The longest Trek in the World, Sendero de Chile
While Chile may have come late to the world as a travel destination, it is thinking big. While post 9/11 travel has made places like Chile a cruise destination like never before, hikers are soon to benefit from the tourism investments and the new money in the region.
“Sendero de Chile” is a huge project which aims to link Chilean people and foreigners with natural, cultural, ethnic, and scenic Chile. By 2010 it will be the longest trail in the world, with an extension over 6,000 miles. This path will link the plateau and the most barren desert of the world; central valleys and its cities, parks, woods, lakes and volcanoes in southern Chile; austral glaciers and the vast expanse of the Patagonia pampas, and finally, the main island ecosystems, with paths in Isla de Pascua, in Archipelago de Juan Fernandez and Isla Grande de Chiloe.
Currently, Sendero de Chile has 35 treks that form this amazing route with more than 900 miles along the country. Each journey is linked to unique geographical conditions, but specially linked to very particular and unique natural and tourist attractions.
At Magallanes region, 3 trails exist: “Isla Navarino in Cabo de Hornos”, “Reserva Nacional de Magallanes” and “Ruta Patrimonial Milodon” (a few miles from Puerto Natales). Ruta Patrimonial Miloden begins about 12 miles to the north of the Milodon cave, in the “Nuevo camino al Pargue Nacional Torres Del Paine” or “Lago Porteno” road.
The narrow trail begins at the foot of the Cerro Tenerife hill. It is an easy walk and while you are walking, you can enjoy the magnificent landscape of the Paine Grande Massif and three nearby lakes; Porteno, Maravilla and Toro; besides it is also possible to see the Tyndall and Grey Glaciers and part of the Campo de Hielo Patagonico Sur. Finally, the journey ends at the Serrano Park. Walking the whole path takes 3 to 4 days, so you can camp at Rio Ventisquero, El Salto and Rio Serrano.
The environmental characteristics in this path are a feature of the Patagonia climate, with a wide variety of native vegetation like lengas, coigues, nirres, maintenes, ciruelillon, and calafates. You can also see different kinds of birds and other animals like condors, eagles, parrots, foxes, bobcats, etc.
The trail “Ruta Patrimonial Milodon” is an improvements phase at present so its infrastructure is still basic. The trail is accessible from its starting point to the end of Rio Serrano, from where you can visit the Torres del Paine National Park or make a descent by zodiac through the Rio Serranto, visit Balmaceda and Serrano glacier and continue by boat to Puerto Natles.
If this seems interesting to you, but you can't imagine being completely on your own in the Chilean outback, perhaps we have found a happy medium for you. You can check out Planeta Glaciar. Contact: icehike@planetaglacier.com for 1, 2 and 3 day hiking seminars. Departing from the Glacier Grey Operations Hut in Torres Del Paine daily are pristine hikes from 1 day to 9 days long, they will not take you on a hike, until they know that you are up to it, so email them in advance, and they will give you some ideas as to how to get ready.
If you think you are ready for the whole deal, but not able to get all your gear to Chile, check our Erratic Rock.com and join the rucksack revolution. With Erratic Rock, experience and good physical condition is a must.
So take a ship to Chile and a day tour to Torres de Paine, fly to Punta Arenas and take a boat to Puerto Natales and sign up with Planeta Glaciar, or do the whole enchilada and hike the longest Trek in the World, Sendero de Chile', with any choice you will see a part of the world that few have seen.