Visiting Marble Caves in Puerto Rio Tranquilo
Read our guide on Marble Caves, also known as Capilla de Marmol, near the small village of Puerto Rio Tranquilo in Chilean Patagonia. Here you will find information on how to get there, when to go, boat trip prices, what to expect, and much more.
About a 30-minute boat ride from Rio Tranquilo can be found beautiful Marble Caves.
These famous rock formations located on General Carrera Lake, also known as Capilla de Marmol (Marble Chapel), are one of the best stops on Carretera Austral.
And if you have a feeling that you've seen everything from Patagonian Andes, the caves will change your mind once again.
Patagonia is a land of many glaciers, national parks, lush forests, steppes, and pristine blue lakes.
But we dare to claim that there is no such a place as Marble Caves, or at least it hasn't been put on the tourist map yet.
And if there is such a place, it is not that easily accessible, like caves in Puerto Rio Tranquilo in the Aysen region.
Only recently, Marble Caves received well-deserved attention, especially because of stunning pictures on Instagram and other social media platforms.
And if we say that the caves are easily accessible, it is still only for those traveling along Carretera Austral.
It is for sure not a destination you decide to visit out of the blue. It requires planning and time to get there.
So here's everything you should know before taking a boat trip to Marble Caves. Let's dive into it.
Puerto Rio Tranquilo
If you want to visit Marble Caves, you need to get to Puerto Rio Tranquilo first. But first things first.
As we were already on the road for more than six months, we appreciated simple little things that made our life easier.
Having an opportunity to base ourselves in a small town or a tiny village such as Puerto Rio Tranquilo was among them.
Simply put, Puerto Tranquilo is a small settlement where you can find accommodation, a relatively well-stocked grocery store (a poor selection of fruits and vegetables), or several restaurants and tour operator's offices.
There is also a gas station and no ATM, but some properties accept credit cards.
It was the place where we could get off the bus in the 'city center,' find accommodation five minutes away, later go shopping at a grocery store across the street, and in the evening leisurely set off for a walk on a beach with amazing views.
That was exactly the case with Puerto Rio Tranquilo, a small village on Carretera Austral in Chilean Patagonia.
But Puerto Rio Tranquilo is not a notable place only for its peaceful atmosphere, a picturesque setting on the shore of General Carrera Lake (the biggest lake in Chile), or for nearby Exploradores Glacier in Laguna San Rafael National Park.
And although all the reasons mentioned above increased the popularity of this small settlement, Rio Tranquilo hides one more natural attraction, which definitely puts the place on every traveler's bucket list.
Yes, it's the stunning Marble Caves.
Things to Know Before You Go
We've already established that in order to visit Marble Caves, you must first arrive in Puerto Rio Tranquilo.
When road tripping Carretera Austral from north to south, there's a big chance that you will either want to cross borders to Argentina in Chile Chico (when traveling by car) or in Villa O'Higgins (when traveling by public transport or on a bike).
The good news is that Puerto Rio Tranquilo is located somewhere along the way.
In fact, it's located only 160 kilometers west of Chile Chico, meaning that this might be your exit toward Los Antiguos in Argentina.
We saw a few tours coming from Coyhaique, but honestly, we wouldn't bother to visit the caves only on a day trip unless there was some additional program.
You would spend about nine hours on a bus, and the actual visit to the caves takes only two hours in total.
When you arrive in Puerto Rio Tranquilo, you will immediately see several travel agencies selling a boat tour to Marble Caves along the main road.
The good thing is that you don't need to book the tour well in advance.
We arrived from Villa Cerro Castillo at 2:30 PM, and at 3 PM, we were already sitting in the boat and heading to the caves.
Mind you. This was the peak season, so your experience might be very different from ours if you arrive here in the middle of the winter.
We believe that all tour operators offer a very similar service and experience.
The only thing you should take into consideration when reserving the tour on the spot is to go with an operator who already has some other people signed up for the trip.
Boats usually leave when they have at least five or six people, so you won't need to wait for the boat to fill up.
How to Get to Puerto Rio Tranquilo
There are several ways to get to Puerto Rio Tranquilo. The easiest way to get there is by car, but public transport also runs in this area.
In the south of the village, you will find the town of Cochrane. In the north, there is Coyhaique.
