Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
CUEVA DEL MILODÓN
In the 1890s Hermann Eberhard discovered the remains of an enormous ground
sloth just 24km northwest of Puerto Natales. Nearly 4m tall, the herbivorous mi-
lodón survived on the succulent leaves of small trees and branches, but became
extinct in the late Pleistocene. The 30m-high
cave
(cuevadelmilodon.cl; admission
CH$4000)
pays homage to its former inhabitant with a life-size plastic replica of the
animal. It's not exactly tasteful, but still worth a stop, whether to appreciate the
grand setting and ruminate over its wild past or to take an easy walk up to a
lookout point.
Camping (no fires) and picnicking are possible. Torres del Paine buses pass the
entrance, 8km from the cave proper. There are infrequent tours from Puerto
Natales; alternatively, you can hitchhike or share a taxi (CH$20,000). Outside of
high season, bus services are infrequent.
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Parque Nacional Bernardo O'Higgins
Virtually inaccessible, O'Higgins remains an elusive cache of glaciers. Only entered by
boat, full-day excursions (CH$72,000 including lunch) to the base of Glaciar Serrano are
run by Turismo 21 de Mayo (
Click here
)
.
You can access Torres del Paine via boat to Glaciar Serrano. Passengers transfer to a
Zodiac (a motorized raft), stop for lunch at Estancia Balmaceda and continue up Río Ser-
rano, arriving at the southern border of the park by 5pm. The same tour can be done leav-
ing the park, but may require camping near Río Serrano to catch the Zodiac at 9am. The
trip, which includes park entry, costs CH$97,000 with Turismo 21 de Mayo.
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Parque Nacional Torres del Paine
0612
Soaring almost vertically to nearly 3000m above the Patagonian steppe, the Torres del
Paine (Towers of Paine) are spectacular granite pillars that dominate the landscape of
pesos only CH$18,000/5000)
.
