6 must-see, lesser-known places in the Magallanes region.

What are you leaving out of your Patagonia travel plan? That destination that you are not including simply because no one has mentioned it to you, and surely has everything to surprise you and perhaps be a highlight of your trip. Keep in mind that by visiting these places instead of the most visited ones, you are helping in their conservation because they already have enough visitors, in addition to supporting local operators and their communities. In this article, we will mention 6 must-see places that you have not heard of, so that you can be the one to mention them when asked for advice back home. Take your pencil, open your planning file, and take note because these are some places you can't miss.

Francisco Coloane Marine Park, Punta Arenas

In the middle of the extensive and winding network of channels that extend through the southern zone of our country, the first marine protected area, and therefore the first marine park, of our country is located. In 2003, this area was declared for conservation, it is one of the best places for whale watching, highlighting the huge humpback whale that moves through the area in its classic tranquility. It has 67,000 hectares of sea that allow you to relive the route that Hernando de Magallanes traveled through the channels between the islands of Santa Inés, Riesco, and the Brunswick Peninsula, and there are various activities and ways to explore the area (more information here). Access is only possible by air or sea.

Francisco Coloane, a native of our Patagonia and who passed away in 2002 at the age of 92, was a prominent novelist and storyteller about his experiences and adventures in the area. Winner of the National Literature Prize in 1964.

Tarn Mountain, Punta Arenas

In the Brunswick Peninsula near Punta Arenas, this hill is located, overlooking the Strait of Magellan, with a view in the distance of Dawson Island, Tierra del Fuego, the Darwin mountain range, and Mount Sarmiento. The view is one of those landscapes that leave you breathless. The visit consists of a full-day guided walk (more information here) starting from Punta Arenas at 7:00 am and returning around 5:30 pm.

This hill marks the point where the great Andes mountain range begins to break up into islands. Its name is due to the English surgeon John Tarn, who reached its summit in 1827. Seven years later, Charles Darwin would describe the first fossils of prehistoric mollusks on this same walk after anchoring at the foot of the mountain, right where the ascent begins. The landscape is composed of evergreen sub-Antarctic forest, an environment with abundant flora, peat bogs, and an altitude of 830 meters above sea level. The historical walking circuit is 5 kilometers long.

Pali Aike, Punta Arenas

To the north of Punta Arenas, 196 kilometers away and bordering the border with Argentina, is the Pali Aike National Park, words that mean "desolate place" in Aónikenk language, the ancestral native people of the area. Access is by car and within the park, you will find several hikes that will take you to explore part of its 5,030 hectares, in which there are craters and volcanic basalt rock formations and lava flows, providing important information about the geological characteristics of the region.

Also noteworthy is the evidence of human presence in the area. In "Fell and Pali Aike cave," projectile-type instruments dated to 8,000 years old were found.

Mountains Channel, Puerto Natales

Also known as the Mountains Fjord, this route navigates you through the Patagonian channels offering spectacular views of the rugged and rugged geography of the area. The Sarmiento mountain range and the mountain range to which it belongs, extensive forests of Lenga and Coigüe, are just a small part of the vast landscape that is explored by traveling these channels. When navigating this fjord, you will see over your shoulders steep peaks covered with ice and magnificent masses of ice hanging in the different glaciers.

Depending on the conditions, you can access the iconic Bernal glacier, reaching out to touch it. To access the Mountains Channel, you can do it from Puerto Natales through a private charter that will take you for one or several days to this wonderful place (more information here).

Sierra Baguales, Puerto Natales

A volcanic mountain range located 120 km from Puerto Natales. Very close to the border with Argentina, northeast of the Province of Última Esperanza. Characterized by beautiful rock formations, such as rock cathedrals, which hold interesting information about the past of this place. In the place, you will find the Geo-Paleontological Park La Cumbre Baguales and its picturesque museum.

This increasingly visited place shows 70 million years of history; you can find fossils of leaves, bivalves, and species on its trails that are evidence of the ancestral flora and fauna, there are specialized guides to delve into paleontological content. There are various unmarked trails to explore the place, and it is precisely the best way to appreciate the serrated formations of the gigantic rocks. Patagonian legends tell that this area was inhabited by wild horses or "baguales," a concept used to identify domesticated horses that have returned to their environment in freedom.

Sofia Lagoon and Benitez Hill

The ascent of Benitez Hill can take you a couple of hours depending on your conditions, but the important thing is that you will visit a place not commonly mentioned in tourist guides, a true secret that will surprise you as much as the most famous hike.

Leaving from Puerto Natales on Route 9 towards Cerro Castillo, you will reach the Sofia Lagoon area. From this place, you start a hike to the top of Cerro Benitez. This walk is commonly accompanied by condors, which can be seen during the ascent. From the summit, you will have a view of the lagoon and the surrounding mountains of the area. This area is famous for being an excellent place for rock climbing, horseback riding, and water sports. For more information, we can help you here.

These 6 places are just a brief overview of everything that can be done in this incredible corner of the planet, and we constantly continue to delight ourselves with new corners that make us reflect and be grateful to be able to visit these places.

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