The municipality of Laguna Blanca lies amid the Magellanic Pampa and brings together geological, archaeological and landscape points of interest. Morro Chico formed millions of years ago and is part of a group of rock art sites; traces of the Aonikenk date back several thousand years. Villa Tehuelches on Route 9 and a section of the Sendero de Chile add practical orientation.
Landscape and Geology
The 2012 SERNATUR inventory lists Laguna Blanca as a regional natural attraction of the lake, lagoon or wetland type. The municipality also lies amid the Magellanic Pampa.
The hydrographic system of the municipality of Laguna Blanca includes Seno Otway, which is classified as an inland sea. The RĂo El Zurdo is an endorheic river; a system of ravines drains into it.
Morro Chico formed 8.21 million years ago in the Late Miocene and is one of five volcanic vents in the Magallanes Region. Its age places its formation in time; the number of five vents also situates the site in its regional context.
Rock Art and Cultural History
Morro Chico is designated an archaeological historic monument in the municipality of Laguna Blanca. It is also part of a group of rock art sites identified by researcher Felipe Bate Petersen in the 1960s.
The area of the municipality was home to the Aonikenk; traces attributed to them date back several thousand years. This is a different time reference from the identification of the rock art group in the 1960s: one date concerns the age of the traces, while the other is when the researcher documented them.
Places and Routes
Cueva de la Leona, also called Cañadón La Leona, lies on the eastern shore of Laguna Blanca near the road between Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales. Villa Tehuelches, by contrast, is located on Route 9, the main land connection between these two cities in the Magallanes Region.
Villa Tehuelches is the only inhabited settlement along this section of Route 9 and offers services as well as a place to stop and rest. Check which services are currently available before your trip.
A section of the Sendero de Chile, approximately 11 kilometers long, runs through the southern end of the municipality and is connected to the settlements of Entre Vientos and El Arenal. If you plan to include the trail in your hike, check current trail conditions beforehand.
Festival de la Esquila
The Festival de la Esquila has deep roots in Villa Tehuelches. The municipality of Laguna Blanca revived it in 1998 and established it there permanently. A 2012 SERNATUR entry lists it as a rural festival held in January. Before your trip, check whether an edition is taking place and confirm the dates.
For the broader travel overview: Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica Region.
