7 must-see places in Chilean Patagonia

Southern Patagonia begins in the Southern Ice Fields and extends to Antarctica. It corresponds to the XII region of Magallanes. In these almost 133,000 km2 extend incredible forests, glaciers, snowdrifts, rivers and lakes of crystalline waters and hundreds of unique and moving landscapes. If you are there, we invite you to visit some of these places, which are part of the major attractions that can be found in this natural paradise:

1.- Bernardo O'Higgins National Park: Located between the XI region of Aysén and XII region of Magallanes, it is inserted within the Southern Ice Fields. This is home to famous glaciers such as the Pío XI, with a span of 75 meters high from where huge blocks of ice break off, providing an impressive spectacle.

In addition to glaciers within the park is the town of Puerto Eden, a small town where you can discover part of what was the Kaweskar culture, the first indigenous people who inhabited the place and were expert canoeists crossing the Patagonian channels to fish and move.

Milodon Cave Natural Monument: In this place, 25 kilometers from Puerto Natales and 254 from Punta Arenas, the first vestiges of the mylodon were found, a prehistoric animal that inhabited the area more than 12,000 years ago, along with the first human inhabitants. Here you can enter the caverns that served as refuge for the first Patagonian men through its trails. There are also interesting rock formations such as the "Silla del Diablo" (Devil's Chair).

In the surrounding areas there are areas of Magellanic forest with species of the area such as lenga and ñirre, as well as a large amount of fauna such as culpeo fox, black-necked swan, woodpecker and others.

Puerto Natales: This city, due to its proximity to Torres del Paine, has become an entertaining meeting point for visitors who come from all over the world to visit the park. Here you can find accommodations for all tastes, restaurants, pubs, casino and an entertaining atmosphere where you can share. It is located on the banks of the Señoret Channel, so there is also the possibility of different outdoor activities such as kayaking and mountain biking. One of the unmissable walks is a trekking to the Dorotea hill, where there is a viewpoint to observe Puerto Natales and its surrounding landscapes, such as an impressive glacier.

Puerto Bories: Located 4 kilometers from Puerto Natales, is where the Frigorífico de Bories is located, a National Historic Monument, where in the early years of Puerto Natales the processing and refrigeration of thousands of sheep took place. If you like history, it is an interesting tour that shows the beginnings of this area. The refrigerator building has a post-Victorian architectural style, and has now been rebuilt by the luxury hotel The Singular.

From this pier, boats set sail to sail to the Balmaceda Glacier and the Serrano Glacier, crossing through the Última Esperanza fjord. In this area it is also possible to discover fauna such as cormorants and sea lions.

Torres del Paine: The Eighth Wonder of the World has an infinity of alternatives and landscapes in its interior so that every time you visit it will be like the first time. There are several areas to visit: Cuernos (north, east and main), the Nordenskjold, Pehoé, Paine, Sarmiento and Dickson lakes, the Torres (central, south and north) and the Honda, Azul and Verde Lagoons. The most important lake is Lake Paine, which gives rise to the Paine, Salto Grande and Salto Chico waterfalls.

6.- W Circuit: Base Las Torres, French Valley and Grey Lake: This is one of the longest circuits to visit Torres del Paine. You must have 4 days and a lot of courage to walk despite the changing weather conditions. In this tour you will start from the base of the Torres del Paine, arriving from the Laguna Amarga porter's lodge. The first day you will walk from the Central Refuge to the Base of the Towers, a stretch of 18 kilometers - 9 outbound and 9 return. It is important that you carry a backpack with just enough water and nutritious snacks to give you energy during the trip and lots of encouragement. On the second day the trek starts from Refugio Torre Central to Refugio Los Cuernos, an 11 kilometer hike. It is a very beautiful journey, where you will find the crystalline waters of Lake Nordenskjold and forests of different colors, as well as the Cuernos de Paine in the background, if the day is clear. On the third day the trail leads to the French Valley, one of the most beautiful places in Torres del Paine, where you will find an amphitheater of granite walls that allows a complete view of the place. Then, the journey will take you to Refugio Paine Grande, located in front of Lake Pehoé, with turquoise waters that allow the reflection of the Cuernos del Paine, offering an unforgettable spectacle.

On the last day from Refugio Paine Grande the hike takes you to the shores of Lago Grey, another of Torres del Paine's must-see attractions. If you can navigate the lake, the reward is the view of the glacier of the same name and a unique spectacle at the end of the world. Apart from these wonderful landscapes, in Torres del Paine you can find all kinds of endemic flora such as ñenga forests, Magellanic coigue, ñirre and steppe vegetation. As for the fauna, there are frequent guanacos - especially in the Laguna Amarga and Sarmiento portions, foxes, rheas, condors, black-necked swans, huemules and if you are very lucky, an imposing puma.

Punta Arenas: The southernmost city in Chile, located 254 kilometers south of Torres del Paine, known as the "Capital of Chilean Patagonia". Among its attractions you will find the famous Punta Arenas Cemetery, full of elegance and sophisticated architecture, the free zone to buy souvenirs and Magdalena Island, where you can meet the wonderful Magellanic penguins.

Recommendations: The best season to visit Southern Patagonia is between the months of November to March, since the amount of rainfall decreases and there are days with better weather. However, do not be confident. Southern Chile has a very changeable climate and you should be prepared for anything.

Keep in your bag a waterproof windbreaker, a polar fleece, several layers of clothing, special walking shoes and sneakers, plus gloves, hat and scarf for warmth. In addition, don't forget shorts, short-sleeved shirts, sunscreen and sunglasses. You may need it all, even in one day!