TREKKING IN ANTARCTICA

Exploring is the order of the day for those who arrive in Antarctica. Visiting as many places as possible, regardless of one's tiredness, the cold or the hostile weather conditions. The important thing is to make the most of one's time and start walking along the frozen paths.

That is why hiking and trekking are the two "musts" for Antarctic tourists. On their two feet, they get to know more about the continent while step by step they reach the foreign bases located nearby the Chilean base: the Chinese, Russian and Uruguayan ones.

Within the Chilean Antarctic, one may go trekking to the following places of interest: Mt Ellsworth, Vinson Massif, Centinela Cordillera, Fildes Peninsula, Villa Las Estrellas, Escudero base, Paraiso Bay and Gabriel Gonzalez Videla base, among others.

TREKKING IN CALAMA

Long walks in the desert. Excursions under the ruthless sun, on the burning sands. Tours along roads used by the ancient inhabitants before the wheel or the horse were known to them.
Roads that go through pre-Hispanic towns, ravines and oasis that make us think of the grandeur of nature. These are the roads that lead up to Atacama, the driest desert in the world.
Deserts with extreme climates, demanding the use of sun-block, sunglasses and caps during the day as well as plenty of bottled water. The cold night winds, on the other hand, call for warm clothes.

The following are some of the ideal circuits for trekking:

- Valleys and rivers, north of San Pedro, long walks round "Aymara" villages and hot springs. Some tour operators combine walks with horseback riding.

- Puna de Atacama, Meñique-Tumbre Lagoon, an excursion along paths from which a wide variety of birds and wild animals can be seen. Tumbre, an "Aymara" village, is the end point of the tour.

TREKKING IN CHILOE

You can go trekking round Chiloe National Park. Guided treks, organized by several tourist agencies in Castro, are recommended.

TREKKING IN JUAN FERNANDEZ

If you decide to go for a walk you can choose the following destinations: Rebaje de la Pina, Sal Si Puedes, Selkirk Viewpoint and Centinela, which are surrounded by amazing vegetation.

TREKKING IN EASTER ISLAND

Walking in blissful silence. Walking and breathing in the refreshingly uncontaminated air. Walking and feeling a part of an island overflowing with nature's wonders. That is what you feel when you are trekking on Easter Island and, for this very reason, this activity is one of the favorite choices of visitors to this earthly paradise.

Two or three-day treks past volcanoes that have been dormant for thousands of years. Trails that vibrate in the presence of timeless and colossal historical remains. Trips on which the wanderer has no choice but to surrender to Easter Island's spectacular geography.

Among the trekking trails one of the favorites is that which starts at the Orongo ceremonial village and ends at the top of Maunga Terevaka, the highest volcano on the island.

Hiking

These are walks that are short "distancewise" but very "long" on fun. This is hiking or trail trekking. Walking back and forth along short trails leading to authentic natural sanctuaries and archaeological sites - a unique way of learning (at the local "pace") about the enchantment of an age-old volcanic island.

Hiking or trail trekking consists of covering short distances on foot, when the priority is admiring the landscape, not overcoming obstacles on the way. Easter Island boasts two favorite trails:

- Rano Raraku, this is one of the Island's most important volcanoes. Here there are several one-kilometer-long excursion trails. The area is provided with signposted stops and a printed handout in English. It is 18 kilometers northwest of Hanga Roa, the only population center on Easter Island.

- Orongo, this is an ancient ceremonial village with ideal interpreted hiking trails. It is 4 kilometers northwest of Hanga Roa.

TREKKING IN PUCON

There are several paths interning in the natural areas of Pucon, configuring gratifying trails that allow appreciating the biodiversity of the national parks of the IX Region.

Most of the circuits are perfectly signalised, thus facilitating the orientation of hikers; however, there are routes where it is necessary to have maps and orientation tools.

Amongst the most attractive trekking options we have the following:

- Villarrica National Park: trekkers will find more than one signalised route for their adventurous steps in this impressive natural area; there are also printed guides and numbered landmarks.

The routes are divided in three sectors:

• Trail of the Volcano: it is 5 kilometres long and is located in the Rucapallan Sector of the Villarrica National Park. There are beautiful vistas of the Caburgua and Calafquen Lakes and the Quetrupillan and Villarrica Volcanoes on the way.
  
  
• Trail of the Craters: it is 8 kilometres long and leads to the Andean prairies, volcanoes, lava fields and craters.
  
  
• Trail of the Deer: it is 15 kilometres long and is located in the Quetrupillan Sector of the Villarrica National Park. The path goes across forests of araucarias and coigües. It ends at the foot of the Quetrupillan Volcano.
  
