Tour the Milodon Cave

Located 15 miles (25 km) northwest of Puerto Natales, near Torres del Paine National Park, is the Milodon Cave National Monument, which is located 15 miles (25 km) northwest of Puerto Natales. This is one of the oldest and most important archeological and paleontological sites in southern Patagonia, so much so that it was declared a historical monument in 1968. Evidence of a human presence dating back to 11,000 years BCE has been found in this network of caves, as have the remains of prehistoric animals like the mylodon, a bear-like herbivore that went extinct about 5,000 years ago.

The hiking portion of this four-hour excursion begins at one of the smaller caves and offers the chance to head inside for a mini-spelunking adventure. The journey continues to a medium-sized cavern before finishing at the largest cave, which is 656 feet (200 meters) deep, 262 feet (80 meters) wide, and 98 feet (30 meters) high. The entrance to this massive cavern is impressive in its own right, as it looks not unlike the yawning mouth of a great giant. There's even a life-size replica of a mylodon standing guard just outside the entrance, which conjures images of a bygone age when that great beast really did prowl these grounds.