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Why Bernardo O’Higgins?
Situated 31 miles north of Puerto Natales, bordering Torres del Paine National Park, this largely untouched area is becoming more and more accessible. It offers a novel water-borne way to enter or exit Torres del Paine, boats ferry visitors from the quayside in Puerto Natales to the stunning Serrano Glacier, which tumbles down the valley amid native forests bordered by the Patagonian icefield to the north and the mythical Last Hope Sound to the south. The rest of the journey can be made on zodiacs, kayaks, on foot or by horse depending on the direction and your preference.
What to see
Highlights of the southern section of the Park include the Balmaceda hanging glacier, the Tyndall, Geike and Serrano glaciers and the beautiful Mount Balmaceda, which stands at 2,035 metres. An authentic working estancia settled by the same family for generations is an interesting stopover and gives a real insight into the local lifestyle, a chance to learn what its like to farm in this wild and alluring place among the fjords and forests of southern Patagonia.
Wildlife
Wildlife is plentiful, especially birds, ducks and geese. The Park is also home to the endangered Huemel, a small deer known to breed in the area.
Inspiration
Tourism is still undeveloped in this area which makes for some fantastic wild camping experiences as you are lulled to sleep by the sound of rumbling icefalls. Relax fireside and enjoy the silence of nature. Feast on Patagonian lamb prepared beautifully by your hosts all washed down with ample supplies of Chilean wine. Camp on one of the many river beaches under the stars made all the more spectacular by the complete lack of any light pollution – a rare sight in this populated world we live in.
Explore
We focus on the southern corner of the Park that borders Torres del Paine – an area covered in dense vegetation with little infrastructure and no public transport. Although a journey into this area requires more planning and logistical support, guided explorations are possible and very rewarding as you immerse yourself in a truly wild landscape learning about the indigenous Kawesqar people who navigated these waterways in canoes and hunted in these forests 7,000 years before you.
Fact
The Bernardo O’Higgins National Park is the largest in Chile. It encompasses a vast area of over 8 million acres straddling both the Aysen and Magallanes regions of Chile. The Park is home to a labrynth of waterways and fjords which criss cross their way south across this forested land that contains no less than 49 glaciers including the Pio XI which bucks the trend of the other glaciers in the area in that it is still ‘growing’, it is also the largest in the southern hemisphere with vertical walls that stand nearly 250 feet tall.
Magnificent fjords and waterways
Our guides know the area and can guide you through these magnificent fjords and waterways in a manner that suits your travel style. Whether you want to paddle out in kayaks onto the magical Serrano lagoon navigating icebergs floating on it’s translucent waters or you prefer to board zodiacs down the river before adding a charter boat to an epic waterside estancia we can design an itinerary for you.