Be Among the First to Explore Cape Froward, a Patagonian National Park at the End of the World
At the southern tip of mainland South America, Chile's newest protected wilderness beckons adventurers.
Take Route 9 south from Punta Arenas along the Strait of Magellan until the road ends, then hike until you reach a 33-foot metal cross. This marks Cape Froward, the southernmost point in mainland South America, in a remote region where the Indigenous Kawésqar people have paddled the coast for 7,000 years, forests shelter endangered Andean deer, and bogs bank carbon by the ton. In 2027, the area will become Cape Froward National Park, the 19th and southernmost national stop on Patagonia’s 1,700-mile Route of Parks, a project led by the conservation nonprofit Rewilding Chile. Because there are no roads here, you’ll discover its raw wilderness on foot or by boat.
(See all 25 of the destinations that made our list of the best places to visit in 2027.)
When to Go
Visit during the Southern Hemisphere's warm season, roughly October through April. Expect at least 16 hours of sunlight in December and January, even though daytime temperatures only reach the mid-50s nights can drop near freezing. Wind gusts can exceed 60 miles per hour from December through February, so build a buffer day or two into your itinerary in case of inclement weather. October and November are generally drier and less crowded. Whenever you go, pack a waterproof shell, thermal layers, and river shoes for crossings.
What to Do
Go for a Day Hike:
Route 9 ends at the picturesque cape Punta Árbol. From there it’s about a five-mile out-and-back hike up the beach to reach the San Isidro Lighthouse. First lit in 1904, it also houses a museum exploring the history of the Kawésqar people and the Strait of Magellan’s whaling past. Along the coastal trail, watch for shell middens—heaps of mussel shells where the Kawésqar once camped. For a more challenging climb, retrace Charles Darwin's 1834 ascent up Mount Tarn. It’s about six hours round-trip from Punta Árbol through bogs and wind, but the summit views across the Strait of Magellan and the Darwin Range make up for the discomfort.
Try an Expedition:
From October through March, the adventure outfitter Chile Nativo runs a five-day backpacking expedition that includes wild camping, waist-deep river crossings, and a boat ride back past the lighthouse. The challenging itinerary passes the ruins of the early 20th-century whaling factory at Bahía del Águila and the dramatic rock spire known as Piedra de la Momia before ending at the Cruz de los Mares, the steel cross at the continent's southern point. If you book the boat-supported option, you’ll only have to carry a day pack and meals will be waiting when you reach camp. For safety, always go with a guide—never alone.
Take a Sea Tour:
Chile Nativo offers a four-day kayak route to the Cape, with opportunities to paddle alongside humpbacks, Austral dolphins, and many species of seabirds. For a single day on the water, Solo Expediciones sails a catamaran at dawn from Carrera Bay past Cape Froward to Francisco Coloane Marine Park, where humpback whales can be seen from December through March.
Getting Around
Fly into Presidente Carlos Ibáñez del Campo International Airport, about six miles north of Punta Arenas, about a 3.5-hour direct flight from Santiago on LATAM, Sky, or JetSMART. Rent a car at the airport. The 43-mile drive to the Punta Árbol trailhead—including a final stretch on gravel—takes about 90 minutes.
