8
AUTHOR
J O N AT H A N H E R M A N N
PHOTO
WINTER | 2019
A
T O R R E S D E L PA I N E N AT I O N A L PA R K , C H I L E
C O N TACT YO U R T R AV E L A DV I S O R TO DAY
Some trails are truly epic. It starts with the
AT, the mighty Appalachian Trail, that five-
million-step behemoth that connects every
awe-inspiring vista from Mount Springer,
Georgia, to Mount Katahdin, Maine. The
Hokkaido Nature Trail sends you through
2,849 miles of glaciers, forests and volcanic
mountains of Japan’s northern island. The
Grand Italian Trail connects the sheer cliffs
of the Dolomites, the bucolic vineyards of
Tuscany and the rugged shoreline of the
Amalfi Coast over 3,830 miles of la dolce vita.
It’s time to add another one to the list: Chile’s
new Ruta de los Parques—the Route of Parks.
Stretching 1,740 miles from Puerto Montt
in Chile’s Lake District to Cape Horn in the
Tierra del Fuego archipelago, the Route of
Parks spans a third of the entire country.
Length alone does not make it epic—but the
17 national parks it connects does. From the
waterfalls of Alerce Andino in the north to
the fjords of Yendegaia at the southern tip,
with volcanoes, rainforests, glaciers and the
soaring peaks of the Andes in between—the
full spectrum of Chile’s significant wonders
are on full display throughout.
Few people will hike the entire Route of
Parks. Most will tackle it in sections by car,
stopping off at scenic highlights to hike or
mountain bike deep into national parks, then
return to their luxury hotel at night. Regardless
of how you approach the trail, the sights, as
well as the friendliness of the Chilean people
and the laidback culture of this rising country,
will stay with you forever.