Cabo Froward

Day 1: Begin your hike along the shores of the Magellan Strait.

Puerto Natales – Rio Yumbel

After an early breakfast you will depart with your guide by bus from Puerto Natales to the neighboring city of Punta Arenas, about a 3-hour bus ride. Once you arrive you will meet your transfer which will take you to the trailhead about an hour south of city. Today’s hike starts with a stretch along the rocky shores of the Magellan Strait. After about 1.5 hours of hiking you’ll reach the former maritime museum and San Isidro Lighthouse. After a short break you will continue hiking for about 2.5 hours, winding in and out of the Austral forest and the rocky beach until you reach the first night’s camp at Rio Yumbel. Here you’ll find an old abandoned house, once a settler’s home is now a shelter to adventurers from all over the world.

*In case you want to start the trip from Punta Arenas we can also organize it.

Day 2: Challenge yourself in difficult terrain.

Rio Yumbel – Rio Nodales

Today will be a day of challenges! After breakfast and packing up camp you will begin your hike. Because you will be crossing a major river today, your start time will vary depending on the day’s tide schedule, ideally hitting the river at low tide. You begin the day by hiking through Patagonia’s only Cyprus forest. At the top you may take a rest with views of the Nassau Islands as well as the Dawson and Darwin mountain ranges. Continuing on you move forward into the turba or peat bog, a most challenging type of terrain for hiking. Hiking though the turba is wet, mushy, and takes a lot of energy! After a stop for lunch you will prepare for the most exciting part of the day, a river crossing. Depending on the tide you may need to walk with your bag over your head, or you may need to swim! Regardless of the tide, the unpredictability of the Patagonian weather, and it’s strong winds, are sure to make this part of the day an adventure. After crossing the river and drying off you’ll move forward for another few hours along the beach, climbing over rocks and boulders to reach your camp, where you will stay for the next two nights.

Day 3: Hike to the famous Southern Cross!

Cabo Froward

Today’s adventure will be an attempt to reach the Southernmost point on mainland America. You will leave your camp behind for the day and hike with only daypacks, but not without first tying up all your belongings in the trees! Foxes are known to come by looking for leftover food if you aren’t careful. You start today with yet another river crossing and a lengthy hike across the rocky coast, at times winding in through the forest where the tide has taken over the coastline. Along the way you will get your first views of the metal cross, Cruz de los Mares, or cross of the seas. The final ascent to the cross is a grueling 45 minutes of uphill hiking, the final portion along a steep set of metal stairs. At the top you will see where the seas meet, Atlantic and Pacific unite. After taking in the breathtaking views, you will take your great feeling of accomplishment back to camp, returning the same way that you came.

Day 4: Backtrack along the Magellan Strait

Rio Nodales – Rio Yumbel

Today after breaking down camp you will return along the trail that brought you here, either staying in Rio Yumbel or another location, depending on the weather, the tide, the group and your guide. You will backtrack through the obstacles, climbing rock faces, crossing rivers, and traversing the turba.

Day 5: Return to Puerto Natales

After a few hours hike out of the winding forests and long rocky beaches you will find yourself amazed and what you have accomplished and happy to be welcomed back into the warmth of society. Once you emerge from the trailhead your transfer will be waiting to take you back to Punta Arenas where you will catch a bus back to Puerto Natales.