Kawésqar National Park is one of the largest parks in the world and the second-largest in Chile. It includes large swaths of the archipelagos in the provinces of Magallanes and Última Esperanza, as well as half of Isla Riesco. Its landscapes are a mosaic of cordilleras, forests, glaciers, fjords, lakes, wetlands, and valleys––virgin ecosystems of unmatched beauty––and are home to a wide variety of plant and animal species. The Montañas Fjord and the Sarmiento Range are just a few of the natural wonders in this park that draw visitors from around the world.

Open

From October to April
Bookings https://www.pasesparques.cl/

Area

6,165,040 acres

Climate

Trans-Andean Climate with Degenerated Steppe (forest area) and Cold Steppe Climate (near the coast)

Rainfall

3.000 mm al año

Ecosystem

Patagonian Steppe, Patagonian Andean Forest with Degenerated Steppe, Evergreen Forest, Marine Coastline

Founded

In process

“Nature is not a place to visit. It is home”,

Gary Snyder

Flora

Magellanic Rainforest rules the landscape with species including Coigües de Magallanes, Ciprés de las Guaitecas (Pilgerodendron), and Canelo trees, although there are fewer of the latter. You can also find Lengas and Ñirres, along with species common to peat bogs, in addition to bushes like Chilcos (Hardy Fuchsia), Calafates (Magellan Barberry), Zarzaparrillas, and Murtillas, along with scrubland and coastal grassland made up of strips of coastal grasses.

Fauna

The park is home to around 24 mammal species. Highlights include the Huemul (South Andean Deer), the Puma, the Gato Montés, the Zorro Culpeo (Andean Fox), and the Zorro Chilla (South American Gray Fox). There are also 136 distinct species of birds, including the Condor, the Fio, the Churrín del Sur (Magellanic Tapaculo), and the Magellanic Woodpecker. Kawésqar is also home to marine birds, such as the Black-Browed Albatross, the Golondrina del Mar, and Cormorants. Along the park’s coasts, you can find four types of Dolphins, Sea Lions, Elephant Seals, Penguins, and Whales––including the Humpback Whale––along with Leopard Seals, Southern River Otters, and Marine Otters.

Culture

Seven thousand years ago, the Kawésqar people sailed between the south of the Gulf of Penas and the Strait of Magellan in boats known as the «queens of American canoes» because of their perfect construction. Made from Coigüe bark and covered with plant fibers, the canoes were a central feature of the Kawésqar peoples’ lives. The men spent much of their time rowing in them, hunting and exploring the labyrinthine fjords, while the women were expert divers. The Kawésqar people stood an average of 5 feet, 5 inches tall, and their name means «people rational in skin and bones.» It’s estimated their population reached over 3,000. In 2006, cave paintings were found on Madre de Dios Island, south of Puerto Edén, suggesting that the Kawésqar developed some type of writing or symbology.

infrastructure

• Bathrooms
• Lodging
• Camping
• Restaurants
• Information Center
• Trails
• Trekking Circuits
• Picnic Area

Suggested trips