Overview
This active nine-day program, named “Best of Travel” by Outside Magazine, immerses you in Tierra del Fuego’s human history, local cuisine and the rugged wilds of Yendegaia National Park. A featured program part of the Route of Parks of Patagonia which connects 17 national parks throughout Chile – this adventure combines off-track hiking in the wilds of Yendegaia and the core of Tierra del Fuego with jagged fjords, beech forests, zigzagging rivers, powerful glaciers, spiked mountains, condors and wild horses always close by.
Trip Highlights:
• Featured Program Part of the Route of Parks of Patagonia
• Visit Punta Arenas, Porvenir & Puerto Williams
• Observe King Penguins at the Continent’s Only Natural Colony
• Experience Karukinka Reserve and Climb both Cerro Pietro Grande & Cerro Bandera
• Meet One of the Area’s First Pioneers
• Visit Lake Fagnano
• Complete Four Days of ´off-trail´ Backpacking in Yendegaia National Park
• Countless Panoramic Landscapes
• Cross the Darwin Range
• Ford Rivers and Come Close to Glaciers & Wild Horses
• Travel by Speed Boat to Puerto Williams
• Return by Plane to Punta Arenas
DOWNLOAD YOUR MAPS:
• PUNTA ARENAS
• PORVENIR
• TIERRA DEL FUEGO
• PUERTO WILLIAMS
DOWNLOAD YOUR PACK LIST:
• TERRA INCOGNITA YENDEGAIA NP PACK LIST
Itinerary
Day 1
Briefing with Guide in Punta Arenas
- Night at Hotel Cabo de Hornos (D)
Arrive in Punta Arenas, one of Chile’s most-loved Patagonian towns and heart of a decadent colonial past of wealthy landowners and sheep barons.
While in Punta Arenas, take time to visit its public cemetery (ranked one of the world’s 10 most beautiful), opulent city centre, and variety of museums housed in lavish mansions, such as the famous Casa Braun-Menéndez and the Museo Regional de Magellanes.
In the evening you’ll meet your guide and be briefed on the days ahead.
Following this, walk to a local restaurant to savor your first bites of Patagonia’s famous king crab, seafood, fish and lamb.
Day 2
Ferry to Porvenir – Visit the King Penguin Colony & Karukinka Reserve
- 2 Hours by Ferry, 4 Hour Transfer
- Night at Farm House Karukinka Reserve (B-BL-D)
In the morning take a ferry bound for Porvenir, Tierra del Fuego’s first major town. From here you’ll continue on to Bahía Inútil where King penguins have made their only colony outside of the Antarctic.
Stay for a while to observe and be charmed by the penguin’s antics, in this private park whose conservation and monitoring work is an essential key to the survival of this noble species.
After lunch, we’ll drive to Karukinka Reserve, one of the cradles of Patagonian restoration and conservation, whose surreally beautiful landscapes of native lenga, ñire, wild strawberries, carnivorous plants, wetlands, peat bogs, and snowy mountains are home to a multitude of bird and aquatic life; including cormorants, albatrosses, condors, otters, dolphins and elephant seals.
Your day ends with a barbecue and night’s rest at a farm house at the Reserve.
Day 3
Hike Cerro Pietro Grande – Visit Original Pioneer’s Home at Lake Fagnano
- 4 Hour Round Trip Hike, 5.5 km / 3.4 mi
- 2 Hour Transfer to Lake Fagnano
- Night at Lakeside Cabin, Lake Fagnano (B-BL-D)
This morning get your blood pumping with a four-hour return hike to the summit of Cerro Pietro Grande, from where you’ll appreciate the stark change in landscapes between the pampas to the north and Antarctic forest to the south.
After descending, we’ll drive to Lake Fagnano and visit the home of Germán Genskowski, one of the region’s first settlers.
Tonight you’ll stay in a lakeside cabin, and dine on traditional Patagonian food to light a fire in your belly for the intrepid days ahead.
Day 4-7
Off-Track Trekking in Yendegaia National Park
- 8 Hour Day Hikes, 56 km total / 34.8 m
- Nightly Chile Nativo Wilderness Camping (B-BL-D)
The heart of your time in Tierra del Fuego are these four days of trail-less hiking in untamed Yendegaia National Park, Chile’s newest National Park and part of the legacy left by late philanthropist Douglas Tompkins.
Experience solitude and companionship, peace and drama in this untouched environment as you pass lakes, prairies and sub-Antarctic forests; crouch spine-tinglingly close to wild horses and condors; ford rivers and climb steadfastly onwards across the Darwin Range.