  
• Trail of the Great Bustards: it is 17 kilometres long and is located in the Puesco Sector of the Villarrica National Park. On the way you will watch wetlands and lagoons such as the Azul, Las Avutardas (Great Bustards) and Las Curiosas, all concentrating plenty of avifauna.
  
  

- Trail of the Lakes: it is one of the most popular routes of La Araucania; it has an extension of 8 kilometres and a gradient of roughly 500 metres. Located in the Huerquehue National Park, the tour starts at an esplanade that leads to the Eagle's Nest Cascade, in the north of the Tinquilco Lake, and continues through forests of mañios, coigües and araucarias and serene lagoons.

TREKKING IN PUNTA ARENAS

We will never find two trails with the same scenery - each place is different, whether complex or simple, but always beautiful. Travelling through and closely admiring the magic of the trails in Punta Arenas, where the magnificence and peace of natural beauty prevail, is well worth the experience.
In Magallanes National Reserve (8 km west of Punta Arenas) there are several trekking trails. Long or short, tough or easy, but all of them equally exciting and inspiring, with the Lengas trail (3,600 meters long) and the Mirador (leading up to Las Minas River gorge) being the best known.
Other routes in Punta Arenas:

- Monte Tarn, in Brunswick Peninsula, 70 km south of Punta Arenas. There are charming trails, such as that of Darwin Mountain Range and Sarmiento Peak (830 meters altitude)

- San Juan River, located within the Laguna Parrillar Forestry Reserve, about 60 km from Punta Arenas. There are paths across woodlands and rivers. Walks take several hours.

- San Isidro Lighthouse, the tour starts on km 60 of the railway line leading south from Punta Arenas. The walking tour takes one up to the lighthouse, the point of reference for ships sailing across the Strait of Magellan some centuries ago.

TREKKING IN SANTIAGO DE CHILE

Little equipment and no special preparation is necessary. All that is needed is enthusiasm, willpower and a compelling urge to go along trails that are sometimes hostile, almost never smooth, always exciting - real "trails of freedom" leading to distant, peaceful spots far from the "madding crowd" of city life.

If walking is your game, Santiago has many challenges to offer. Trails are rife, inviting the happy wanderer to commune with nature and the Chilean capital's changing geographical features.

These are some of the trekking circuits that are available.

Fundo Yerba Loca Nature Reserve, 25 kilometers east of Santiago, on the way to Farellones. Its geography consists of imposing mountains covered by small woods and lush vegetation, with a fauna including many bird species. In the area there are clearly marked trails, like the one joining Villa Paulina to La Paloma and El Altar mountains.

Rio Clarillo National Reserve, this is 45 kilometers southeast of Santiago, in the locality of Pirque. Besides its natural attractions, it offers a number of hiking pathways, some of which can be explored in a short time.

El Morado Natural Monument, this is a protected area, located 93 kilometers southeast of Santiago, deep in the Andes Cordillera. It occupies the Morales river canyon, as well as the neighboring mountains of El Morado (5,060 meters above sea level). The track starts in the town of Baños Morales. This road sports an abundance of mountain flora, diverse species of birds and many natural springs.

Altos del Manzano, this place is 37 kilometers southeast of Santiago. It is a canyon with dwarf shrubs, offering trekking trails, one of which starts in the vicinity of Colorado river (Maipo stream bed) and ends in a plateau with an 80 meter high cliff, from where one can spot condors and foxes.

Alto del Naranjo, it is located 6 kilometers from Santiago within the Cordillera Foothills Ecology Reserve. It is set against a wilderness backdrop featuring many small cacti and small bushes. This is a steep climbing trail, where stamina plays an important role.

Mt Pochocho, with its height of 1,805 meters, it dominates the Arrayan valley, located 17 kilometers from Santiago. This mountain offers well-defined trails, with minimum difficulty levels.

TREKKING IN TIERRA DEL FUEGO

Tracks and circuits that take you to inhospitable places of unbelievable beauty abound in Tierra del Fuego. There are itineraries full of strikingly amazing landscapes, where the gentle rule of nature still reigns.
Ancient woods, murmuring rivers and meadows full of "guanacos" and wild horses are some of the places that are along your way when you make the fascinating trip to the south of Tierra del Fuego.
The main hiking routes are those that cross the Darwin Mountain Range. This range is located in the west of Tierra del Fuego, which has been little explored due to its remote location, severe climate and lack of information and infrastructure.
The Darwin Mountain Range offers tourists a chance of taking exciting walks lasting several days. This adventure trekking is uniquely enchanting, since there are woods, glaciers and small lakes as well as beavers and wild horses among other local wildlife on the way.
We advise tourists who want to cross this mountain range to do so from December to March.