Day 22: A Slice of Heaven

February 14, 2026. Puerto Guadal to Mallin Grande. 18 miles.

We had thought we would have to ride from Puerto Guadal, all the way to Chile Chico, a distance of 71 miles. This, combined with the fact that we would need to climb well over 5000 feet in elevation and all on ripio, we were a bit frantic. to finbd a place to stay along the way. Up until this point, it seemed all we could find is some dubious wild camp spots. Then I read an article in Outside Magazine about a guy who stayed in a little known lodge, called Patagonian Acres, outside the tiny hamlet of of Mallin Grande, and how he loved it. We looked into it and lo and behold, they actually had one room left! Of course we took it.

The ride to this lodge was only 18 miles, but that would be 18 less miles the next day, and that mattered.

We ended up liking the lodge so much that we stayed for two nights and used the off day to catch up on our blogs, relax, and chat with the owner's son, Justin. The lodge was built in the early years of the 21st century by an Arizonan family. Justin's dad, who worked in mining on and off in Argentina, often came to the area for fishing. He found the property, fell in love with it, sold his home in Arizona, and invested in building a home that quickly evolved into a larger dream of establishing a full-service lodge. Today, the family hosts visitors from all over the world, offering excursions to local sights, great meals, and some of the most beautiful scenery on Lake Carrera.

February 15, 2026. Day off in Mallin Grande

February 16, 2026. Mallin Grande to Chile Chico. 47 miles.