All of this under the watchful eye of Patagonia’s ever present glaciers and snow-topped peaks.
Trekking Yendegaia National Park is a demanding, whole-body odyssey in which you’ll carry food, tents and equipment, camp, and live immersed and unplugged in the wilderness.
Day 8
Boat Transfer to Puerto Williams – Summit Hike of Cerro Bandera – Transfer to Accommodation
- 3 Hour Speed Boat Transfer
- 4-5 Hour Trek, 12 km / 7.4 mi
- Transfer to Accommodation (B-BL-D)
- Night at Lakutaia Lodge or Errante EcoLodge (B-BL-D)
Today’s trek brings us to the Beagle Channel where we travel by speed boat to Puerto Williams.
Our evening will be spent in a warm and comfortable lodge to soothe and rest our bodies after intense days of unforgettable trekking.
Don’t pack your boots just yet! A final hike is to come, this time to the summit of Cerro Bandera, where you can see across the Beagle Channel to Ushuaia on one side, and towards the striking Dientes de Navarino on the other.
Day 9
Fly to Punta Arenas
- 1.5 Hour Flight (B-BL)
Today you’ll return to Punta Arenas by light plane and have the chance to trace the route you took over the past nine days from the skies.
During your flight, take time to observe the landscape below and breathe in all you have seen and explored in Tierra del Fuego.
You now form part of the small group of travelers who have experienced how much life and drama coexists in this hardly-unexplored pocket of Patagonia.
INCLUDED
- All Private Transportation Indicated in Schedule
- Entrance Fee to King Penguin Reserva & Kurukinka Park
- One Night Accommodation at Hotel in Punta Arenas -
- One Night Accommodation at Farm House Kurukinka Park
- One Night Accommodation in Lakeside Cabin at Fagnano Lake
- Four Nights Wilderness Camping in Yendegaia National Park (portable toilet, no hot water or showers)
- One Night Accommodation at a Lodge in Puerto Williams (Twin Standard Room)
- 4 Season Tents, Double Occupancy
- Cooking Utensils, Plate, Retractable Bowl, Sea to Summit Folding Chair
- 1 Porter to Carry the Portable Toilet
- Flight from Puerto Williams to Punta Arenas in Cesna Aircraft
- All Meals Indicated in the schedule (B: breakfast, BL: box lunch, L: lunch, D: dinner, BBQ: Chilean Asado)
- Professional Hiking Guides (English-Spanish)
NOT INCLUDED
- Any International or Domestic Flights
- Any Additional Nights Lodging
- Medical Expenses
- Personal Expenses
- Travel Insurance
- Alcoholic & Non-Alcoholic Drinks
- Gratuities for Guides or Drivers
Lodgings
Hotel Cabo de Hornos
Located in the historical downtown center of Punta Arenas, this iconic hotel has cozy, spacious, and modern accommodations with views of the downtown square of Strait of Magellan. Here guests can enjoy all the necessary and privileged amenities such as private restrooms, an elegant restaurant & bar, WiFi & cable, room service! This hotel is full of history and is centrally located to local attractions – shops, museums, restaurants, and cafes!
Karukinka Reserve
The Karukinka Rserve is located in the extreme south of the island of Tierra del Fuego and serves to protect, preserve, and maintain the last sub Antarctic forests of lenga and the the southernmost temperate forest territories of the world. A small farm house constructed of simple materials provides basic refuge for trekkers passing through this remote and extreme region.
Chile Nativo Wild Camping
When we go off the beaten path, we must camp in places without modern facilities. We provide all the camping gear necessary for the most comfortable remote experience. Camping gear is provided to guests including tents (double occupancy), compact cooking utensils, & portable camp chair. The camping gear, food and cooking utensils must be shared among the group and each person will carry in total between 17 – 20 kgs (34 – 44 Lbs). Each group will have a porter who will carry the portable camping toilet throughout the excursion.
Lakeside Cabin
On the shores of the Lake Fagnano lies a simple yet uniquely special cabin built by one of the region’s first settlers, German Genskowski. This incredible spot gives us privileged views of remote and untouched territory….
Lakutaia Lodge
Lakutaia Lodge is a cozy lodge strategically located on the Navarino Island. It also has been considered by the ONG Conservation Internacional as one of the 37 most wild and pristine places on the earth. This lodge has 24 comfortable rooms with a private bathroom, a security box, central heating, and internet. The restaurant offers exceptional international and regional cuisine and there are extensive spaces for a comfortable stay including a complete library where guests can consult all topics related to the ethnic, botanical, fauna and geography of the Austral end.
