GRADUAL REOPENING OF PROTECTED AREAS |
|
Stay informed about the latest reopening dates for national parks and their sanitary protocols for visiting via the official Conaf website |
GRADUAL REOPENING OF PROTECTED AREAS |
|
Stay informed about the latest reopening dates for national parks and their sanitary protocols for visiting via the official Conaf website |
Alerce milenario,
Sendero Los Alerces
The deep forests of Pumalín reach all the way to the fjords, creating one of the most spectacular coastlines on the planet. Hundreds of waterfalls cascade down from glaciers, falling over steep granite walls, as the Michinmahuida and Chaitén Volcanoes crown the landscape. The park’s most notable feature is the threatened Alerce (Fitzroya) tree––25 percent of Chile’s remaining Alerces can be found in this National Park. These ancient trees’ 3,000 years of life help to tell a timeless story of this pristine ecosystem, tucked in the Palena Province.
Pumalín’s forests feature a large number of endemic species and unique subspecies. Highlights include the Alerce, Luma, Tepa, Canelo, Tineo, Tiaca, Coigüe, Ulmo, Olivo, Mañío, and Notro trees, among others.
In Pumalín’s fjords, visitors frequently see Toninas (Commerson’s Dolphins), Cormorants, Penguins, Herons, and Kingfisher, and its forests are home to birds such as the Chucao, the Hued Hued, and the Rayadito, as well as habitats for more difficult-to-spot mammals such as the Pudú Deer, Foxes, the Colocolo Cat, the Puma, and the only Chilean marsupial, the Monito del Monte (Colocolo Opossum).
The parklands are ancestral territory of the Chono people, a nomadic people that navigated the islands and channels in their canoes, moving between the south of Chiloé and the Taitao Peninsula. They hunted sea lions, fished, and gathered shellfish and seaweed along the coast.
From Puerto Montt, follow Route 7 toward Caleta La Arena, where you can board the first ferry that will take you to Caleta Puelche (no prior reservation is required). You can also get to Caleta Puelche from Cochamó and Puelo, via Route V-69. From Caleta Puelche, continue south until you reach Hornopirén, where you can board one of the ferries (it’s important to reserve the Hornopirén-Leptepu and Fiordo Largo-Caleta Gonzalo routes in advance; find out more at Transportes Austral and Somarco).
If you’re coming from the south, take Route 7 toward Amarillo, located roughly 75 miles from La Junta.
Kemel buses depart daily from Puerto Montt to Chaitén.
Naviera Austral departs from Puerto Montt and Quellón to Chaitén a few days a week. This service requires a reservation in advance.
Difficulty
Medium-high
Duration
3 hours (out-and-back)
Distance
3.5 miles total
Open
Year-round (to the river only)
This hike ascends through an evergreen forest, arriving to a river that can only be crossed when it’s not too high (there is no bridge).
Starting Point: 60 feet south of the café at Caleta Gonzalo.
Type: Out-and-back.
Difficulty
Medium–High
Duration
4 hours (out-and-back)
Distance
3 miles total
Open
Year-round
A steep hike that features various wooden steps and brings you to a mountain lagoon surrounded by old-growth forest in a natural amphitheater.
Starting point: Tronador Bridge, 7 miles south of Caleta Gonzalo.
Difficulty
Low
Duration
40 min (out and back)
Distance
0.9 miles total
Open
Year-round
A trail that winds through an impressive forest of Alerces, offering close-up views of trees that are nearly 3,000 years old.
Lugar de inicio: 8 miles south of Caleta Gonzalo
Difficulty
Medium–High
Duration
2.5 hours (out and back)
Distance
2.7 miles total
Open
Year-round
A trail that ascends the slope of the Chaitén Volcano nearly 2000 feet, reaching the edge of its caldera.
Starting point: Los Gigios Bridge, 21 miles south of Caleta Gonzalo.
Difficulty
Low–medium
Duration
2 hours total (out and back)
Distance
2.2 miles total
Open
Year-round
A hike that reaches three different waterfalls, the first at around 25 minutes of ascent and the others around 30 minutes later.
Starting point: 8.7 miles south of Caleta Gonzalo, starting from the Cascadas Escondidas campsite.
Difficulty
Low
Duration
30 minutes (out and back)
Distance
1 mile total
Open
Year-round
An easy walk that reaches the shores of Lake Negro and a lookout point on stilts over the water, which is ideal for bird watching.
Starting point: Lago Negro campsite.
Type:Out-and-back.
Difficulty
Medium-High
Duration
8 to 10 hours
Distance
15 miles total
Open
Year-round
A trail that gently ascends 0.4 miles to the base of the glaciers on the western face of the Michinmahuida Volcano.
Starting point: Carol Urzúa Bridge, 17.7 miles south of Caleta Gonzalo.
Type: Out and back.
Difficulty
Low
Duration
1 hour total
Distance
2.2 miles total
Open
Year-round
A trail that explores an old Alerce forest, a campsite, and an area currently being restored.
Starting point: The park ranger offices at the El Volcán Campsite.
Type: Circuit hike.
Difficulty
Low
Duration
1.25 hours total
Distance
1.9 miles total
Open
Year-round
A trail that follows an old logging footpath. It shows how the forest used to be and its process of regrowth.
El Sendero Interpretativo Ranita de Darwin podrás conocer la flora y fauna del lugar del lugar y encontrar 3 miradores espectaculares. Si es atento y tiene suerte, puede ser que incluso vea la pequeña y tímida ranita de Darwin, que se encuentra en peligro de extinción.
Starting point: The road to Grande Campsite, kilometer 4.2 (mile 2.6)
Difficulty
Low–Medium
Duration
1 hour
Distance
1.4 miles
Open
Year-round
A trail that ascends the slope of three volcanic cones––vents for the Michinmahuida Volcano––and later descends to the Ventisquero Campsite. This trail has stretches that are quite steep.
Starting point: The road to Ventisquero Campsite, kilometer 2.1 (mile 1.3).
Type: This route can be an out-and-back, or a circuit for hikers who take it to the Ventisquero Campsite and circle back via the road.
Duration: 1 hour (out and back), 1.5 hours to the Ventisquero Campsite
Distance: 1.4 miles to the lookout points / 1.9 miles to the Ventisquero Campsite / 4 miles as a circuit, taking the road on the way back.
Difficulty
Medium
Duration
6 hours (out and back)
Distance
12.4 miles total
Open
Year-round
A trail at the base of a glacier along the southern face of the Michinmahuida Volcano. Not particularly steep.
Starting point: Ventisquero Campsite.
Website: www.lodgecaletagonzalo.cl
Meet part of the Biosphere Reserve of the Temperate Rainforests of the Southern Andes and discover the Alerce Andino National Park, the Hornopirén National Park and the Pumalin Douglas-Tompkins National Park, which protect thousand-year-old larches.
Embark from Puerto Montt or Quellón to Chaitén via ferry to observe Corcovado National Park (*), explore in depth the forests of Pumalín Douglas Tompkins National Park and continue south along the Carretera Austral, visiting Queulat National Park.
The largest city in the area, located 34 miles to the south of Caleta Gonzalo, Chaiten has beautiful views of the Chaitén and Corcovado volcanoes.
A village 17 miles south of Chaitén known for its beautiful homes, the Amarillo hot springs, and its views of the Michinmahuida Volcano and Tabique peak.
With a beautiful view of the Hornopirén volcano and the Comau fjord, Hornopirén is the starting point for travel by boat toward Leptepu and Caleta Gonzalo.
Copyright 2018 Ruta de los Parques de la Patagonia
