’t have good relations with. the Chapel (La Capilla), the Cathedral (El Catedral), and the Cave (La Cueva). I say a photo of it and had to see this beauty. The Marble Caves are located in Chile, in the region XI called Aysén. Oct 10, 2020 - The Marble Arch Caves are situated in the picturesque foothills of Cuilcagh Mountain and just a short journey from Enniskillen town in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. Follow Tales From The Lens’ boards to see our latest pins. Coyhaique is already quite remote from Santiago (1,700 km), Puerto Montt (700 km) or El Chalten in Argentina (850 km), so it requires a bit of organisation and time to get to the Marble Caves. Marble Caves The Marble Caves is geological formation of unusual beauty. This will be of no extra cost to you but will help us continue running this blog. Marble Caves of Carrara diferents caves located in this well-known city, not so far from Pisa, in Italy. Yassss !! This road is known as the “Carretera Austral“, a narrow road, mainly made of dirt and gravel, built under General Pinochet in order to link the isolated towns of the South to the main cities further North. Here is a map of the 2 ways to get to Puerto Rio Tranquilo from El Chalten/El Calafate. Or are they available in plentiful during this time of year? As we drove through the very bumpy gravel road along the General Carrera Lake, we were amazed by the landscapes and the brilliant blues of the lake, the biggest and deepest in Chile (1,850 km² and as deep as 580 m). For this reason, we do not think it is really suitable for short-term (a couple of weeks) travellers who are not dedicating their time to the Carretera Austral only. This started the Marble Cave Mining Company, although later it was realized that there was never any marble in the cave. Marble Caves, a geological formation of unusual beauty, are located in the centre of the lake General Carrera on the border of Chile and Argentina. Note that in the middle of the Austral Winter, it is not advised to try to get there because the Carretera Austral is usually closed. The remarkable Marble caves, called Cuevas de Marmol in Spanish, have slowly been carved by nature for over 6,000 years. The Marble Caves (Most famous of them is the. To the North, follow the Carretera Austral to Coyhaique and Cerro Castillo, the new Torres del Paine. The sma... Walter Towers in Prague, Czech Republic, is the latest from modern architectural firm Bjarke Ingels Group. This site uses cookies to track and optimise performance: Where are these remarkable Marble Caves in Chile? This unique geological formation cannot be directly accessed by land. Marble Arch Caves Discover magical moments in one of Europe’s finest show caves. You can book the day before or in the morning of the tour! The remarkable Marble caves, called Cuevas de Marmol in Spanish, have slowly been carved by nature for over 6,000 years. Like several others, we hitch-hiked and were picked up by a border control agent. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The “Lago General Carrera” is so big that massive waves are common. I have a calendar from about 3 years ago that has a beautiful photo of the marble caves. These caves have formed in a pure marble and are bathed in the deep blue water of General Carrera Lake. The only way to get there is by taking a cab or walking the few kilometres from the bus station to the Argentinian border control. The lake its on is the Carrera Lake. Set in the heart of the Marble Arch Caves UNESCO Global Geopark, the Marble Arch Caves pay homage to the fascinating secrets of a world of subterranean rivers, winding passages, lofty … Marble Caves of Patagonia, Chile Dubbed as the most beautiful cave network in the world, Cuevas de Marmol (Marble Caves) is a 6,000-year-old sculpture hewn by the crashing waves of Lake General Carrera of Patagonia in Southern Chile. This is one of the most remote parts of Chile with only one road from North to South. We will arrive in Puerto Rio Tranquilo on Dec 22 and want to make sure we can get a boat to the caves. It is a beautiful attraction when seen during early morning in bright sunshine. Declared by Chile to be Nature’s Sanctuary, the stunning Marble Caves are the most famous attraction of Patagonia. To read how remote it is to get there I will probably never visit, but thanks to your very informative article I learned a lot. Hi Des, this is an excellent question. About a year ago, I decided to try and figure out where in the world the beautiful blue waters and striated rock were from, and learned it was Patagonia in Chile.
This is the case for the Marble Caves located near the tiny village of Puerto Rio Tranquilo, in southern Chile. 2 hours later, we were back in Chile and still had 200 km to travel before reaching the little village of Puerto Rio Tranquilo. The caves are situated in the Patagonian Andes. Although it has a more appeasing appearance than limestone, it can also be very pricey. Crossing the Los Antigos / Chile Chico border, What To Do In Bariloche For Free or On A Budget, Chile’s Lake District, Puerto Varas & Frutillar, An off-the-beaten-path guide to Chiloe Island, Ferry From Puerto Chacabuco To Chiloe Island, The Marble Caves of Puerto Rio Tranquilo: Marvel of Patagonia, El Calafate & Perito Moreno Glacier: all you need to know, 7-Day “O” Trek in Torres del Paine, Chile, Seeing the King Penguins in South America, Looking for Orcas at the Peninsula Valdes, Punta Tombo, How To See 1 Million Magellanic Penguins, Camping Pudu (1 tent) – 8,000 CLP – no online booking, Cabaña Silvana – Cabana for 4/6 people: 50,000 CLP (€70) or dorm 10,000 pp (€14) – no online booking. This is great information. In Puerto Rio Tranquilo, the town by the lake, you will find a dozen shacks with travel agencies. It is really blue. But the small town has limited space can lead to full-vacancies and the lack of internet makes reserving complicated. Go around and talk with the local guides to learn about their tours. I tore it out and have been looking at it on my wall ever since. Being inside these caves is like being inside the Aurora Borealis. Very interesting place for history-lovers and scientist-lovers. Hi guys! You cannot be on a tight schedule to see the Marble Caves as it will take a lot of time just to get there. Marble Caves One of the most isolated natural treasures of the world, the Marble Caves (Capillas de Mármol) are a series of sculpted caves in the General Carrera Lake in the heart of Patagonia. Thank you for sharing this. Thanks for all the wonderful info. These caves were formed by flowing water and marble. 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