We stayed in Villa Cerro Castillo overnight, a small settlement about 120 kilometers north of Puerto Rio Tranquilo.
By the way, Puerto Rion Tranquilo is, for many travelers, their last stop on their itinerary before crossing borders to Argentina in Chile Chico.
Hitchhiking
We knew the bus should arrive in Villa Cerro Castillo between 11 AM and 12 PM.
Therefore, we decided to try our luck with hitchhiking first as we had to check out at 10 AM and had nothing to do anyway.
It was quite a surprise to see another ten or so hitchhikers waiting on the side of the road already.
All cars passing by were full, so we were glad when the first van heading to Puerto Rio Tranquilo arrived early, around 10:30 AM.
At first, it seemed that there were too many people to fit in the minibus. To our surprise, more than half of the hitchhikers decided to stay and continue in their efforts.
As you can see, hitchhiking is popular in Patagonia, mostly among long term travelers who have plenty of time but want to reduce their expenses as much as possible.
Public Transport
If hitchhiking is not your thing, a local bus runs between Coyhaique and Cochrane, making a stop in Puerto Rio Tranquilo.
The buses usually leave between 6:30 AM and 7 AM from Cochrane and come back at 9 AM and 9:30 from Coyhaique.
There might also be a bus in the afternoon.
As mentioned above, we took one of the minibusses and paid 10.000 CLP per person for the trip.
While the public transport runs relatively regularly between these two towns compared to some other areas, don't forget that you're still in a remote part of Patagonia.
Buses don't have to run every day, and schedules change often.
From Argentina
If you've just visited El Chalten or El Calafate, you must first get to Los Antiguos, a small border town in Argentina.
From here, take a bus to Chile Chico, which is about two kilometers west of here.
The ride includes crossing the borders from Argentina to Chile, so make sure you have your passport ready.
The process should be quite straightforward, but it can take about an hour to get from one town to another.
From Chile Chico, you can take a bus to Coyhaique that stops at Puerto Rio Tranquilo.
Car
Obviously, having a car in Patagonia is a huge advantage for planning your vacation more efficiently.
The road between the villages is very scenic, with mountains, rivers, forests, and wetlands all around you, and you can make some spontaneous stops along the way.
If short on time, consider renting a car when traveling to Puerto Rio Tranquilo.
At the moment, there is ongoing road construction as it is still unpaved.
While a 4WD vehicle is not required, there might be a few places along the way where you might find having this helpful feature.
There is also a COPEC gas station in Puerto Rio Tranquilo.
Here you will find the best deals on rental cars in Patagonia.
How to Get to Marble Caves
There are only two ways to get to Marble Caves. Most visitors decide to take a boat trip from Puerto Rio Tranquilo, but you can also arrange a kayaking tour.
Boat Trip
Obviously, the boat trip is far more convenient and comfortable, as the only thing you need to do is to sit tight and enjoy the scenery.
The ride to the caves takes about 30 minutes, but that's only if the lake is calm.
The waters of General Carrera Lake are often very choppy in the afternoon, and it took definitely longer to reach the village on the way back.
The boat trip to Marble Caves from Puerto Rio Tranquilo usually takes about two hours.
It means that you still have plenty of time to see some other places in this area or continue to your next destination.
Kayaking
You can also get to the Marble Caves on a kayaking tour if you are a moderately fit person.
Kayaking trips are far more adventurous but also more expensive. The three-hour tour cost 35.000 - 50.000 CLP and includes kayaks and a local guide.
It is always recommended to pay a bit more and go with a guide here for your safety just in case of strong winds and currents.
The kayaking tours (and some boat tours) leave from Puerto Marmol (Bahia Mansa), which is closer to the actual site of the caves.
This is a private property about seven kilometers south of Puerto Rio Tranquilo.
Marble Caves
Seeing such a unique natural attraction with your very own eyes is a special experience.
If you have a curious mind, you will soon start to ask yourself how the Marble Caves were formed. Well, that's why you will have a tour guide with you to do the hard work for us.
Still, here is at least a basic explanation of what happened long ago in the Patagonian Andes.
The Marble Caves were formed over 6000 years ago by the unyielding powers of flowing water, omnipresent waves, strong winds, pressure, and erosion.
The natural elements shaped and carved over time these unique formations that we've never seen anywhere else on our travels.