Errante Ecolodge
Located near the end of the Dientes trek, this seafront lodge built by a young couple is steeped in Fuegian nature. The design is modern and sleek, with solar energy, central heating and thick down duvets. Rooms sport giant windows overlooking the Beagle Channel. There are also bikes for rent and wonderful dinners served at a shared table.
Dates & Prices
Program prices are determined on the final number of confirmed guests in a group. The per person price lowers as more guests join the group. Chile Nativo operates with a maximum of 8 guests per departure which allows for a high level of individualized service and an unforgettable personalized experience.
PRICES FOR SEASON 2023/2024 may vary depending on date and amount of people in your group. Please contact our travel specialists for more information!
FAQ's
Q: How do I arrive to Punta Arenas Airport?
A: The Santiago International Airport (Arturo Merino Benítez Airport) is the main international hub where travelers arrive to begin their travels in Chile. Punta Arenas Airport (Presidente Carlos Ibáñez del Campo International Airport) is the main airport in the region´s capital city and direct flights are 3.5 hours from Santiago. Many travelers take time to explore Punta Arenas prior to or after their adventures in Torres del Paine National Park, Tierra del Fuego, and other regions of Patagonia.
Q: Where do I keep my luggage that I won´t need during my excursion?
A: The majority of the hotels and hostels will store luggage for their guests who are staying with them prior to and after their travels in the park. Guests will need to check with their hotel or accommodation regarding luggage storage during their excursion.
Q: Do I need to bring my own sleeping bag and tent on this excursion?
A: Guests are required to carry their own sleeping bag and mat during this program. Guests may also rent these from our office for USD$ 6 per day per item. Tents are provided to guests and must carry these on day 1 of the trek and day 4.
Q: What kind of physical ability does this program require?
A: This program includes several long, moderate off-trail hikes. Guests should have a strong physical condition in order to enjoy each activity to the fullest. Guests of any age and ability may complete this excursion if they exercise on average 4-6 hours a week and include a combination of resistance and strength training in their workout regimen, can hike or bike 4-5 days in a row for at least 3 hours a day, and are comfortable with hiking uphill for sections at a time.
Q: What type of travel insurance is recommended for this excursion?
A: This particular excursion takes place in extreme and remote areas. Medical emergencies which require field rescue or evacuation can be difficult if not impossible during certain portions of the trails and therefore we strongly recommend that our guests invest in a plan with our partners at Global Rescue. Now more than ever, travelers want the confidence knowing that their decision to invest in a travel insurance is the right one in the event of a security emergency, trip cancellation, or any other unforeseen event – especially now during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Global Rescue will issue guests a refund in the event of any unforeseen circumstance that may restrict or prohibit their ability to travel or in the case they must reschedule their trip including events related to COVID-19. Read more about travel plans on our Travel Insurance Page!
Q: Should I tip my guide? If so – how much is appropriate?
A: Tipping can be a delicate subject and many different nationalities have different tipping cultures. Tips or ´propinas´ in Chile, are viewed as a reward for good, quality service. When tipping your guide/s, they should be in Chilean pesos. If you do leave tips in US dollars – make sure the bills are unmarked and undamaged. A good guide who does the job well, has good English and provides a great service, can expect CLP 10,000 to 15,000 a day in total per day from the group. For a good assistant guide, each should get about half that of the guide per day, CLP 5,000 to 8,000 per day. It is usual to leave your driver or chauffeur a tip too. Normally around CLP 2,000 to CLP 3,000 per person. These amounts are merely a source to help you or give you a general idea of what is normal or typical. Of course, tipping is always at the discretion of the group members as to what they deem appropriate for the service they received.
Add-Ons & Upgrades
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES/SERVICES: (must be booked in advance)
– Public Bus to/from Puerto Natales/Punta Arenas: USD$ 15 per person, per way
– Private Transfer to/from Puerto Natales/Punta Arenas: *Price Depends on Total Number of Guests – Please Contact a Trip Specialist
– Private Transfer to/from Punta Arenas Airport: *Price Depends on Total Number of Guests – Please Contact a Trip Specialist
EQUIPMENT RENTAL:(must be booked in advance)
– Professional Grade Sleeping Bag: USD$ 6 per night
– Professional Sleeping Mat: USD$ 6 per night
– Trekking Poles: USD$ 6 per day
RECOMMENDED TRAVEL INSURANCE:
This particular excursion takes place in extreme and remote areas. Medical emergencies which require field rescue or evacuation can be difficult if not impossible during certain portions of the trails, and therefore we strongly recommend that our guests invest in a travel insurance with our partners at Global Rescue. Read more on our Travel Insurance Page!
