NEW TRIP
Hike Chile’s New “Route of the Parks”
Remote Parks of Patagonia’s Wild North
Overview
Discover the untamed wilderness of Chile’s newly created “Route of the Parks,” where 17 national parks stretch across 1,800 miles of pristine temperate rainforest, active volcanoes, spectacular fjords, and both the Northern and Southern Patagonian icefields. We explore three of the parks: Pumalín, Patagonia, and Cerro Castillo, each one staggeringly beautiful and still largely undiscovered. We’ll hike the trails, view massive glaciers, look for native wildlife, and paddle kayaks into the “marble chapels” on Lago General Carrera. Along the way, we’ll meet representatives of Rewilding Chile (formerly Tompkins Conservation Chile), the non-profit organization that planned and created these breathtaking parks, now the largest conservation area on Earth.
Arrive: Puerto Montt, Chile
Depart: Balmaceda, Chile
Highlights
- Hike spectacular trails in the new national parks of Pumalín, Patagonia, and Cerro Castillo
- Meet with members of the Rewilding Chile organization to learn about their landmark conservation projects
- View massive glaciers, explore pristine temperate rainforests, look for native Patagonian wildlife
- Stay in rustic but cozy accommodations in prime locations
- Enjoy two panoramic flights (one a private charter) between remote Patagonia towns
Itinerary
Arrive in Puerto Montt in Chile’s Lake District and drive to Puerto Varas on the shores of Lago Llanquihue, Chile’s largest lake. We’ll enjoy a warm-up hike on snow-capped Volcán Osorno and meet with a representative of Rewilding Chile. On Day 4, a panoramic flight brings us to Chaitén, where we head to Pumalín National Park, a dramatic mosaic of ancient forests, fjords, glaciers, and active volcanoes. We’ll have a choice of hikes here, from easy walks to hidden waterfalls to a steep climb up to the rim of the Chaitén volcano.
Our private charter flight brings us to the remote Aysén region, landing in the town of Cochrane near Patagonia National Park. The park is an epic example of rewilding, with its vast Patagonian steppes, forests, rivers, and important wildlife species, including guanacos and pumas. On our days here, we can choose from a range of hikes and join an optional hands-on rewilding experience with the Rewilding Chile conservation team. Our accommodation is on the banks of Chile’s largest river, the mighty Rio Baker, well known to fly fishers.
On our drive along the Carretera Austral highway toward Cerro Castillo National Park, we’ll stop at Bahía Mansa to paddle kayaks to the Marble Chapels, the striking rock formations in vast Lago General Carrera. Our final hike is in gorgeous Cerro Castillo National Park, topped by the jagged spires of Cerro Castillo (7,605'), one of the most distinctive mountains in Chilean Patagonia. Depart on Day 10 via Balmaceda.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is Level 3, Moderate, according to our trip grading system. You will need to be comfortable hiking 10 miles in a day and being on your feet for up to 8 hours a day. Trail conditions, weather, and the group's level of fitness can affect hiking times and pacing. Please note that the Trip Leader may make adjustments to the itinerary and hiking routes, depending on local weather and trail conditions.
Average Hiking Day
- 8 miles
- 4-5 hours
- 1,800-2,000 feet gain/loss
The trails are usually packed dirt, but some are much rockier, with occasional sections of mud or loose scree. Be prepared for rough, uneven terrain. All the hikes take place below 4,000 feet, so altitude acclimatization is not an issue. Some of the hikes will be physically demanding, but we will offer shorter hikes when possible.
We strongly urge you to train for your trip, as your enjoyment will be highly dependent on your level of fitness. The best training for a hike is to hike, especially over hills or rough terrain. Next best are running, swimming, bicycling, or other cardiovascular exercises. Stair-climbing machines are excellent preparation for hiking uphill. Your feet should also be well prepared—make sure your hiking boots are sturdy, comfortable, and thoroughly broken-in. Altitude is generally not a problem on this trip. However, some people still experience a few problems when they first reach high altitude. Slight headache and sleeplessness are the most common symptoms.
There’s a saying that in Patagonia that you can experience all four seasons in one day, so be prepared for quickly changing weather. The best defense is proper clothing, and our Pre- Departure Booklet has a detailed list of recommendations for layering. An insulating base layer (top and bottom) beneath your hiking clothes will keep you warm and comfortable. Capilene, fleece, and other synthetic fabrics are excellent choices, as are lightweight wool layers by companies like Patagonia, Icebreaker, and SmartWool.
We time our trips for Patagonia’s ideal hiking weather, which is from late November through March, when we can enjoy the mildest temperatures and 16 hours of daylight. November (spring) is blessed with wildflowers and March (fall) offers the start of spectacular fall foliage. With its deep southern latitude, you might expect Patagonia’s weather to be more “polar” than it really is. In fact, the austral summer temperatures are relatively moderate. During Patagonia’s summer months (November through March in the Southern Hemisphere), the thermometer rarely drops below 40°F and will usually reach into the high 60s and even low 70s during the day. Nevertheless, the weather is radically changeable. Rain, sleet, and snow can occur at any time—perhaps just a few hours before or after sunny skies and 70° temperatures. The enormous, unbroken stretches of ocean to the west and south of the tip of South America leave the Patagonian Andes exposed to strong and persistent winds. Winds circling the globe between latitudes of 40°S and 60°S have little obstruction when they reach the tip of South America. Experiencing these winds is almost inevitable on any Patagonian journey. For most part, you can expect winds of 9 to 13 miles per hour, but they can occasionally gust much higher, quickly “cooling down” an otherwise pleasant day. Prepare for this by wearing layered clothing and always having rain and/or wind protection handy.
We spend most nights in small, picturesque lodges and inns full of charm and ambience. All hotels are chosen for their local history and ideal locations. Since they are often in historic buildings, the rooms are not always of uniform or international size. Our leaders do their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. Single rooms can be requested but are not always available, due to the limited space in the hotels. If you prefer a single room, please make your request as early as possible.
Patagonia’s cuisine is characterized by hearty meat stews and fish dishes. The most famous meal here is spit-roasted lamb, cooked over an open fire. Empanadas (baked dough with a meat or vegetable filling) are also popular, as is meat or vegetable soup. Keep in mind that on this northern Patagonian journey, we will be in very remote areas where meal choices will be limited to what is available locally at the time.
There are some long driving days on this trip, and although we have a very comfortable vehicle, everyone should be prepared for stretches of bumpy road conditions. The trip also features two charter flights (one of them is private just for our group). The flights are on comfortable aircraft that typically seat 8-19 passengers and are used for short-range flights. The air travel helps us avoid day-long drives between the new national parks.
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Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.