The water washed away the upper layers leaving a smooth surface of the rocks reflecting the azure color of the lake, a sight you will truly appreciate on a sunny day.
Today, the most famous formations are known as Chapel, Cavern, or Cathedral.
Although the Marble Caves is a fabulous nature creation, what makes it truly spectacular is their symbiosis with the water and the sun.
General Carrera Lake is fed by several rivers coming from nearby glaciers, and the small glacial particles in combination with sunlight cause a distinct blue color.
The cave's colors change depending on the time of the year, water levels, and the amount of light.
How to Visit Marble Caves
After a relatively bumpy ride from Villa Cerro Castillo, we finally emerged in Puerto Rio Tranquilo.
We arrived here without a plan, so our first task of the day was to start looking for accommodation and later take a boat tour.
Reserving a Boat Trip
Suddenly, a guy circling around the main road on a green bike stopped us and asked us whether we didn't want to join a boat tour to the Marble Caves, which started in 20 minutes.
We did not want to rush it, but the weather was great, so we decided to give it a try. You don't take chances with Patagonian weather.
Byt the way, the spontaneity and randomness of our Patagonia itinerary were one of the things we loved so much about our trip to this amazing region.
He mentioned that we could leave our stuff in the office, so Martin quickly packed our camera and valuables in a waterproof drybag (we really recommend you to do the same).
I ran to the nearby grocery store to buy a snack as a lot of time had passed since breakfast.
Then, we went to a nearby pier, where we met another seven people who shared the boat with us.
Boat Trip
Despite sunny weather, the lake was really choppy, and our boat received a splash of cold water more often than what we would consider fun.
Fortunately (at least for us), we sat behind a local family who really enjoyed the show from the front seats.
At least they received rain ponchos, so it wasn't a complete disaster.
We have to admit that the surrounding scenery was simply breathtaking, and we couldn't get enough of the views of the turquoise lake with the mountains in the background.
Marble Caves
Finally, we reached the Marble Caves and could admire the stunning shapes, fascinating structures, and vivid colors.
Boat driver exactly knows places for the best views and photos, so you don't have to worry that you will miss anything.
Two other boats were exploring the caves around the same time we were there, but we didn't find their presence intrusive.
When our time was up, we had to head back, but now General Carrera Lake was even rougher on the way back, so the ride took us almost an hour as we had to sail slowly close to the shore.
Where to Go Next
After the tour, we went back to the office, picked up our backpacks, and headed out to the village to find a cheap hospedaje.
At first, we were considering visiting Exploradores Glacier while in Puerto Rio Tranquilo as well.
But prices increased significantly in the past few years, and we were reluctant to spend that kind of money on a guided tour.
Therefore, we decided to leave the next day instead.
Our next destination was Patagonia National Park near Cochrane, and ultimately, we wanted to cross the borders from Chile to Argentina.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
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Entrance Fee
There is no entrance fee to Marble Caves, but you need to take a boat trip to get there.
The classic boat trip, which lasts approximately two hours, costs 10.000 CLP per person.
What is included? Transport to and from Marble Caves (you must walk to and from the pier on your own), life jacket, and Spanish-speaking guide.
We don't think an English-speaking guide is necessary here as the explanation about the creation of Marble Caves was short and easily understandable even for us beginners.
When to Visit Marble Caves
You can visit Marble Caves all year round, but there are a few things you should know before you go.
There is no best or worst time of the year to visit the Marble Caves, as each season has its pros and cons.
Summer is a great season to see Marble Caves and arguably the best time to visit Patagonia.
In the spring, the water level is lower as the glaciers usually melt later, and the boat can enter some of the caves.
During the winter, you might need more time to reach the caves because of the small icebergs on the lake.
There will also be far fewer people traveling around Patagonia outside the peak season, which means that you might need to wait for other passengers to fill up the required minimum person quota.
But these are just minor details that should not affect your experience that much.
Weather Conditions
What is far more important is the current weather, which is, unfortunately, something you can't affect.
Marble Caves are the best seen on a clear day with plenty of sunshine because the light in combination with turquoise water creates a remarkable spectacle.
Obviously, the sun affects the overall experience a lot.
When doing our research about Marble Caves, we noticed some negative reviews from people who were quite disappointed.
