Laguna del Inca is a lake in Chile, located in the Andes at an altitude of about 2850 meters above sea level, near the border with Argentina. From two sides it is closely surrounded by mountains rising to a height of over 4000 meters, the slopes of which descend directly to the water.
Ahead, behind the far end of the lake, three peaks are visible — these is Tres Hermanos mountain ("three brothers" in Spanish), from 4274 to 4751 meters above sea level, it continues the mountain range passing to the right of the lake. Impressive view even in summer, isn't it?
And in winter, everything around is covered with the pure layer of snow up to 5-6 meters thick. No wonder this place attracts skiers from all over the country and not only: here is Ski Portillo, Chilean ski resort, on the territory of which these photos were taken. The main building of the hotel is located behind, and the main ski slopes are behind and on both sides of the hotel and this observation deck.
In winter, there is no free access to Laguna del Inca due to steep banks and increased danger of falling due to snow and scree, and, of course, for the convenience of skiers. You can only approach this small observation deck, however, an attractive view of the Tres Hermanos mountains and the lake opens from here too.
In the summer, before the ski season (it usually lasts from late June to early October there), access is open to everyone: you can kayak around the lake, walk along the lake and further along the valley between the mountains, or even take a two-day route to one of peaks of Tres Hermanos, although this is more mountaineering than a simple hiking trip. However, it is described as uncomplicated.
The path along the lake, which is the beginning of the route, is visible on the left — it goes along the slope of the mountain, since the banks near the lake are too steep to walk along them. A more or less gentle slope to the water and a strip of rocky beach along the water is near the hotel and on the opposite end of the lake.
In my opinion, the place is just great: a beautiful lake, mountains around, the cleanest air, a ski resort with a hotel, and besides, it is only about 150 kilometers from Santiago, the capital of Chile. And the views, the views around! Both before the Laguna del Inca lake and after it, there are many interesting and beautiful things for travelers around. I plan to show some of this in the near future :)
It's better to watch the photo in high resolution.
Camera: OLYMPUS E-M1 Mark II
You can also see my photos in my blog LJ and in my profile on NatGeo. You can read a short interview with me here.
