The Route of the Parks (Ruta de los Parques) was born out of a nature conservation vision, promoted by the Tompkins Conservation Chile Foundation. It covers more than 90 % of the area protected under the category of National Parks in Chile. Starting in Puerto Montt in the Lake District, the route extends to Cape Horn, the southernmost point of South America, in the Magallanes region. The 2800 km long route through dreamlike landscapes includes 17 national parks with a great diversity of flora and fauna.
Part of the northern Carretera Austral follows this route and passes by some of the national parks. In the Lake District, for example, this is the Pumalín Douglas Tompkins and in the Aysén region the Queulat National Park.
Pumalín Park is a temperate rainforest nature reserve. It is also an excellent destination for trekking, camping, and canyoning in its fjords.
In Queulat National Park, you can enjoy hiking in the evergreen forest and visit its glaciers, lagoons, and waterfalls. One of the activities not to be missed on the northern Carretera Austral is the hike to Ventisquero Colgante, a hanging glacier.
The inhabitants along the route are the guardians of the “Ruta de los Parques” and the keepers of the cultural and natural heritage. They are communities that keep Patagonia’s culture, traditions, and identity alive.
Under this link you will find a brochure with some photos and short information about the different parks as well as a map of the complete route.
For more details on this route of the parks, please email info@travelart.com.