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Pali Aike National Park: Pali Aike National Park is situated in the town of San Gregorio. Covering approximately 5030 hectares, it is a protected area which is partly covered by extensive basaltic lava flows, where semi-desert vegetation flourishes. The existence of many low-lying volcanic cones, natural caves, abundant craters, basaltic cliffs and lava fields resembles a moonscape. Created in 1970, Pali Aike National Park is unique in Chile for its geological characteristics and exotic lunar landscapes. |
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Torres del Paine National Park Declared a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in 1978, this park is located 113km north of Puerto Natales, between the Andes and the Patagonian Plateau, covering an area of 242,000 hectares. The Paine mountain range lies in the centre of the park and is made up of a series of hills up to 3,200m high, some of which have a very unusual form, such as the famous Paine Horns. This group of hills is surrounded by lakes and glaciers. To the north are the Dickinson Lake, the Paine Lake and the ‘Laguna Azul’ (Blue Lagoon). To the south are the Grey, Pehoé, Nordenskjold and Sarmiento lakes. To the east is the ‘Laguna Amarga’ (Bitter Lagoon).
Within the park there are approximately 100km of routes to travel by car and various trails for hiking, including one for the fittest which goes around the Paine Massif. Along the way, you will be able to visit lakes, rivers, waterfalls and stunning glaciers.
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Bernardo O’Hggins National Park Bernard O’Higgins National Park is one of the largest protected areas of Chile, covering an area of 35,259 km², between the regions of Aysen and Magallanes. It was created in 1969. The park is composed of the Southern, the Dr Juan Brüggen and the Patagonian ice fields, covering an area of 1,100,500 hectares. It is the largest freshwater reserve in the World. There are boat trips which let you see the fjords and glaciers from ‘el Seno de Última Esperanza’ (Final-Hope Sound) and the Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers.
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Parrillar Lagoon National Reserve Created in 1977, the Laguna Parrillar National Reserve is situated 52km to the south of the city of Punta Arenas, in the Magellan Province, and covers an area of 18,414hectares. Of the physical features of the National Reserve, the Parrillar Lagoon stands out, with a surface area of 970 hectares and is surrounded by unique vegetation and beech trees, the protection of which was the main reason for creating the reserve. It is also possible to find a large variety of birds and mammals living along the shores of the lagoon. The reserve contains picnic sites, hiking trails and places with very good access for fly fishing stops. |
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Fort Bulnes On September 21st, 1843, Captain John Williams, the commander of the schooner “Ancud” took possession of the Straits of Magellan and its surrounding lands in the name of the Republic of Chile. On September 30th, 1843, the naming ceremony of the Chilean conclave took place on the shore of the Straits of Magellan at a place called Fuerte Bulnes (Fort Bulnes). Located 60km to the South of Punta Arenas, Fort Bulnes is a historical reconstruction of the original fort where Chile established the first Patagonian settlement.
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Penguins colonies The penguin colonies of Seno Otway are located about 60km north of the city of Punta Arenas. Every year, in mid-September, the Magellen Penguins start arriving in order to mate, to feed and raise their chicks. This colony is located in an estimated area of 40 hectares. Well-established access routes and trails allow visitors to get closer to the penguins, providing a good opportunity to see them moving around within their natural habitat. |
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City Tour Punta Arenas – the capital city of Patagonia and gateway to the Chilean Arctic Territory – was founded in 1843 by José Santos Mardones, after the establishment of Fort Bulnes (1843). Its position on the Magellan Straits, the maritime passage that was discovered in 1520 by Fernando de Magallanes, blended the different cultures of the pioneers, giving the city its unique heritage. Among them were people from Croatia, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Chiloé, Britain and Germany, to name but a few, all of whom contributed to the formation of this human landscape, characterized by strength and determination, coupled with a deep pride in their southern identity. |
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Rio verde Is a municipality in the Magellan Province, in the Chilean Antarctic. The mainland territory of Río Verde (Green River) is found close to the Brunswick Peninsula and the island territory is primarily Riesco Island, separated from the continent by the Seno Skyring to the north, Seno Otway to the south and a narrow channel to the east. The first inhabitants of this territory were the Aonikenk and Kaweshkar people. The first European explorer who sailed the inland waterways of the present territory was the Spanish navigator, Juan Ladrilleros, after whom Ladrillero Hill was named, located on Riesco Island. The first settlers, both Chilean and European, settled around the end of the nineteenth and early twentieth century, attracted by coal mining sites and the extensive plains for raising livestock. The population of the municipality consists of 368 inhabitants, who reside mostly on sheep farms. Attractions: Río Verde Community Museum, the Sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin of Montserrat, Tour around the ‘Fitz Roy’ Ranch on Riesco Island, Outdoor sculptures by the Chilean sculptor Paola Vezzani, Bird watching, Magellan lamb barbeque, etc.
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Sport and Fly Fishing Classes and Excursions
Sport fishing is an activity that invites you to sharpen the senses and connect with nature. It is also necessary to cultivate patience since it can take a long time before the prey takes the bait. Among the many common species that can be caught, are rainbow, brown and brook trout, as well as the much sought-after Chinook salmon, from the imposing Serrano River. One of the most appealing aspects of these activities is the environment in which they take place – the endless beauty of the rivers and lakes of Chilean Patagonia, which delights our eyes and makes the wait more bearable. A fishing adventure here, in one of the most stunning landscapes on the planet, offers some of the best conditions possible for this activity.
In the Magellan region, the fishing season starts in the first half of October and ends in the first half of April, except in the Laguna Parillar Forest Reserve, where it ends half-way through March. Those wishing to fish must gain permission from the Servicio Nacional de Pesca, otherwise known as Sernapesca.
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Trips to El Calafate, Perito Moreno Glacier and El Chaltén
El Calafate is a town located on the southern shore of Lake Argentino, in Patagonia, in the region of Santa Cruz. It is 320km north-east of the provincial capital, Río Gallegos. It is the capital of the Lago Argentino Region and is the gateway to Parque Nacional los Glaciares (Glaciers National Park), in which tourist attractions such as the Perito Moreno Glacier, Upsula Glacier and Mount Fitz-Roy, among others, can be found all of which are part of the oriental region of the Southern Patagonian ice-fields.
Perito Moreno Glacier is a constantly advancing, thick mass of ice in the Lago Argentino department of the Santa Cruz Province, in southwestern Argentina, in the Patagonian region. This glacier originates in the southern Patagonian ice field. In its descent, it reaches the southern branch of Lake Argentino, with a frontage of 5km long, rising from the surface of the water to a height of 60m. The glacier was named after Francisco Moreno, who was instrumental in the establishment of the Argentine Scientific Society and was an active explorer of the southern zone of this country.
El Chaltén: Just 220km from El Calafate, the touristic village of El Chaltén is situated at the foot of the Andes mountain range which is in the middle of the Glacier National Park. The name ‘Chaltén’ means ‘smoking mountain’ in the native language of the Tehuelches who called Mount Fitz Roy this because the summit is often covered by clouds that give the impression of a volcanic plume. Undoubtedly, this is a true paradise for lovers of hiking and living close to nature. Horse-riding, rafting and kayaking are some of the many activities on offer. There are also self-guided walks that cross through forests, large rivers and lakes en route to viewpoints with spectacular views of glaciers, lakes and mountains.
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