Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
HIKING
C overing 3242km from Buenos Aires, RN3 reaches its terminus at the shores of
Bahía Lapataia. From here, trails
Mirador Lapataia
(500m), with excellent views,
and
Senda Del Turbal
(400m) lead through winding lenga forest further into the
bay. Other short walks include the self-guided nature trail
Senda Laguna Negra
(950m), through peat bogs, and the
Senda Castorera
(400m), showcasing
massive abandoned beaver dams on a few ponds.
Senda Hito XXIV
From Camping Lago Roca, a flat 10km (four-hour) round-trip trek leads around
Lago Roca's forested northeast shore to Hito XXIV - that number is veinticuatroin
Spanish - the boundary post that marks the Argentina-Chile frontier. It is illegal to
cross the frontier, which is patrolled regularly.
From the same trailhead you can reach
Cerro Guanaco
(973m) via the steep
and difficult 8km trail of the same name; it's a long uphill haul but the views are ex-
cellent.
Senda Costera
This 8km (four-hour) trek leads west from Bahía Ensenada along the coastline.
Keep an eye out for old conchales(archaeologically important mounds of shells
left by Yahgan inhabitants), now covered in grass. The trail meets RN3 a short way
east of the park administration (guardería)center at Lapataia. From here it is
1.2km further to Senda Hito XXIV.
It might be tempting to roll up the cuffs and go clamming, but be aware that oc-
casional red tides (marea roja)contaminate mollusks (such as clams and mussels)
along the shore of the Beagle Channel.
Senda Palestra
This 4km (three-hour) round-trip trek from Bahía Ensenada follows a path east-
ward past an old copper mine to the popular rock-climbing wall of Palestra, near a
refugio(rustic shelter) that is no longer in use.
Senda Pampa Alta
The low heights of Pampa Alta (around 315m) grant long views across the Beagle
Channel to Isla Navarino and Isla Hoste. RN3 meets the trailhead 1.5km west of the
Río Pipo and Bahía Ensenada road turnoffs (3km from the entrance gate). The 5km
round-trip trail first climbs a hill, passing a beaver dam along the way. Enjoy the im-
pressive views at the lookout. A quick 300m further leads to a trail paralleling the
Río Pipo and some waterfalls.
