Program Type : Trekking
Price : US $2,032 - US $2,556
This is an experience that trekkers keep coming back for in the southernmost region of the world, an unexplored area of infinite beauty. It is a trip through a biosphere reserve where archaeological sites and homes of ancient cultures, which were developed in the middle of tundra and forest, abound.
It is the first trekking route drawn on Navarino Island, which runs 53 kilometers around 1,200 meter peaks of sedimentary rock known as Dientes de Navarino.
It is a great experience for travelers in good physical condition and requires some degree of mountaineering experience and proper clothing for the strong climate conditions that may exist in these latitudes. Because this is an unexplored place, there are no facilities while trekking and guides and porters will be in charge of the food and camp.
The program´s official starting point is in the city of Punta Arenas, Chile but can also start from Tierra del Fuego, located in Ushuaia, Argentina.
ITINERARY
Day 1: Punta Arenas – Puerto Williams
From the city of Punta Arenas you will take a small plane that travels to Puerto Williams, the southernmost town in the world. About 2,000 people live here, the main town of Navarino Island. Once there, the rest of the day is dedicated to planning the following four days of trekking. Dinner and accommodation will both be in a lodge in Puerto Willams.
Day 2: Puerto Williams – Laguna del Salto
The goal of the first day will be to reach the Laguna del Salto, located at 480 meters, where we will spend the first night. From there we will go to our first summit, Cerro Bandera (550 meters) from where you can see the Beagle Canal in its entirety.
Tent accommodation and meals are included.
Day 3: Laguna del Salto – Laguna Escondida
The goal of this day will be to reach Laguna Escondida. We depart Laguna del Salto and will start climbing, always following the stream that surrounds this area of hills. We will follow the crest of the hill until we reach a small rocky pass called “Paso Primero”. Then we will follow the course of the stream until we reach the entrance to the upper valley and then we will reach the maximum height of the day: the Paso Australia. We will pass by a small lake at the foot of the pass, avoiding down to it. This is how we will arrive at Paso de los Dientes. We will go down into the valley and pass several lagoons until we reach the Laguna Escondida.
Tent accommodations and meals included.
Day 4 Laguna Escondida – Laguna Martillo
We will border the Laguna Escondida to begin our trek to Laguna Martillo. We will go through the valley, pass the Paso Ventarron, cross scrubby forest and continue until the end of the valley. Then we will climb up to the Paso Guerrico and descend to Laguna Hermosa. From there we will continue to the north, between the scrubby forest, until we reach the Laguna Martillo.
Tent accommodations and meals included.
Day 5: Laguna Martillo – Puerto Williams
This will be the longest day of trekking. From Laguna Martillo we will climb up to the small Laguna Rocallosa before reaching Paso Virginia. Then we will descend by the forest down to Laguna Los Guanacos. We will pass through several areas of beavers until we approach the coast of Puerto Williams.
Day 6: Puerto Williams
This we be a well-deserved day off, where you can visit the Martin Gusinde Anthropological Museum. It is named after the Austrian priest and scientist who lived with the natives of the area (called Yaganes and Selknam) and who made one of the largest ethnographic synthesis about the indigenous peoples who inhabited the Tierra del Fuego and Navarino area. If you like and if weather permits, you can also travel through the rest of the island.
Lodge accommodation.
Day 7: Puerto Willams – Punta Arenas
We will eat breakfast in the lodge and go to the airfield to take the plane that will take us back to the mainland. In Punta Arenas we will leave you in your place of accommodation. End of service
RATES
| Base for two passengers | Base for four passengers | Base for six passengers |
| US $2,556 | US $2,044 | US $2,032 |
CONSIDERATIONS
- The weather in the area is extremely variable. In summer there can be brief downpours, snow and wind.
- It is very important to bring clothes and shoes suitable for mountaineering because periods of extreme weather can happen even within a tree line. The use of coats or jackets made of down is not recommended because in some places it is very humid. Synthetic clothing (eg: Primaloft) is preferred.
- In the circuit of trekking there are no facilities such as bathrooms.
- Solar radiation is generally very high so sunscreen is important.
- In the program we include one rest day (Day 6) during which you can become acquainted with Puerto Williams. This day is also planned in case weather conditions prevent the normal transfer by plane to and from the island, which happens quite often.
- We also recommend having a flexible schedule in case bad weather prevents the timely entry or exit of the island.
- It is crucial that passengers have full travel and health insurance from their home countries.
- Girovai.com service includes full board at Isla Navarino, including 3 nights and 4 days in camp as well as the transfer Punta Arenas-Puerto Williams-Punta Arenas, and accommodation in Punta Arenas only on the day of arrival from Puerto Williams.