Over the past century, Chile has steadily expanded its network of protected areas, safeguarding the country’s remarkable landscapes and biodiversity for future generations.
One of the most impressive examples is the Route of Parks of Patagonia (Ruta de los Parques de la Patagonia). Stretching some 2,800 kilometres from Puerto Montt to Cape Horn, the route connects 17 national parks and showcases some of southern Chile’s most spectacular scenery – from volcanoes and ancient forests to glaciers, fjords and the vast landscapes of Patagonia. It offers a unique journey through the extraordinary diversity of Chile’s protected wilderness.
Highlights along the route include Pumalín Douglas Tompkins National Park, with its ancient alerce forests. Queulat National Park is home to the spectacular Ventisquero Colgante hanging glacier. Cerro Castillo National Park impresses with its rugged mountain peaks and turquoise lagoons. Vast Patagonian steppes and diverse wildlife characterize Patagonia National Park. Further south, the world-famous Torres del Paine National Park, with its iconic granite peaks, lakes and glaciers, is one of the route’s most spectacular highlights.