Patagonman Xtreme Triathlon
Puerto Aysen / Puerto Chacabuco (finish at General Carrera Lake near Puerto Ibanez / Chile Chico area), Chile · December · Independent (Patagonman; Norseman-style Xtri)
Why people love it
- Fjord ferry-jump swim, Carretera Austral bike and a lake-finish bell
- Pro field has drawn Brownlee, Amberger, Hoffman and Don
- Dramatic Patagonian scenery: fjord, mountains, river, waterfalls and lake
- Small field of about 300 athletes
Watch out for
- Water 10-15 °C (50-59 °F) and a swim in the dark
- Extreme wind (74 km/h (46 mph) / 46 mph in 2022) and unpredictable weather
- Mandatory support person and rental car
- Point-to-point with two hotel bases
- Lottery entry
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 27% of the overall score.
- Racer satisfactionBucket list4.6
Pros and finishers (Amberger, Brownlee, Livesey, Gossage) call it exceptional; few amateur reports, and the elite-heavy sources skew positive. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.1
Praised by 2022 winners; a Navy-backed safety plan handled the 2022 swim cut to 2 km (1.2 mi) and a 2025 oil-spill scare. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyExperts only1.0
An extreme point-to-point with a mandatory support person and rental car, lottery entry and a cold, dark swim. · High confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialVery slow1.0
Winners take about 9 hours on wind, gravel and 2,439 m (8,000 ft) of climbing; the women's runner-up took over 13 hours in 2025. · High confidence
- Course easeExtreme1.0
Water of 10-15 °C (50-59 °F), wind, about 2,440 m (8,000 ft) of bike climbing, gravel and a river-crossing trail marathon; 87% finished in 2024. · High confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalAlmost always5.0
Water of 10-15 °C (50-59 °F) is far below the 24.5 °C (76.1 °F) limit, so wetsuits are always legal. · Medium confidence
- Water temperatureExtreme1.2
Water is 10-15 °C (50-59 °F) across editions: 10.5 °C (51 °F) in 2019 and 12.5-15 °C (54.5-59 °F) in 2025. · High confidence
- Calm waterChoppy2.3
A fjord with strong currents; 74 km (46 mi)/h (46 mph) wind cut the 2022 swim to 2 km (1.2 mi), and 2025 was calm but current-affected. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeModerate2.6
A deep-water ferry jump in the dark with fjord currents and cold; the one-way swim helps navigation. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.7
A ferry-jump start in a spectacular fjord, but cold, dark and affected by current; few swim-specific reviews. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfacePatchy2.3
Mostly Carretera Austral pavement that is far from perfect, plus gravel stretches; the organiser cites four unpaved segments, but sources conflict. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.2
A remote, low-traffic highway with support vehicles; closure details were not found. · Low confidence
- Bike scenerySpectacular4.8
The Carretera Austral wilderness corridor through Patagonian mountains and valleys. · Medium confidence
- WindNotoriously windy1.2
Notorious Aysen wind: gusts near 74 km (46 mi)/h (46 mph) nearly blew riders off in 2022, and it was cold and windy again in 2024. · High confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedSlow1.5
180 km (112 mi) with about 2,440 m (8,000 ft) of gain, headwinds and gravel; even Brownlee's 4:47 split averaged only 37.6 km (23.4 mi)/h (23.4 mph). · High confidence
- Bike flatnessHilly1.5
About 2,439-2,500 m (8,000-8,200 ft) of climbing, at the mountainous end of the scale. · Medium confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts2.7
A winding road with switchbacks into Cerro Castillo and gravel descents; no hard technical data found. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportSparse1.6
A remote course with only support persons and a handful of spectators; the finish bell at the lake is emotional. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard2.8
A support-person model supplements the aid stations, and your support person may join for the last 12 km (7.5 mi); station details were not found. · Low confidence
- Run scenerySpectacular4.9
The Ibanez River, lakes, waterfalls and the finish at General Carrera Lake. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsBrutal1.4
Trail and rubble roads with a river crossing, called the hardest part by 2018 winners; cool temperatures help slightly. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessHilly1.9
A dirt and rubble trail with a river crossing and about 914-1,500 m (3,000-4,900 ft) of gain, depending on source. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureHarsh1.9
Estimated race-day air of 5-18 °C (41-64 °F) with rain and wind; cold for much of the day, though the 2018 run was reported hot. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVolatile1.2
The organiser calls the weather 100% unpredictable; the 2022 swim was shortened, and wind, rain and cold vary widely. · High confidence
- Venue beautyStunning4.9
Fjord, mountain and lake scenery that athletes universally praise. · High confidence
- Spectator friendlyHard to watch1.2
