Patagonia's Navarinos Teeth Trek - 7 Days

Day 1: Arrival in Santiago de Chile

Welcome to Chile! Upon arrival at Santiago International Airport, a driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. You'll have the rest of the day to explore the city at your leisure. 

Suggested activities include:

• Hike to the top of Cerro San Cristobal, where you can get your bearings by surveying the area from a high vantage point. Pathways lead 2,788 feet (850 m) up this central hill to a series of lookouts that offer wraparound views of Santiago. If you aren't the hiking type, not to worry: catch a scenic gondola instead.
  
  
• Stroll the cobblestone streets of Barrio Bellavista. On the north side of Santiago, you'll find this trendy enclave, at once fashionable and bohemian. Stroll past colorful houses adorned with graffiti art and choose between an eclectic array of eateries and bars—great for people watching. 
  
  
• Visit the Plaza de Armas, a stone plaza located in Santiago's historic center dating to 1541. There's also the impressive Catedral Metropolitana, a neoclassical church dating to 1748 whose towering twin bell towers dominate the north side of the plaza.
  
  
• Snap pics in front of the Palacio de la Moneda. Chile's opulent Presidential Palace (known simply as "La Moneda") is a short stroll from the Plaza de Armas. It was here in 1973 that Chile's armed forces, backed by the U.S. government, overthrew President Salvador Allende, kicking off a brutal right-wing military dictatorship that would last for 17 years. Visitors are welcome.

For dinner be sure to get out of the hotel and enjoy a culinary adventure in the city. In recent years Santiago has emerged as a global foodie destination. Chilean chefs are reinventing traditional dishes like empanadas, cazuelas (stews), and seafood with ingredients harvested all the way from the northern deserts and southern Patagonian regions. You can find great restaurants and wine bars not only in the Bellavista neighborhood but also in the revitalized historic barrios of Yungay and Italia.

Day 2: Flight to Punta Arenas - Flight to Puerto Williams

After breakfast in Santiago, you'll embark on a travel day involving two domestic flights to the very southern tip of the continent. You'll first take a flight from the capital to Punta Arenas airport and then connect to a short flight to Puerto Williams.

Along the route, you'll be able to see an incredible panorama from the air including the Cordillera Darwin, glaciers, channels, and multi-colored lagoons. Upon arrival, a van will be waiting to transfer you to Lakutaia Lodge where you'll be welcomed with an aperitif and a delicious lunch.

In the afternoon, you’ll visit Omora Ethnobotanical Park just west of Puerto Williams on the north coast of Navarino Island. Within the park, you can check out interpretative paths that explore major habitat types of the region including coastal forests, lenga parks, peat bogs, and invasive beaver wetlands to name a few. Omora aspires to be a natural laboratory to study the role of humans in the environment and acts as an outdoor classroom for students and teachers of all ages. It also has the active participation of the indigenous Yagan people who live near Puerto Williams.

In the evening, after dinner, a guide will give you all the information you’ll need about the Navarino Teeth trek.

Day 3: Navarinos Teeth Trek - Day 1

After breakfast at the lodge, a vehicle will be waiting to transfer you to the trailhead located in Róbalo Valley. To arrive, there are two alternative routes depending on weather conditions:

• East of the Róbalo Valley is a 1.5-hour ascent, which heads towards the Bandera Hill at 1935 feet (590 m). From there, you’ll have an amazing panoramic view over Puerto Williams and the Beagle Channel. You will then continue on foot for two hours through the same valley before descending towards the Laguna del Salto at 1607 feet (490 m).

• An alternate route also begins in the Róbalo Valley, but this time takes you through wooded areas. You will get closer to the Dientes de Navarino, seeing various lagoons, lakes, and beaver dams before arriving at your destination.

Once you've reached the shores of the lagoon, you will set up your first camp and enjoy a delicious dinner.

Note: The guide reserves the right to suspend the activity or modify the itinerary due to adverse weather conditions for reasons of safety for all participants.

Day 4: Navarinos Teeth Trek - Day 2

Wake up this morning surrounded by nature and enjoy a hearty breakfast at camp. Today's trek involves rocky ground for most of the day so you'll want to keep an eye on the trail in front of you.

The route begins with a two-hour walk and constant three-step ascent which takes you across the Dientes de Navarino belt to its southern side, where you’ll have a spectacular view over Nassau Bay and the Wollaston Islands (part of the Cabo de Hornos).

From here, you’ll continue past several lakes, ascending towards the Ventarrón step at 2283 feet (696 m), which has an impressive view of the south side of the Dientes de Navarino and Mount Codrington. The final section will descend gently until you reach the Guerrico step and then the Martillo Lagoon—home to your second campsite where you'll have dinner and stay overnight.

Day 5: Navarinos Teeth Trek - Day 3

Today, after breakfast at camp, you'll pack up and head towards the Martillo Lagoon. The trail then sets off towards Guerrico Valley, through wooded areas and rocky terrain for roughly three hours on foot. 

Keep on the lookout for beautiful views of the impressive peak Montes de Lindenmayer as you ascend towards the Virginia step. From there, you’ll be able to see the mountain and maritime reliefs of the Tierra del Fuego—an archipelago that acts as a gateway to Antarctica, known for dramatic landscapes.

To finish the day, you’ll begin a 1.5-hour descent towards an area sheltered by the forest by the shores of the lagoon, where you’ll set up your third (and last!) campsite of the trek.

Day 6: Navarinos Teeth Trek - Day 4

After breakfast at camp, you'll begin the final section of the circuit. The route starts with a continual three-hour descent to sea level beginning in a wooded area and continuing over clear terrain for an incline of 1509 feet (460 m).

To finish it off, you will trek about five miles (8 km) on a gravel path to return to Lakutaia Lodge, where you’ll be greeted with an aperitif and lunch. During the afternoon, there will be free time to rest, explore the town, share experiences with fellow travelers, and enjoy the lodge facilities. Finish this epic day with a delicious dinner served on-site.

Day 7: Flight to Punta Arenas - Flight to Santiago - Departure

It's time to say goodbye to Chile! Depending on your flight schedule, take time to enjoy more of the lodge facilities and the surrounding area before you head back to Puerto Williams airport. This is where you'll begin your journey back to Santiago for your departure home. ¡Buen viaje!