Catedral de Marmol or Capilla de Mármol AKA Marble Caves is stunning but rather remote natural attraction that’s located on the shores of General Garrera Lake near by the small settlement called Puerto Rio Tranquillo in central Chilean Patagonia. You can book the day before or in the morning of the tour! There is no bus terminal in Puerto Tranquilo. Marvel Cave was originally called Marble Cave, after explorers in 1882 saw what they thought was marble on the cave's ceiling. She has visited more than 55 countries and set foot on every continent in the world!She is a coffee nerd, passionate about photography, wildlife and outdoor activities. You might be able to get a ride or hear about a weekly bus heading south. This is the case for the Marble Caves located near the tiny village of Puerto Rio Tranquilo, in southern Chile. Here is a map of the 2 ways to get to Puerto Rio Tranquilo from El Chalten/El Calafate. Be aware however that boat or kayak tours don’t run if the conditions on the lake are dangerous. I have a calendar from about 3 years ago that has a beautiful photo of the marble caves. Local people living in the Marlbank area many years ago believed the rock in the was Marble, hence … 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. Most accommodation close and the local transportation stop running. Both names are internationally accepted, but the marble caves are on the Chilean side. This site uses cookies to track and optimise performance: Where are these remarkable Marble Caves in Chile? The famous Patagonian wind is also often a real pain, so think… Read more ». When water drips from cave ceilings, usually from groundwater, it may form stalagmites, the spiky rock formations inside of a cave that resemble pins. Marble Arch Caves- … love the Marble caves Glad you made it! 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.. 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 site uses Akismet to reduce spam. We reached Los Antigos at sunrise and tried to reach the border which was opening at 8 am. 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. 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. Moreover, as from the 1st of April, Patagonia shut down! But the small town has limited space can lead to full-vacancies and the lack of internet makes reserving complicated. Hi Claudia, we were there at the end of march/early-April. 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. 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. I tore it out and have been looking at it on my wall ever since. 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. This unique geological formation cannot be directly accessed by land. The Volkswagen Hover Car is a pod-like zero-emissions vehicle that uses electromagnetic road networks to float above the road. Hi Des, this is an excellent question. This happened to me too. These caves have formed in a pure marble and are bathed in the deep blue water of General Carrera Lake. 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. Brilliant trip to the Marble Arch Caves on Friday 9th Oct. Our tour guide Victor was fantastic! What was the weather like the time you went and what kind of warm clothes did you pack? We came here to visit any of the caves and we could enter in two of them: Cantera di Colonata, a real cave at free-air, where you can see, where the marble stones are extracted since Roman Period. Follow Tales From The Lens’ boards to see our latest pins. These marble caves are one of a kind and a true spectacle. The local guides know exactly where to go and will give you the directive or will take the lead. Danang-marble mountains are open daily on schedule from the 7 to the 17: 00 in an uninterrupted way. 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. Her favourite moment? They are one of the most inspiring and beautiful places we have had the chance to see in this part of the world. It seems they are the only ones heading this route that early in the morning. 1.3 1935–1938: Skreen Hill and connections. the lively effect. The marble caves are stunning all year long but it is best to visit during the austral summer, from December to March. At its deepest, it has a depth of 1,923 feet (586 m). Situated in Chile Chico, Aysen Region Chile on General Carrera Lake which is the fifth largest lake in … It requires a short ride by speedboat or, with good … It takes about 4.5 hours and cost 10,000 CLP (€15). Travelling all this way just for the Marble Caves would be a very complicated and long journey. The Marble Caves in Patagonia, are situated along the Carretera Austral, 220km south of Coyhaique, the biggest city in the region. Thanks! In Puerto Rio Tranquilo, the town by the lake, you will find a dozen shacks with travel agencies. 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. 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. Marble Caves The Marble Caves is geological formation of unusual beauty. Myself and my travel partner are planning on adding the Marble Caves into our roadtrip itinerary from Santiago to Punta Arenas. Marble has the lively effect for it has the low index of refraction. We are planning on going Dec-March 2020/2021. Steven. Some of the best landscapes we have ever seen have been there. I was wondering what time of the year you were visiting the caves though? We will arrive in Puerto Rio Tranquilo on Dec 22 and want to make sure we can get a boat to the caves. Keep reading. There is no denying that Patagonia is filled with awe-inspiring landscapes, but some are less accessible than others and remain unknown to most of the world. This unique geological formation cannot be directly accessed by land. 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). Very interesting place for history-lovers and scientist-lovers. 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 The lake itself is on the border of Argentina and Chile, with the caves located on the Chilean side. Currency (average) : €1 = 713 CLP / 16.38 ARS. 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. Exploring the marble caves in Chile is going to be the cave exploration you didn’t know you needed. The sma... Walter Towers in Prague, Czech Republic, is the latest from modern architectural firm Bjarke Ingels Group. The town has now opened a bit to tourism, so you can find a few hostels, hospedajes and cabanas. We stayed at the Cabaña Silvana with 4 other travellers and really enjoyed our time there. What about saving this post to your Pinterest board? The Cathedral, the Chapel and the Cave are the three formations that make up this natural spectacle that will certainly leave you breathless. 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. Oh my god, I am so happy. To the North, follow the Carretera Austral to Coyhaique and Cerro Castillo, the new Torres del Paine. The “Lago General Carrera” is so big that massive waves are common. Her organisation and curiosity make her a great travel companion always looking for DIY and off-the-grid adventures. Super helpful. 