A point-to-point across a remote region; a rental car is needed and viewing points are few. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeLow4.3
General Carrera Lake is about 217 m (712 ft) and the corridor is mostly low, though bike passes are higher. · Low confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilitySells out early2.3
About 300 athletes plus support persons in a region with a modest set of 3-star hotels; book early. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.1
Mid-range 3-star options in Coyhaique, Puerto Aysen and Chacabuco; little price data. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityMostly driving1.5
Two bases (Puerto Aysen and Chacabuco before, Coyhaique after), and swim, bike and run start in different places, so a car is required. · Low confidence
- Travel easeRemote1.4
Fly Santiago to Balmaceda, then about a 1 hour road transfer; a support-person rental car is required. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsComplex1.1
A point-to-point with two hotel bases, a mandatory support person and mandatory gear. · High confidence
- Town and foodLimited2.3
Small towns, with Coyhaique the better; no reviews found. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Puerto Aysen / Puerto Chacabuco (finish at General Carrera Lake near Puerto Ibanez / Chile Chico area), Aysen, Chile
- Typical month
- December
- Latest or next date
- 6 December 2026
- Organiser
- Independent (Patagonman; Norseman-style Xtri)
- Field size
- About 300 athletes
- First held
- 2018
- Distances
- 3.8 km (2.4 mi) swim, 180 km (112 mi) bike, 42.2 km (26.2 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Aysen Fjord (ferry jump start, finish at Puerto Chacabuco) (fjord)
- Water temperature
- 10–15 °C (50–59 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Legal
- Swim start
- deep-water (jump from ferry, pre-dawn)
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike climbing
- 2,439 m (8,000 ft)
- Bike laps
- 1
- Key climbs
- Cerro Castillo switchbacks (approx.)
- Run laps
- 1
- Run shade
- Forest sections; exposed lakeside; heat reported in 2018
- Air temperature
- 5–18 °C (41–64 °F)
- Humidity
- Variable, rain possible
- Nearest airport
- Balmaceda (BBA), Coyhaique
- Where to stay
- Puerto Aysen, Puerto Chacabuco, Coyhaique
- Booking
- Point-to-point: stay at Puerto Aysen/Puerto Chacabuco before race, Coyhaique after. Support person needs rental car. Regional lodging is limited; book early.
What racers and reviewers say
- Slowtwitch forumRaced 2018 · forum · Positive
First-edition racer found the run, and to a degree the bike, far harder than expected. Wore wetsuit with extra thermal gear; felt some of it unnecessary. A 2019 finisher with 25+ full-distance races called it a favourite for the region, people and organisers.
- Tri247Raced 2018 · article · Positive
Debut-edition coverage. Winner Gossage regretted skipping trail shoes and a hydration pack and called the run epic; Mark Livesey named it the best place he has raced; Louise Minchin finished in about 16.5 h calling it brutal but brilliant.
“simply epic”
- Tri247Raced 2022 · article · Mixed
Race day had winds to 40 knots (74 km/h (46 mph) / 46 mph), cold rain and ~10 °C (50 °F) water, so the swim was cut to 2 km (1.2 mi) under a Navy-approved safety protocol. Hoffman called the bike very hard but praised organisation, landscape and finish; Livesey said gusts nearly knocked her off her bike.
- Endurance.biz / Tri247 2024 summariesRaced 2024 · article · Positive
Fifth edition: 45 countries, 182 starters, 159 finishers. Challenging swim currents, cold windy bike with gravel stretches, and a river crossing on the run. Livesey became the first two-time winner.
- SlowtwitchRaced 2025 · article · Positive
2025 recap: the day before, a fatal fjord crash and oil spill threatened the swim but Navy clean-up let it proceed; water 12.5-15 °C (54.5-59 °F), the mildest on record. Brownlee posted the fastest bike split; Derrett won in 9:06.
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- Tri247Raced 2025 · article · Positive
Results coverage of 2025: Amberger led the swim in 49:52, Derrett turned the run into a win, women's champion Rosie Wild finished 10:27 while second woman took over 13 h, showing a very wide spread of finish times.
- Triathlon Magazine Canadaarticle · Positive
Preview of the 2026 edition: 300 spots via lottery or social-commitment option, fjord swim, Carretera Austral bike, marathon through canyons and waterfalls to General Carrera Lake. Mandatory support person per athlete. Quotes Amberger and Brownlee praising the race.
- Patagonman official (organiser comparison)article · Mixed
Organiser's own description (promotional, not independent): dark cold swim, windy tough bike, trail run with no paved roads, unpredictable weather, point-to-point with two hotel bases and a support person with rental car.
- Hotel aggregators (Hotels.com / Travelocity / GoChile)hotel-review · Mixed
Region has a modest set of 3-star hotels and hostels in Coyhaique, Puerto Aysen and Puerto Chacabuco; Loberias del Sur well reviewed, Gran Hotel Aysen mid-range at about 3 stars. Options are limited, so book early.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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