Must-see attractions in Northern Patagonia

  • The guanaco (Lama guanicoe), a camelid native to South America, stands between 1.0 and 1.2 m at the shoulder and weighs 90 to 140 kg. Its color varies very little (unlike the domestic llama), ranging from a light brown to dark cinnamon and shading to white underneath. Guanacos have grey faces and small, straight ears. The name guanaco comes from the South American Quechua word huanaco (modern spelling: wanaku). Young guanacos are called chulengos.

    Parque Nacional Patagonia

    Northern Patagonia

    Dubbed as the Serengeti of the Southern Cone, the 690-sq-km Parque Nacional Patagonia features Patagonian steppe, forests, mountains, lakes and lagoons…

  • La Confluencia

    Northern Patagonia

    Don't miss this dramatic viewpoint, where Chile's most powerful river, the Baker, froths into a broad, behemoth cascade before merging with the milkier,…

  • Adventure tourists near the San Rafael Glacier in the Laguna San Rafael National Park in the northern Patagonian Ice Field in southern Chile.

    Parque Nacional Laguna San Rafael

    Northern Patagonia

    Awesome and remote, this national park brings visitors face to face with the 30,000-year-old San Valentín glacier in Chile's Campo de Hielo Norte…

  • Parque Nacional Pumalín

    Northern Patagonia

    Verdant and pristine, this 2889-sq-km park encompasses vast extensions of temperate rainforest, clear rivers and seascapes. A remarkable forest…

  • Lago Cerro Castillo

    Parque Nacional Cerro Castillo

    Northern Patagonia

    Cerro Castillo's basalt spires are the crowning centerpiece of Parque Nacional Cerro Castillo, a sprawling 1800-sq-km park located 75km south of Coyhaique…

  • Parque Nacional Queulat

    Northern Patagonia

    The 1540-sq-km Parque Nacional Queulat is a wild realm of rivers winding through forests thick with ferns and southern beech. When the sun is out it’s…

  • Reserva Nacional Tamango

    Northern Patagonia

    Boasting Chile’s largest population of endangered huemul deer, Reserva Nacional Tamango protects a 70-sq-km transition zone to the Patagonian steppe…

  • Capilla de Mármol

    Northern Patagonia

    Well worth the detour, these sculpted geological formations are accessible by boat on Lago General Carrera. Trips in small motorized boats or kayaks only…

  • Museo Pioneros del Baker

    Northern Patagonia

    In a pioneer house, this adorable cultural museum packs in engaging details, from Patagonian sayings to pioneer relics and molds of animal tracks. It's…

  • Mirador Cerro Vijía

    Northern Patagonia

    Above El Rincón sector of Tortel, this three-hour round-trip hike offer views of the Baker estuary and canals.

  • Parque Nacional Hornopirén

    Northern Patagonia

    Relatively unknown and not often accessed, Parque Nacional Hornopirén protects a lush wilderness of alpine terrain. It remains obscure mainly because…

  • Reserva Nacional Coyhaique

    Coyhaique

    Draped in lenga, ñire and coigue, the 21.5-sq-km Reserva Nacional Coyhaique has small lakes and Cerro Cinchao (1361m). The park is 5km from Coyhaique …

  • Monumento Natural Dos Lagunas

    Coyhaique

    Near Paso Alto Coyhaique on the Argentine border, this 181-hectare wetland reserve hosts diverse birdlife, including black-neck swans, coots and grebes…

  • Parque Nacional Isla Magdalena

    Northern Patagonia

    An island sanctuary with hot springs and trails, Parque Nacional Isla Magdalena makes an engaging trip for adventurers, but there is little infrastructure…

  • Lago Elizalde

    Coyhaique

    One of many serene mountain lakes surrounding Coyhaique and great for trout fishing, kayaking or simply time at the beach. It's just 33km from Coyhaique…

  • Fábrica de Alfombras

    Northern Patagonia

    The skilled Chilote textile workers fed the success of the 1947 German carpet factory, still weaving high-end handmade rugs. They are sold online, but…

  • Calluqueo Glacier

    Northern Patagonia

    This glacier descending from the southeast flanks of Monte San Lorenzo has only recently become a tourist attraction. It requires boat access and a guide.

  • Casa de la Cultura

    Northern Patagonia

    Features works by regional artists and a 2nd-floor assemblage of local artifacts, including minerals and fossils. Outside, the restored El Andes was built…

  • Mercado Municipal

    Northern Patagonia

    A covered market with artisan crafts in addition to local produce sold on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.