Exploring Patagonia’s Wild North
One of our groups recently returned from our first departure of our new adventure, Remote Parks of Patagonia’s Wild North, an active journey to three national parks in Chile: Pumalín, Patagonia, and Cerro Castillo. A couple of our WT adventurers shared their experience of the trip. Enjoy!
We love the landscapes and wilderness of Patagonia. Having visited this remote region of the world four times before, including one hiking trip on both the Chilean and Argentina side, we jumped at the opportunity to return to Patagonia for a fifth time on Wilderness Travel’s brand new adventure, Remote Parks of Patagonia’s Wild North.
Attracting us was the undiscovered nature of this area and the opportunity to see what conservation efforts can do to help maintain these wild spaces.
After arriving in Puerto Montt and connecting with our group, we headed to the nature reserve of Lahuen Ñadi where Alerce trees are preserved. We visited what we believed were the oldest trees on the planet (bristlecone pines) in the past, so we were awed with these Alerce trees that have been identified as being even older. The forest that shelters these trees is a lush and beautiful temperate rainforest.
The next morning we traveled from Puerto Varas to hike up the Paso Desolación trail for a view of two snow-capped volcanoes, Osorno and Calbuco. Patagonia is known for its variable weather and we were fortunate as it was the only day with slight rain. This did not impede our enjoyment of hiking through the Patagonia forests, which opened up to a large open area where we could see the effect of past volcanic activity on the landscape. Osorno is an impressive sight and important landmark of the area.
Later that evening, we listened to a presentation from a representative of Rewilding Chile to learn about the Tompkins Conservation efforts that led to the creation of the new national parks in the area. As you visit these parks, it’s easy to appreciate the result of these passionate conservationists and their mission to preserve natural habitats.
We enjoyed a scenic flight to the town of Chaitén where we visited Pumalín National Park. The area covered in this journey is remote, and traveling by small aircraft allowed us to cover distances that would have not been possible in the 10-day trip.
In Pumalín National Park, it was thrilling to hike the Sendero los Alerces trail and stand next to towering 3,000 year old Alerce trees. The lush ancient temperate rainforest was alive with plants, fungi, frogs, and snails. It was rewarding to be in such a healthy forest compared with some of the ones we have back home.
After several other hikes exploring Pumalín, we traveled to Patagonia National Park. Taking our private charter flight to Aysén, we were able to view Chile’s impressive Northern Patagonian Icefield.
Traveling south brought us from the temperate rainforest to the open steppes of Patagonia National Park. We stopped for a short walk to the confluence of the Río Nef and Río Baker, Chile’s largest river by volume—the water color is so rich and beautiful—then checked into our beautiful lodge that overlooked the river. The meals we enjoyed at the lodge were five-star, especially after long hiking days.
We were impressed with the trail infrastructure in the national parks. Suspension bridges, signage, and trail maintenance showed a lot of care and attention. The variety of hikes gave us a wide sample of the wilderness and land. Hiking in pristine wilderness is not that easy to find these days, and the opportunity to be guided where we learn about the natural history of this land rounded out the physical aspect of the trip. We have been fortunate to do some wonderful hiking in our lifetime around the world. To be in the wide open spaces of Patagonia is a special treat and seeing the impact of conservation efforts of a few individuals and the difference they can make is heartwarming.
Leaving Patagonia National Park, we made our way towards Cerro Castillo National Park. We took a break from hiking and kayaked on incredible waters to rock formations known as Marble Chapels or Marble Caves. Another reminder of the natural beauty of our world.
Our last hike in Cerro Castillo Park capped off the trip. Taking the Sendero Camping Neozelandés trail, we reached our lunch spot where we sat in an amphitheater-type setting surrounded by iconic peaks of Patagonia—jagged spires, hanging glaciers, and rock formations.
The dramatic vistas and sights we experienced on this journey exceeded our expectations and who knows, maybe there will be a sixth time to Patagonia in the future.
—Text and photos by 2-time WT adventurers John and Cathy Yee, Remote Parks of Patagonia’s Wild North.
January 22, 2025
