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Highlights of Pumalín National Park

Just a short journey from the Chilean Lakes' main hubs, you'll be hiking in lush rainforest, past waterfalls, up snow-capped volcanoes and hanging glaciers. This trip includes a variety of day hikes of varying length and difficulty to allow you to immerse yourself in the deeply beautiful Pumalín Douglas Tompkins National Park with your expert naturalist guide.

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Highlights of Pumalín National Park

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Trip type

Guided Activity

Trip length

3 Days

From

$1,750

Location

Chilean Lakes

Highlights of Pumalín National Park - 3 Days - $1,750

Trip Summary and Itinerary Map

Day 1: Fly from Puerto Montt to Chaitén; Hike to El Amarillo Glacier; Caleta Gonzalo 

Day 2: Cascadas Escondidas hike; Alerces hike; Caleta Gonzalo 

Day 3: Hike up Chaitén Volcano; flight to Puerto Montt

Start from Puerto Varas and end at Puerto Varas

Landmarks visited on Highlights of Pumalín National Park

Operator's Itinerary

Day 1: Fly from Puerto Montt to Chaitén; Hike to El Amarillo Glacier; Caleta Gonzalo 

Early in the morning, you'll leave Puerto Varas for the local airport at Puerto Montt for a 45-min flight to Chaitén where a vehicle will be waiting to take you to the trailhead. Here you'll start your exploration of the El Amarillo area of Pumalín National Park with a hike to El Amarillo Glacier.

There is an option of hiking the Darwin's Frog Trail, instead of hiking to El Amarillo Glacier. This is a gentle 3-km hike, named after the small and endangered amphibian of the southern forests, which you are likely to see along the way.

In the evening you'll be driven to Caleta Gonzalo for dinner. You can enjoy the sunset and the view of the fjord from the charming cabin in which you'll spend the night.

Length of El Amarillo hike: 6hrs, 18km, low difficulty

Length of Darwin's Frog Trail hike: 3km, low difficulty

Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Cabins at Caleta Gonzalo, Pumalín Douglas Tompkins National Park


Day 2: Cascadas Escondidas hike; Alerces hike; Caleta Gonzalo

Today you'll enjoy two hikes. The first is the Cascadas Escondidas hike. You'll hike through luscious, thick forest along walkways, across roots and up and down ladders. There are some very impressive waterfalls and plunge pools along the hike, though the route does involve some steep climbs and crossing lots of slippery roots.

Next up is the Alerces hike. This is a fairly short, muddy trail, but really is a must for anyone who is visiting this area. You'll be in awe of the Alerce trees surrounding you, some of which are 2,000-3,000 years old.

Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Cabins at Caleta Gonzalo, Pumalín Douglas Tompkins National Park


Day 3: Hike up Chaitén Volcano; flight to Puerto Montt

This is your chance to hike up an active volcano which is still smoking! It's a short but steep and challenging route on a good path - walking poles would be a good idea. 

On the route you'll walk across pumice and obsidian rocks that have been spewed from the volcano and you'll be able to stop at the caldera and watch the smoking volcanic cone ahead of you.

This hike will be a great chance to learn more from your guide about the temperate rainforest and its wildlife with a great variety of flora. There are some interesting and elusive amphibians and, with a little luck, some mammals and birds too.

Hopefully you'll spot pudu (smallest deer on Earth), the Magellanic woodpecker and the Chucao tapaculo, among others.

Later in the day you'll take a transfer to Chaitén Airport for your flight back to Puerto Montt.

Meals: Breakfast, box lunch

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Highlights of Pumalín National Park

Prices, Departures and Inclusions

Prices for the 2023/24 season are:

8 people: USD $1,525 per person

6-7 people: USD $1,675 per person

4-5 people: USD $1,750 per person

2-3 people: USD $2,300 per person

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Book now to secure your place for 2024/2025. 

4-5 people: from USD $1,804 per person

2-3 people: from USD $2,371 per person

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A departure can be set up on a date of your choice with a minimum of two people, subject to availability.

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Prices are based on accommodation in a double room in a simple guest house; upgrades are available. Please enquire for more details.

Additional Notes

Optional extras - Add a guided transfer in from Puerto Montt Airport; a hotel night in Puerto Varas before your trip; a second hotel night after your trip and a driver-only transfer to Puerto Montt Airport, from only USD $350 per person.  

Overland option - Travel back overland to Puerto Varas for an added USD $100 per person.

Includes

  • Meals: 3 breakfasts, 3 box lunches, 2 dinners
  • Accommodation: 2 nights at Caleta Gonzalo
  • Flight Puerto Varas–Chaitén (one way)
  • Water to refill reusable bottles
  • Professional naturalist guide fluent in English and with Wilderness First Response certificate
  • Private transfers from/to Puerto Varas and inside the park
  • 100% carbon footprint compensation certified
  • Complete equipment for nature observation (telescopes, magnifying glass, pocket microscopes, spotting scopes and torch for nocturnal observation)
  • Bilingual editions of nature literature for reference
  • Walking poles (upon request)
  • Professional driver with license A2
  • Ferries, private boat rides and entrance to parks or natural reserves

Excludes

  • Meals not indicated in itinerary
  • Drinks during lunch or dinner
  • Any extra/optional excursions
  • Personal equipment (see our recommended kit list)
  • Personal travel insurance
  • Gratuities/tips
  • International and domestic/in-country flights
  • Any visa, passport and vaccination expenses

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