Lago Pehoe, Chile
Also known as: Pehoe Lake
Located at the southern end of Chile, at the edge of the Andes Mountains, Lago Pehoe is a spectacular sight. The scenic lake is visited by thousands every year-most of them visitors to the larger Torres del Paine National Park. Lago Pehoe isn’t a lake for swimming or water sports; the highest summer temperatures rarely reach over 60 degrees. Fed by glaciers, Lago Pehoe glows with beautiful…
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Welcome to the ultimate guide to Lago Pehoe! Article topics include:
- All About Lago Pehoe
- Where to Stay
- Vacation Planning Tools
- Things to Do
- Known Fish Species
- Lago Pehoe Map
- Statistics / Weather / Helpful Links
- Lago Pehoe Gifts
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Located at the southern end of Chile, at the edge of the Andes Mountains, Lago Pehoe is a spectacular sight. The scenic lake is visited by thousands every year-most of them visitors to the larger Torres del Paine National Park. Lago Pehoe isn’t a lake for swimming or water sports; the highest summer temperatures rarely reach over 60 degrees. Fed by glaciers, Lago Pehoe glows with beautiful blue hues caused by glacial ‘flour’, or rock dust suspended in the water. Towering Cuernos del Paine peak is reflected on the lake’s surface. The wind blows from the west almost constantly during the summer-up to 70 miles per hour-and rain is frequent. Lago Pehoe is one of the most iconic and frequently photographed sights in Chilean Patagonia.
Lago Pehoe is a natural lake, fed by the Paine River and lakes upstream. The name Pehoe is derived from words in the native Tehuenches language meaning ‘hidden lake’. Likewise, the word paine means blue in that same tongue. A stunning 213-foot waterfall heralds the entrance of water from Nordenskjold Lake. The Salto Grande or Great Falls are often the destination of short hikes to the lake and can be seen even better from various lookout points along the shore. Another waterfall celebrates the exit of the Paine’s water into the riverbed where it continues its journey toward the sea. At least one small hotel offers lodgings along the lakeshore and is considered a major starting point for several hikes in the area. A small fleet of motor boats carries visitors to the far side of the 5,436-acre lake.
Most people arriving at Lago Pehoe come to tour the nearly 598,600 acres of Torres del Paine National Park. The park has been voted by National Geographic as the 5th most beautiful place in the world and holds a wealth of wildlife, unusual plants and spectacular geological formations. The Torres del Paine, the three peaks of the Paine massif, are a trio of strikingly steep needles of granite reaching to 8,200 feet. Grey Glacier is located eight miles from Lago Pehoe, and tourist guides take groups of visitors there regularly to admire the massive ice fields. Another favorite tour is to view the glacier by boat from the surface of Lago Grey and to watch it calve ice floes into the water. Increasingly, eco-tourism brings visitors to view the plant and animal life found here.
The area around Lago Pehoe is one of the places where the endangered guanacos are found in abundance. These small wild relatives of llamas and alpacas thrive on the sparse grasses and sedges found particularly in the wetlands bordering the lakes and rivers. Their main predator, the puma, is also found here. Foxes and the endangered Chilean huemul or South American deer, can also be found in the park. Torres del Paine Park is one of the rare breeding areas for the Andean condor. Other birds of prey which likely breed here are the Magellanic horned owl, black-chested buzzard-eagle, chimango caracara, austral pygmy-owl and cinereous harrier. Other unusual birds can be found in the park, including Darwin’s rhea, Chilean flamingo, coscoroba swan and Magellanic woodpecker.
Serious hikers often come prepared to spend several days hiking the many trails within Torres del Paine National Park. Due to the delicate ecosystem, all hikers must stay on marked trails and camp only in designated camping areas. Many of the campsites are very primitive and often free. Others have some rudimentary services and a fee is charged. There are a number of concessionaire-operated hotels, hostels and inns located along the Paine River. Although not usually up to European standards, the hotels are comfortable and usually have a restaurant. Food is an issue even for campers as no fires are allowed within the Park, and even camp stoves are prohibited in many of the campsites. Good planning and good maps are essential for camping here, and signing on with a tour guide will assure that one isn’t left unprepared.
All types of guided tours are available within the Park. Vehicle tours take visitors to some of the most popular sites. Horseback tours can lead less physically-fit tourists into areas they wouldn’t be able to walk. Canoe and rafting trips are led on the rivers in the area with guide and all necessary equipment furnished. However, seeing much of the park requires traveling by foot with sturdy hiking shoes and appropriate camping gear. Driving to the lake by car usually means starting from Punta Arenas, a trip of over four hours. The Argentina border route takes nearly as long and may require currency changes and border paperwork.
Visiting Lago Pehoe is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. A trusted travel agent and tour guide can make the trip enjoyable and memorable. It is best to make certain that any accommodations chosen are reserved in advance and that activities are seasonally appropriate and allowed. Remember that summer here are the months of December through February-and nothing much happens during the winter.
So, if you’re the type of traveler who enjoys a challenge, lives to visit out-of-the-way locations, and view sights few of your friends have seen, Lago Pehoe is for you!
Things to Do at Lago Pehoe
These are some activities in the Lago Pehoe, Chile area visitors can enjoy:
- Vacation Rentals
- Boating
- Swimming
- Canoeing
- Camping
- Hiking
- Horseback Riding
- Waterfall
- Wildlife Viewing
- Birding
- National Park
Find Places to Stay at Lago Pehoe
If you’re considering a Lago Pehoe lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.
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More Sites to Book a Lago Pehoe Vacation
Our interactive Lago Pehoe lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:
Lago Pehoe Statistics & Helpful Links
Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Not Dammed
Surface Area: 5,436 acres
Shoreline Length: 25 miles
Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 112 feet
More local lakes to explore in this area:
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