CAPE FROWARD BACKPACKING EXPEDITION

Welcome to the southern tip of the continent! After a short transfer from the airport, we settle into Hotel Yegua Loca, a traditional Patagonian-style house and our last cost shelter before the adventure begins.

In the evening, we’ll gather for a traditional welcome dinner with the guides and fellow travelers. We’ll use this time to get to know each other and conduct a full briefing on the expedition: logistics, terrain conditions, safety protocols, gear distribution, and shared responsibilities. 

This is where the adventure truly begins.

A one-hour drive takes us to Punta Árbol, where the road ends and the unknown begins. This marks the start of our trek to Cabo Froward, the southernmost point of the continent.

We follow a rugged, rocky coastline along the Strait of Magellan, passing through dense forest, peat bogs, and windswept beaches. We immerse ourselves in a primitive ecosystem, home to Magellanic coigüe, canelo, chaura and calafate.

We’ll pass historic landmarks like the solitary San Isidro Lighthouse and Bahía del Águila, where remnants of the old whaling station remain. 

We set up our first wild camp at Río Yumbel and enjoy dinner beneath the southern sky.

We wake up to the cold Patagonian air. Today we face one of the expedition´s most demanding days. 

We traverse protected bays and mixed forest: young regrowth, ancient remnants and quiet landscapes where only rustling leaves or birdsong break the silence.

Then, the challenge begins: 3 km of peat bogs. Look closely and you might spot Guaitecas cyprus roots and small carnivorous plants thriving in this extreme habitat.

Sea birds, sea lions, fish, and mollusks accompany us along the Strait.

We end the day at Río Nodales with a final test: a waist-deep river crossing. On the other side, our camp, a hot meal and rest await.

Today we dive deep into the wild. Every kilometer brings us closer to the continent’s end. The terrain shifts as we go: coarse sand beaches, forests with towering cypress and twisted canelo trees, deep mud patches, fallen logs, and slippery rocks.

We´ll pass open areas where strong winds lash the land and encounter hardy low vegetation. Along the trail, we pass “Piedra de la Momia”, a dramatic rock spire that emerges from the mist and wind like a sentinel at the end of the world.

We finish the day at our base camp beneath the iconic “Cruz de los Mares” (Cross of the Seas) , a monument marking the southernmost point of South America. Here, the horizon turns to sea, wind, and sky.

This is our last wild camp, knowing we are somewhere very few have ever reached.

We start early for the much-anticipated ascent to the Cross of the Seas—a symbolic landmark marking the end of the Andes and the southernmost edge of continental South America.

Though short, the climb is tough: deep mud, wet peat, slippery metal stairs, and strong gusts of wind make this a real challenge. But the view is worth every step.

From the top, the landscape unfolds like a map: the Strait of Magellan, Dawson Island, Capitán Aracena, and even the majestic Mount Sarmiento on the horizon.

After descending, we wrap up our trek with a scenic boat ride from our camp to Punta Carreras. Seeing Cabo Froward from the sea offers a whole new perspective. If the weather allows, we may spot sea lions, petrels, or albatrosses.

A final drive takes us back to Punta Arenas. The warmth and charm of Hotel Yegua Loca offers a stark and welcome contrast to the wilderness. We celebrate with a king crab empanada and a well-earned rest.

After breakfast, a short transfer takes us to Punta Arenas airport. We bid farewell to this journey to the end of the world, bringing home new friendships and unforgettable memories.