You can get to Aisen via sea, air or overland.

a) Overland
Coming from Chile you can enter Aisen by any of the following options:
Chiloe, take the car ferry to Chaiten and then continue south via the Southern Highway (Carretera Austral).
Puerto Montt, take the Southern Highway form it's very beginning. This option requires taking a ferry across the Sound of Reloncavi and another for 5 hours from Hornopiren to Caleta Gonzalo. This second ferry only operates in January and February.
There are various options for arriving to Aisen via Argentina through recognized border control points. Those that enter Chile and join with the Southern Highway in Aisen are listed below:

b) By Sea
There are various companies that run ferries to the Aisen region and also offer journeys to Laguna San Rafael:
Transmarchilay (Cars and passengers):
Hornopiren-Caleta Gonzalo: January and February
Catamaranes del Sur (Only passengers)
Puerto Montt - Chaitén = Connects with the Southern Highway
Chaitén -Castro = Connects the Southern Highway with Chiloe
Aisén Express (Only passengers)
Puerto Montt - Chaitén = Connects to the Southern Highway
Puerto Montt - Puerto Chacabuco = Connects with the Southern Highway
Quellón - chacabuco
Chaiten- Chacabuco
Laguna San Rafael

c) By Air
Commercial flights to Balmaceda
Balmaceda airport (BBA) is 56 km from Coyhaique and is the only airport in the region where large, Boeing type aircraft can land.
Companies that operate these flights are:
Lan Chile with daily flights from Santiago and Puerto Montt and every Saturday one flight to Punta Arenas.
Sky Airlines with one flight a day from Santiago and Puerto Montt
Flying times are:
Santiago - Balmaceda : 3 hour
Puerto Montt - Balmaceda: 1 hour
Balmaceda - Punta Arenas : 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Commercial flights Puerto Montt - Chaiten:
6 to 8 seat planes operate the Puerto Montt to Chaiten route in 35 minutes. The principal companies are:
Aeromet, Aeropuelche, Aerochaitén, Aerosur

Puerto Montt - Coyhaique , via Argentina (Information taken from Sernatur)

• The use of high vehicles, particularly pick up trucks with double cabs or jeeps.
• Four-wheel drive is not necessary if you keep to the principal roads during summer. In winter four wheel drive is recommended.
• Although city type cars can be used there is a risk of bottoming out on many of the gravel roads.
• Average speeds on the gravel roads are 35 to 45 km/h. Average speed on the paved roads is 60 to 70 km/h.
• Two spare wheels are recommended on all cars.
• Petrol and diesel can be found in almost all of the towns along the Southern Highway (they are indicated on the distance / route charts). It is not necessary to take spare tanks of fuel.

The climate of the region is clearly marked by 4 seasons but with noticeable differences between one area and another due to the great geographic diversity of Aisen.We recommend consulting about the climate specifically for any program you are considering. Generally speaking we can identify the following climatic zones along a longitudinal axis:

Western slope of the Andes and the inland coastal area, ( Chaiten, Puyuhapi, Quelat Fjord Lodge, Puerto Aysen, Puerto Chacabuco u Tortel):
This is a cold, temperate and rainy climate characterized by high, uniform precipitation ( over 2000 mm per annum ) and average temperatures which fluctuate between 7ºc and 9ºc. Generally there is no snow fall in the valleys and the summer climate is very variable with several changes from sun to rain being typical in the course of a single day.

Eastern slope of the Andes (Futaleufu, Lago Verde, Coyhaique, General Carrera Lake, Baker Valley, Cochrane and Villa O H'Higgins)
Rainfall is in decline towards the East ranging from 2000 mm to 600 mm per annum with seasonal fluctuations that narrow in range. Average temperatures fluctuate around 9ºc with an increase in temperature range. In winter temperatures gradually drop below 0ºc, which gives rise to frequent snowfall. This is an area of high winds, particularly in spring and summer.

Eastern most sector of the region (Alto Rio Cisnes, Balmaceda, Chile Chico, eastern section of General Carrera Lake, Entrada Baker
Further east there is a fractional decrease in rainfall to below 600 mm with a clear dry season. Average temperatures drop to around 6ºc and temperature ranges narrow. This is an area of strong winds.

Summits and Glaciers
Average annual temperatures do not rise above 0c meaning precipitation is typically snowfall.

Precipitation Averages

Clothing
Clothing is determined largely by the activity undertaken but you should be prepared for rain and sun, hot and cold. The climate is very variable with several changes typical within a single day. It is commonly said that all 4 seasons can be experienced in a single day, particularly in spring and autumn. We generally recommend a sweater, jacket, trousers, hats, gloves and hiking boots for excursions. We recommend 2 changes of footwear.

How to get to San Rafael
In the cruise boats of Skorpios, Patagonia Express, Catamaranes del sur and Catamaranes Aysen Express. In private sail boat charters ( a specialty of our agency ). Small plane commercial flights.

Tips / Gratuities
Giving tips is a personal decision but they are generally given on the last day of a program or stay in a lodge and should be given in cash. 6 to 8 dollars per day, per person to be shared between all the staff is suggested.

Low Season
The low season has variable dates but typically begins in April and lasts until mid December, there are often discounts of 15 to 30% in this period.