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. Hi guys! Cave Spikes are Limestone. Many of whom we would spend the next few days with or sporadically meet along our route north through South America. These are brilliant places to take pictures and witness the gorgeous myriad of colours dropping into the General Carrera lake. Being inside these caves is like being inside the Aurora Borealis. General Carrera Lake is the biggest lake in Chile and second biggest fresh-water lake in South America. It is a unique geological formation featuring a group of caverns, tunnels and pillars created in monoliths of marble and formed by waves over the last 6,000 years or so. Thanks for a very useful post and the photos are awesome. Source by Traveling Myself . Since I travelled for 18 months in Latin America, I packed for all 4 seasons and I used everything in Patagonia. 1.5 1982–1985: show cave development. Once on site, there are a few caves you can enter or get closer to. 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 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. Although it has a more appeasing appearance than limestone, it can also be very pricey. The Marble Caves are located in Chile, in the region XI called Aysén. 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. talesfromthelens.com. Thank you for sharing this. You cannot be on a tight schedule to see the Marble Caves as it will take a lot of time just to get there. The clear waters and designs of the marble caves. Thanks for all the wonderful info. Hi Michelle!!! Finished in the 2000s, the road can now be travelled through entirely, but it is still an adventure! The buses usually stop, on a daily basis around 11 am, on the side on the main road,  Dagoberto Godoy. 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 elevator costs 30,000 VND (1€), price that allows us to go up and then down. The use of a 4WD is, in fact, necessary. I don’t think you should be worried about having a boat in December. , the boat tours usually leave from Puerto Tranquillo (a little town), Río Ibáñez. 1.4 1966–1967: Skreen Hill 2, 3 and Legnabrocky Way. Or are they available in plentiful during this time of year? Marble Arch Caves Discover magical moments in one of Europe’s finest show caves. Those spikes are made with the same materials as limestone. © COPYRIGHT TALES FROM THE LENS The only issue could be the… Read more ». You can travel in a small boat or kayak, (only when the weather is nice and the water is mostly still). The caves are on the Chilean side of the lake. The Marble Caves is geological formation of unusual beauty. This is one of the most remote parts of Chile with only one road from North to South. The lake is shared by Chile and Argentina and is known as Lake Buenos Aires on the Argentinian side. 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. 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. Please note │ This blog post may also include affiliate links to hostels or products we recommend, which means if you buy something following a link on this page, we’ll get a small commission. These happen to be on the second largest freshwater lakes in South America. Many people class this network of marble caves as the most beautiful cave … Thanks for all the great information provided. 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. The price of the entrance to the cave Am Phu is 15,000 VND. It is really blue. 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 Guys!! It can be warm during the day but really cold at night. It is so beautiful & interesting — our world. Like several others, we hitch-hiked and were picked up by a border control agent. As you approach the caves, the marble shows its most vibrant colours. Great craic too & so friendly. We recently went to the Marble Caves. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - PHOTOS AND TEXTS CANNOT BE USED WITHOUT PERMISSION PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: These caves are one of the most spectacular caves in the world. 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. 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 and Marble Cathedral are best reached via Puerto Tranquilo, Chile. We had a wood fire stoves and a kitchen all to our selves. Patagonia is on our bucket list! These caves were formed by flowing water and marble. It is the high season and there are a lot of locals offering tours throughout the day. Great thing to do particularly when the weather isn’t good. Bookmarking this for when we eventually get there, Hi Meryl, Patagonia is incredible. Thank you for your support. Thank you!! The Marble Caves…. In addition to the marble structure of these caves, the stunning location is cherry on the top. Not only did he tell us all about the caves he gave great recommendations on other things to do in the area. This is how we found ourselves walking 5 km to the Chilean border control. 1.1 18th–19th century: The Junction, Grand Gallery and Pool Chamber. The Marble Caves (Most famous of them is the. Declared by Chile to be Nature’s Sanctuary, the stunning Marble Caves are the most famous attraction of Patagonia. Go around and talk with the local guides to learn about their tours. I hope you get done someday to see for yourself. It’s all I wish for you. thanks for the comment. The lake its on is the Carrera Lake. 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. Do you know if we can pre-book a boat? 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. Caves are formed when water wears into rock, eroding openings and creating caverns that people later explore. To the south, you will find Caleta Tortel, a town built on pilotis and boardwalks and also Villa O’Higgins further south where you can cross into Argentina and pursue your trip to El Chalten and El Calafate. We won’t keep the secret from you. 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. Do not hesitate to negotiate the price if you are a group of people, you should be able to drop the price a little. It helped to plan our trip. 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. - Marble Chapel) are located on Lake General Carrera/Buenos Aires (Depends which side of the lake you are on) Patagonia. Puerto Rio Tranquilo is a very remote places and internet is still very sporadic which is probably one of the reasons why booking is not possible for now online. They were formed in top of the lake. This is great information. Nestled deep in the Patagonian Andes, you can find the Cuevas de Mármol (Marble Caves) on a peninsula of solid marble. 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. I say a photo of it and had to see this beauty. NEXT READ: What to do along the Carretera Austral. 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Also be very pricey continue the Carretera Austral to Coyhaique ) and continue from by! Shacks with travel agencies about their tours find a dozen shacks with travel agencies you didn t. I am aware there aren ’ t think you should be worried about having a boat the. Dropping into the General Carrera ” is so big that massive waves are common Bjarke Ingels Group far... Finest show caves the most inspiring and beautiful places facts about marble caves have had the chance to our! Most remote parts of Chile with only one road from north to South to this.

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