Southern Patagonia

This territory is one of the most spectacular on the planet and extends from the Magallanes Region to the Chilean Antarctica.

Without a doubt, when talking about the attractions of the Patagonian South, the place that stands out above all the rest is the National Park Torres del Paine, an area of abundant lakes, lagoons, glaciers, as well as a great diversity of representative species of the flora and fauna of the Chilean Patagonia.

From Punta Arenas, the capital of the Magallanes Region, you can find all of the necessary amenities in order to begin to discover the extreme south of Chile. Crossing the famous Magellan Strait, we find Tierra del Fuego, an island where cold, wind, and rain have marked this land and those who have inhabited it. Here we find Porvenir, almost directly in front of Punta Arenas, the largest and most important city of the island.

However, there is still mucho more to explore. Crossing the Beagle Channel, we get to the remote Puerto Williams, on Navarino Island, a good base to explore a unique environment, and to visit the neighboring city of Ushuaia in Argentina.

Finishing our tour through Patagonia, we find ourselves in the National Park Cape Horn, the southernmost and least hospitable parks in all of Chile. Situated on the Wollaston archipelago in Tierra del Fuego, the park has fragile resources and ecosystems of unique characteristics, marked by peat bogs and the cold desert of Cape Horn. Facing Cape Horn and crossing hundreds of kilometers of waters, the Chilean Antarctic Territory appears as the last frontier of Chilean national territory.

Torres del Paine National Park
Declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1978, Torres del Paine Nacional Park (located in the 11th Region of Magallanes, Chile) is internationally recognized as one of the most beautiful, pollution-free, and unique places on the planet. Its greatest attractions are rooted in its spectacular lakes, and flora and fauna that turn it into an ideal site for ecotourism and adventure sports. Undoubtedly one of the greatest attractions of the park is the Macizo de Paine (the Paine Mass), formed in large part of granite, and is dated at 12 million years. The highest point is Monte Paine Grande (3,050 meters above sea level). However, the most representative and famous peaks of the park are the so called "Cuernos" (Horns) and "Torres" (Towers) of Paine. Both have three peaks: the Northern, Principal and East Horns (2400, 2600, and 2200 msnm respectively; and the Southern, Central and Northern Towers (2850, 2800, and 2600 msnm respectively). Due to the neighboring Campo de Hielo Sur (Southern Ice Fields), the park possesses a number of rivers, lagoons, and lakes that owe their formation to the thawing of the glaciers that make them up. Among the lakes are Sarmiento, Nordenskjold, Pehóe, Grey, Paine, and Dickson. There are also a great many lagoons of various sizes: Verde (Green), Azul (Blue), and Honda, among others. Among the most common animals that inhabit the park are the guanaco (a wild camelid), rheas (a large flightless bird similar to an ostrich), condors, pumas, gray foxes, and a great variety of birds that inhabit the lakes and lagoons.

Tierra del Fuego
The adventure continues on to the south where the first European navigators set their sight on Patagonia, guided in 1520 by Hernando de Magallanes. They crossed the Strait that today has his name, and baptized the southern region at first as Tierra de Patagones (Land of the Patagones) due to the enormous tracks that were found in the snow, which were the footprints of the Tehuelches and Onas, nomadic hunters who covered their feet with skins of guanaco (a wild camelid) to protect themselves from the cold. Later the explorers were surprised by the enormous bonfires that darkened the sky of this extreme southern territory and baptized this area as Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fire). The Island of Tierra del Fuego constitutes a unique and spectacular attraction, with nature laden with history and legends that enchant the visitor who likes extreme landscapes. Here you can find excellent spots for fishing and places to observe the existing flora and fauna, all while navigating through the channels and fjords, which are the southernmost in the world.

Fjords and Patagonian Glaciers
Another of the characteristics that emerge from the geological formation of the Patagonian Andes is the presence of diverse glaciers. Among them are the Campos de Hielo Sur (Southern Ice fields), which extends 300 km to the south of Baker Fjord. It is a setting of incomparable beauty, where lakes alternate with mountainous summits that unite the steppes or Patagonian pampas, vast plains covered with grass, which makes this a typical area for cattle-raising. To the west and southwest of the Andean mountain range there is an immense area of archipelagos, formed by rocky islands of various sizes and crags that form a geographical labyrinth that is among the most extensive and beautiful on Earth. Among the most important island are found, from north to south: Wellington, Madre de Dios (Mother of God), Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fire), and the archipelago Reina Adelaida (Queen Adelaide).

Puerto Natales
Entry port to beautiful natural settings such as the internationally-known Torres del Paine Nacional Park and the Natural Monument Cueva de Milodón (Milodón Cave). In winter, it is off to the ski slope in Río Turbio, to the sea to the glaciers of the Balmaceda and Serrano mountains, and to the seven glaciers located in the Mountain Channel. From the gentle slope on which it is located, you can see the Riesco Mountain Range, the Macizo Paine (Paine Mass), and the glaciers of Campo de Hielo Sur (the Southern Ice fields).

Cave of Milodon
The cave of Milodón is a cavern of great dimensions: 5 meters wide, 30 meters high, and 200 meters deep. The name of the cave comes from an animal that has been extinct for several millennium of the name Milodón. The remains of the Milodón were found by paleontologists in this cave. Archaeologists have also found evidence of the primitive Patagonian man in this area, dated back to approximately 11,000 years.

Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas is the most important commercial and industrial center, as well as area for cattle-raising in Patagonia. It is the southern most city of Chile and many call it the City of Monuments. It is located on the Brunswick Peninsula on the shores of the Strait of Magellan at the extreme southern tip of the country. In Punta Arenas, on the hill that dominates the city and the Strait of Magellan, you can find the southernmost ski resort of the world, Cerro Mirador (Lookout Hill). At 25 nautical miles from Punta Arenas is located Isla Magdalena (Magdalena Island), which together with the rocky island of Marta form the Natural Monument "The Penguins", an impressive habitat for a population of approximately 50,000 pairs of Magellan penguins.

Puerto Williams and Ushuaia
Crossing the Beagle Channel, we reach the remote Puerto Williams, on Isla Navarino (Navarino Island). Puerto Williams is a good base to explore the unique natural environment of this area and to visit the neighboring city of Ushuaia in Argentina.

Cape Horn National Park
The southernmost and least hospitable of the Chilean Natonal Parks, Cape Horn is formed by dozens of islands. Facing Cape Horn and crossing hundreds of kilometers of turbulent waters, we reach the Chilean Antarctic Territory, the last frontier of national territory.