San Rafael Lake

San Rafael Lake (Lago San Rafael) is a glacial lake inside Laguna San Rafael National Park in Chile’s Aysén Region, fed directly by the San Rafael Glacier. It is notable for floating icebergs and regular glacier calving.

The lake and glacier draw visitors who come to see tidewater-glacier calving, icebergs of varying sizes and the surrounding fjord landscape. Boat and expedition cruises navigate the fjords and approach the glacier front to view the ice and wildlife from the water.

The lake and glacier are part of the Northern Patagonian Ice Field system and were incorporated into protected status when Laguna San Rafael National Park was created in the mid-20th century. The park protects glacier, fjord and coastal ecosystems.

Geographically the lake sits on the western edge of the Northern Patagonian Ice Field in the Aysén Region of southern Chile. The nearest coastal access points used by tourists are ports on the Aysén fjord coast such as Puerto Chacabuco and coastal departure points for expedition vessels.

• Best time to visit: Most boat excursions operate in the austral summer months when weather is milder and sea conditions in the fjords are calmer.
• How to get there: Access is primarily by sea from coastal gateways such as Puerto Chacabuco or by expedition cruises that navigate the Aysén fjord system.

What to See #

• San Rafael Glacier: A tidewater glacier that terminates in the lake and produces icebergs and periodic calving events that float in the lake water.
• Northern Patagonian Ice Field: The ice field feeding the glacier and lake, part of the northern sector of the Northern Patagonian Ice Field that supplies glaciers to the lake.