Amidst towering mountains and deep fjords, beneath majestic peaks or across vast open landscapes, immense glaciers and sprawling ice fields unfold in Chilean Patagonia—for adventure seekers, this makes a perfect invitation to experience a scenario reminiscent of Antarctica.
With its 17 national parks and more than 28 million acres of pristine landscapes, the Route of the Parks of Patagonia in Chile is more than just a destination; it’s a collection of extraordinary journeys that begin and end between the 41st and 55th parallels south. Here, national parks and the surrounding communities take center stage in an adventure like no other.
This remarkable region offers one-of-a-kind experiences that transport visitors to an era when ice ruled the southernmost reaches of the Americas. Located near the Antarctic Circle, it is home to awe-inspiring wonders such as the Northern and Southern Ice Fields—today the third-largest reserve of freshwater on the planet.
No matter where you begin, the three regions that make up the route—Los Lagos, Aysén, and Magallanes—offer breathtaking expanses of ice. Whether exploring on foot, gliding across the water, or simply admiring the view, visitors are bound to be captivated by the sheer magnificence of Patagonia’s frozen landscapes.
From ice fields, to glaciers and icy lagoons, let's have a look at some of the parks in this route, and a selection of adventures you can enjoy in each one:
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Pumalín Douglas Tompkins National Park
Nestled in the Los Lagos Region, this was the first protected area established by conservationist Douglas Tompkins, the American philanthropist and visionary behind the Route of the Parks of Patagonia. Spanning over 402,000 hectares, it stands as a testament to conservation and pristine wilderness.
Its rugged terrain and steep inclines made settlement and road construction nearly impossible, preserving this region in an almost untouched state. Today, it shelters dynamic, nearly pristine ecosystems, offering visitors a glimpse into Patagonia’s raw and untamed beauty.
One of the best ways to experience its eternal ice is by venturing along the Ventisquero Amarillo Trail, which leads to a glacier descending from Michimahuida Volcano. The trail begins 11 km from the entrance to the El Amarillo sector, where you can also unwind in the municipal hot springs, just 4.5 km from the junction with the Carretera Austral.
Queulat National Park
Located near Puyuhuapi, in the northern Aysén Region, this breathtaking park captivates thousands of visitors with its lush evergreen forests, cascading waterfalls, deep fjords, and rushing rivers. Its most famous attraction, the Hanging Glacier (Ventisquero Colgante), can be admired directly from the Carretera Austral.
For those eager to explore on foot, two remarkable trails stand out: the Mirador del Ventisquero trail (2,5 hrs), offering spectacular glacier views, and the Laguna Témpanos Trail (30 min), which leads to the glacial lagoon itself. During summer, boats are available to take visitors even closer to the towering walls of ice.
Laguna San Rafael National Park
Declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1979, this park serves as the gateway to the Northern Ice Field. Its iconic glacier draws travelers from around the world, who embark on journeys from Puerto Chacabuco or Puerto Grosse in Bahía Exploradores to witness its vast, untouched landscapes and extraordinary biodiversity.
The fjords and channels here are awe-inspiring, lined with towering Magellanic and Chiloé Coigües, as well as Mañíos, Canelos, Tepa, and the Guaitecas Cypress—some of which appear as ancient, charred spires rising skyward amid peat bogs along the Témpanos River, the only navigable route to the lagoon.
Navigating these icy waters is an experience unlike any other. With authorized tour operators approved by the Chilean Navy, visitors may witness glacier calvings as colossal chunks of ice break away or even spot the northernmost family of leopard seals, who have made this glacial lagoon their home.
Bernardo O’Higgins National Park
This is Chile’s largest national park—and one of the most expansive in the world. Spanning both the Aysén (26%) and Magallanes (74%) regions, it is home to the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, a breathtaking expanse of 49 glaciers, forming the third-largest continental ice mass on the planet, surpassed only by Antarctica and Greenland.
In an era where glaciers are vanishing due to global warming, this park holds a rare exception. Setting sail from Puerto Natales, you can witness the Pío XI Glacier, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere—and the only one in the region that isn’t retreating. In fact, it continues to advance, defying the trends of our time.
Unforgettable experiences like these await along the Route of the Parks of Patagonia. We welcome you and invite you to discover this rugged, wild and fascinating territory, one of the most beautiful scenic routes in the world. Travel it. Discover it. Protect it.
About the Route of Parks of Chilean Patagonia
Covering 1700 miles from Puerto Montt to Cape Horn, the Route of Parks of Chilean Patagonia encompasses 17 national parks, protecting more than 28 million acres of pristine landscapes, fragile ecosystems and more than 60 local communities; uniting the Carretera Austral, de Patagonian channels and the “route to the end of the world”. Most importantly, the Route of Parks of Patagonia represents an opportunity for local economic development based on tourism as a consequence of conservation.
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