They even argued that Marble Caves belong among the most underwhelming sights they visited in Patagonia.
However, most of those comments mentioned that the weather was bad, the sun was hidden behind clouds, or it rained.
The biggest chance to enjoy sunny weather in Puerto Rio Tranquilo is during the summer, from November to late February.
Remember that sunny conditions are never guaranteed as the weather in Patagonia is unpredictable and can change several times a day.
And when it rains, you won't have that much fun in Patagonia whether you're in Puerto Tranquilo, Torres del Paine, or Queulat National Park.
Time of the Day
You can also visit Marble Caves in the morning or later in the afternoon.
If possible, choose one of the morning slots for the boat ride.
During this time, General Carrera Lake is usually calm, while in the afternoon, strong winds pick up, and the lake starts to be very choppy.
Once again, exceptions happen, and you might find calm waters here even in the afternoon.
We don't have to mention that you should also go kayaking to Marble Caves early in the morning.
What to Pack
While it might seem a bit obvious what to pack for this trip, keep in mind that this is not a regular boat ride.
So here are some essential things you should pack for a boat trip to Marble Caves.
While we couldn't have wished for better weather, it was still an incredibly windy day out there. The lake was choppy, and the water went everywhere.
The most crucial item for this boat trip is a good old rain poncho. Bring it even on a sunny day.
We took the boat trip in the afternoon, and the lake was choppy, and the water was splashing everywhere. While the rain ponchos should be included in the tour package, we would still bring our own to be safe.
Depending on the tour operator, it can happen that they might not have rain ponchos for everyone, so it's better to come here prepared.
Believe us. You don't want to end up on the lake without waterproof gear.
A regular windproof rain jacket and rain pants should be fine if the lake is calm.
Just make sure the tour operator has enough rain ponchos for everyone in case the weather changes and your rain gear is not exactly high-end.
A waterproof dry bag that contains an extra warm layer in case you get splashed, a water bottle, and your camera is also must-have item.
Don't forget that you will be on an open lake for a few hours, so applying sunscreen is recommended.
Wearing a hat is also a good way to protect your head against the sun.
Just make sure you have something similar to a multifunctional headwear unless you want your regular hat to be blown away by a sudden wind gust.
Here you will also find more information on what to pack for Patagonia in general.
Where to Stay in Puerto Rio Tranquilo
Some hotels, hostels, and campgrounds can be reserved in advance in Puerto Rio Tranquilo.
In the village, there are also several local homestays that work on a first come, first served basis.
If you have a car, staying directly in Puerto Rio Tranquilo is not necessary as you will find some beautiful accommodations outside the village.
When traveling around Patagonia in peak season, making reservations in advance is advised.
Here are the best hotels in Puerto Rio Tranquilo.
Mid-range | Cabanas Don Hugo - Don Hugo is one of the most popular accommodations in Puerto Tranquilo. These classic cabanas offer cozy rooms, excellent location, friendly staff, and heating.
Mid-range | Cabanas Valle Exploradores - These spacious cabins with a kitchenette, tidy rooms, comfortable beds, and free on-site parking are located in a quiet location right in the center of the village.
Mid-range | Chelenko Lodge - Located on the beach, about a 20-minute drive from the village, Chelenko Lodge is among the top accommodations in Puerto Rio Tranquilo. As expected, the lake views from the modern cabins are simply breathtaking. The units are bright and come with a kitchen and comfortable bed. There is also a hot tub and free on-site parking.
Puerto Guadal | Terra Luna Lodge - Located about an hour's drive south of Puerto Rio Tranquilo, Terra Luna Lodge offers charming bungalows with panoramic lake views, an outdoor swimming pool, spa, free Wi-Fi, and on-site parking. The lodge also offers helicopter flights, hiking, jet boats, mountaineering, and horseback riding tours.
Are Marble Caves Worth Visiting?
When touring Carretera Austral, Marble Caves are definitely worth visiting, even if you're traveling on a budget and usually avoid tours.
That was our case, and we still really enjoyed this experience.
It was one of those little adventures that require no effort from your side but reward you with spectacular views and epic scenery.
As mentioned above, the weather can greatly impact your overall experience.
Still, we believe Marble Caves are worth visiting, even on a cloudy day. Just be prepared that the water and the caves won't be as strikingly blue as in the pictures.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
