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Torres del Paine National Park (Parque Nacional Torres
del Paine) – Torres del Paine has more cloud ripper mountains than
you can imagine. The park, a Unesco Biosphere Reserve, has rugged peaks
that tower over pristine lakes. With your kids, you could spend days exploring
this park, either on foot, or with pack horses. The wildlife is spectacular
– herds of the llama-like guanacos and rheas (like ostriches) as well
as the sensational Andean condor. |
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For hiking, there are well marked trails – you can take
a short walks, or if you are more ambitious and want to do more than a day
hike, there are hostels (refugios) where you can spend the night (meals
are available, hot showers and bunks). Tour agencies will also arrange hiking
trips. |
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 Grey
Lake (Lago Grey) – Grey Lake is a "must see," not only because
of its pristine, blue waters, but who can resist wading in the water with
icebergs floating around. Pull out ice chunks and carve them into shapes.
Or take a boat to the Grey Glacier at the end of the lake. Guides
will take your family (older children) ice climbing on the glacier. |
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Even in the warmest months (January to March), the weather in Torres
del Paine is very changeable, and can be rainy and windy. |
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Punta Arenas – Punta Arenas on the
Straits of Magellan was quite an outpost in the 19th century. In the center
of town, at Plaza Munoz Gamero, check out the statue of Ferdinand
Magellan, the hot shot who circumnavigated the globe. And climb to the
top of Cerro La Cruz, a hill from which you'll have a spreading view
of the city and the Straits. The Museo Regional Salesiano Mayorino Borgatello has a great collection of stuffed animals from the region and indigenous
Indian artifacts. If you want to see what it was like to be a pioneer in
Patagonia, visit the Museo del Recuerdo at the Instituto de la Patagonia
– there are old horse drawn carriages and a typical cabin. The Municipal
Cemetery (Cementerio Municipal) is worth a stop – huge topiary
trees and imposing mausoleums of the founding pioneers of Punta Arenas. |
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For
day trips, to see the Magellanic penguins, take a boat trip to Magdalena
Island (Isla Magdalena), or visit the Otway Inlet (Seno Otway) penguin colony. To set foot on Tierra del Fuego, take the ferry to
Porvenir (three hour crossing). |
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Milodon Cave (near Puerto Natales) –
Milodon Cave (Cueva del Milodon). In the late 19th century, Captain Eberhard
found bones and fur of a long extinct giant ground sloth. The cave has a
picnic area and in front of the cave is a huge plaster statute of the milodon,
rearing up on its hind legs. |
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Patagonia in Argentina – Another section of Patagonia is in Argentina, so check out all the fun things to, while you're in the neighborhood. |
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Tierra
del Fuego, the tip of South America, land of terrible storms,
attacking pirates, nomadic Patagonian tribes. A trip to find out
what Tierra del Fuego is like today. (Picture book)
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Get
to know the amazing wildlife of Patagonia – guanacos (wild
llamas), rheas, ibises, mountain lions, Andean geese, chinchillas,
grey foxes. Two-page fold out with plants and animals glossary.
(Picture book)
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(More children's
books on other Chile pages) |
