Brazilian travel writer Daniel Nunes lists his favorite experiences in the 14-day multisport trip crossing 4 National Parks
Epic. Dazzled by the spectacular scenery of the rock towers of Torres del Paine in front of me, I couldn’t find a better word to define that 2-week multisport adventure that was just finishing. What an epic journey, I thought, still tired but absolutely ecstatic with the 4-hour hiking up the base of “las torres” under snow. After that once-in-a-lifetime route exploring Southern Chile, not only walking but also cycling, kayaking and rafting, I said again what I´ve been repeating as a travel journalist who has wandered to more than 50 countries: Patagonia is the most beautiful place on Earth.
The new Patagonia Collection Route was created by Chile Nativo, Amity Tours y Birds Chile to connect the fabulous natural areas from Temuco to Paine in which these three leading travel companies are experts. Touched by the moving experience of being part of one of the first groups to cross Patagonia from North to South with them, I listed the emotional highlights of my trip:
1) Start the trip hiking 12k under monkey-puzzle trees at Sierra Nevada Trail. The 20-meter high (60 feet) ancient araucarias are surrounded by green lakes and volcanoes of the Conguillo National Park, close to Temuco. Later on, it was great to be welcomed, at eco-friendly La Baita lodge, by cute Lava dog (and drink pisco sours by the fireplace).
2) Cycling for 2 days in a row watching 4 volcanoes at the same time in the horizon, from Pucón and Villarica area to Petrohué in Vicente Perez Rosales National Park. I was afraid it would be too hard to face the 2 series of 70k bike rides, but the e-bike made the journey soft. The hot tub at the end was exhilarating.
3) Meeting locals to live authentic experiences. It was special to be blessed and having a cooking class with Mapuche indigenous leader Isabel Naguil, in her home at Foye Mapu, in Panguipulli. Later we volunteered as rewilding workers in the wetlands of Llanquihue Lake and learned basket weaving with native Kawesqar in Puerto Natales.
4) Hiking to the crater of Chaitén, one of the 90 active volcanoes in Chile, was the highlight of our trip to Pumalín Douglas Tompkins National Park. The trail was short, only 5k, but steep: we took 4 hours to face the 600-meters elevation until reaching its mouth and back. On the top, it was amazing to see the smoke leaving the ground – remembering us there is fire under our ground.
5) Meeting Kris Tompkins while walking in the Alerces Trail. The inspiring US conservationist behind the creation of the Route of the 17 National Parks in Chile was visiting, at the same time of us, the Pumalín Douglas Tompkins National Park – named after her husband. Besides chatting with Kris, I had the chance to visit the cool, new museum in Caleta Gonzalo Lodge area.
6) Arriving in Torres del Paine National Park hiking was superb. It was my third time in the most beautiful of the parks, and for sure the most impressive arrival. We did a 13k hike from Estancia Lazo cattle ranch to Weber Bridge, a trail with striking views of Paine Massif on the shores of Lagunas Verde and Honda. When we reached the Toro Lake Lookout, a rainbow appeared – the first of four rainbows in four days there! From there we could see the “merengue” tents of Campamento a orillas del Río, our brand-new glamping sweet home by the Serrano River.
7) Paddling in Patagonia rivers. First, we enjoyed a fun class 3-4 rafting in Petrohué River, watching Osorno volcano in the Lake district close to Puerto Varas. And in Paine we paddled kayaks in beautiful Grey Lake, with the granite peaks of Paine Grande and Los Cuernos in the horizon. Fantastic!
8) Hiking 16k under snow to contemplate the Paine Towers. The weather was cloudy when we started the most challenging and beautiful hike of Patagonia Collection journey, to Base Las Torres. It seemed that we would have a frustrated end. Once we got there, the clouds went away and we celebrated watching Torres del Paine at the fullest to finish in great style our epic journey.
