Chilean Patagonia

The wilderness at the southern tip of the continent: the granite towers of Torres del Paine National Park, the Marble Caves, the Carretera Austral and the Strait of Magellan.

This region corresponds to the "Far South" natural macro-region in Chile's official classification, i.e. Chilean Patagonia. It includes the Aysén region and the Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica region (including the Chilean side of Tierra del Fuego and Cape Horn), a sparsely populated glacial wilderness riddled with fjords. Highlights: Torres del Paine National Park is one of South America's most famous hiking destinations, with the Torres del Paine towers, the Cuernos del Paine, Grey Glacier and numerous lakes; you can hike the 4–5 day W Trek or the 8–10 day O Circuit, and campsites or refugios must be booked in advance. Puerto Natales is the base for entering the park. Punta Arenas lies on the Strait of Magellan, and boats run from here to Magdalena Island to see Magellanic penguins. In the north, the Aysén region is strung together by the Carretera Austral (Route 7), with the Marble Caves on General Carrera Lake, the San Rafael Lagoon glacier, the hanging glacier in Queulat National Park and Patagonia National Park along the way; Coyhaique is the regional hub. A classic plan is 5–7 days around Torres del Paine and Puerto Natales, plus 1–2 days in Punta Arenas; driving the Carretera Austral usually takes 10–14 days or more. Access is mainly by air: fly from Santiago or Puerto Montt to Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales or Balmaceda (for Coyhaique). You can also combine the trip with El Calafate in Argentina across the border. Winds are extremely strong and the weather changes in an instant, so bring windproof and waterproof gear. Long stretches of the Carretera Austral are gravel and gas stations are scarce, so plan ahead.

Destinations

Itineraries