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

What are you leaving out of your Patagonia travel plan? That destination that you're not including simply because no one has mentioned it to you, and surely it 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 visits, in addition to supporting local operators and their communities. In this article, we will mention 6 must-see places that you haven't heard of, so that you can be the one to mention them when asked for advice once you're back home. Take your pencil, open your planning file, and take note because these are some places you can't miss.

Kayaking and whales in the icy waters of the park. Photo: Kayak Agua Fresca / @kayakaguafresca.

Francisco Coloane Marine Park, Punta Arenas.

In the midst 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, and it is one of the best places for whale watching, with the huge humpback whale standing out as it moves through the area in its classic serenity. It has 67,000 hectares of sea that allow you to relive the route that Hernando de Magallanes took through the channels between the islands of Santa Inés, Riesco, and the Brunswick Peninsula, and there are varied 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 who passed away in 2002 at the age of 92, was a prominent novelist and storyteller of his experiences and adventures in the region. He was the winner of the National Literature Prize in 1964.

Approach view towards the summit. Foto: Kayak Agua Fresca / @kayakaguafresca.

Mount Tarn, Punta Arenas.

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

This mountain marks the point where the great Andes mountain range begins to break up into islands. Its name is derived from 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, just where the ascent begins. The landscape is composed of sub-Antarctic evergreen forest, an environment with abundant flora, peat bogs, and an altitude of 830 meters above sea level. The historical hiking circuit is 5 kilometers long.

Volcanic cone and landscape of Pali Aike National Park. Photo: Creative Commons.

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 the language of the Aónikenk, 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 rock formations of basalt and lava flows, providing important information about the geological characteristics of the region. 

It is also notable the evidence of human presence in the area. In "Fell Cave and Pali Aike," projectile-like tools dated back to 8,000 years ago were found.

View of the canal and its impressive mountains. Photo: Patagonian Fjords / @patagonianfjords.

Canal de las Montañas, Puerto Natales.

Also known as the Fjord of the Mountains, 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. While navigating this fjord, you will see over your shoulders steep peaks covered in ice and magnificent masses of ice hanging from the different glaciers.

Depending on the conditions, you can access the iconic Bernal Glacier, even reaching out to touch it. To access the Canal de las Montañas, you can do so from Puerto Natales by boat that will take you for one day to visit this wonderful place (more information here).

View of the Valley of the Moon - Fossilized leaf. Photo: Matías Garcés / @outdoorindex.

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 contain interesting information about the past of this place. In the area, 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, and bivalves and species 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 this is precisely the best way to come to appreciate the serrated formations of the gigantic rocks. Patagonian legends say 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.

Viewpoint from Cerro Benitez towards Laguna Sofia. Photo: Matías Garcés / @outdoorindex.

Laguna Sofia and Cerro Benitez.

The ascent of Cerro Benitez 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.

Starting from Puerto Natales on Route 9 towards Cerro Castillo, you will reach the Laguna Sofía area. From this place, you begin a hike to the summit 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 Laguna and the surrounding mountains. 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 delight in new corners that make us reflect and be grateful to be able to visit these places.

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