Pali Aike National Park, Chile

Pali Aike Cave - Magallanes Region, Chile

Parque Nacional Pali Aike is located in the commune of San Gregorio, 200 km NE of Punta Arenas, along the CH-255 road that leads to the Integración Austral border crossing. Established in 1970, the park is managed by CONAF, Chile's National Forest Corporation. Despite being little known or promoted, Pali Aike is an excellent option for exploring Southern Patagonia, as its unique tourist attractions are truly remarkable.

The park spans an area of volcanic fields that were highly active during the Pleistocene and early Holocene epochs. The bizarre landscape is marked by sparse vegetation, volcanic cones, and valleys surrounded by ancient lava formations. Because of these strange surroundings, the native Tehuelches, or Aonikenk as they called themselves, referred to the area as the "Desolate Place of the Evil Spirits," reflecting the fear it evoked in them.

Today, the area remains an important sheep farming region, a status it has held since the late 19th century. It also attracts significant investments in renewable energy production, thanks to the region's strong winds.

Attractions in Pali Aike National Park    

• Pali Aike is renowned for its importance in various fields of scientific research, attracting experts from Chile and abroad, including archaeologists and volcanologists. It serves as a valuable site for studies and investigations in these disciplines. Additionally, it is an ideal destination for hiking enthusiasts and those who enjoy outdoor activities.

• Fauna: The guanaco, as throughout Patagonia, is the most prominent mammal species within the park. Although not endangered, there are regulations in place to ensure their protection. Other species found in the park include pumas, armadillos, gray foxes, chingues (Patagonian skunks), and bats. Among the birds are rheas, queltehues (Southern Lapwings), flamingos, bandurrias (Buff-Necked Ibis), swans, yellow-billed pintails ("Patos Jergones"), and occasionally small reptiles such as the Magellanic lizard (Liolaemus magellanicus).

• Flora: The park is situated in the driest part of the Magellanic steppe, with much of its surface covered by vast basaltic lava flows, which contribute to the presence of semi-desert vegetation. The park hosts native flora and fauna, including some species unique to this region that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

• There is a network of medium-difficulty trails, generally in good condition, including the Sendero Crater Morada del Diablo and the Sendero Etnocultural, which leads to the Pali Aike Cave—an archaeological site discovered in the early 1930s and declared a Historic Monument in 1969. This site contains evidence of human occupation dating back approximately 8,600 years. Other trekking circuits in Pali Aike include the Sendero Laguna Ana, a 900-meter trail that is ideal for birdwatching, where you can spot species such as flamingos, plovers, and some mammals, and finally, the Sendero Pozos del Diablo, a 2,000-meter trail.

• In addition to the aforementioned Pali Aike Cave, and  near the entrance to the Park, visitors will find the Fell Cavern, a rock shelter discovered and studied by the American archaeologist Junius Bird. Paintings dating back more than 11,000 years have been found at the site, in what was possibly the oldest human settlement in Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego.

Skeleton of the "Ambassador" Clipper, launched in 1869

• On the way to the park, 124 km north of Punta Arenas, you can visit the now practically abandoned Estancia San Gregorio—the first sheep ranch in the Magallanes region, founded in 1876. Until the 1950s, San Gregorio experienced years of great prosperity.

On the beach, you can see the rusty remains of old ships, including the steamboat Amadeo, which ran aground in 1932 and belonged to the once-powerful Menendez-Behety Company, significant in the development of Chilean-Argentine Patagonia. 

A few meters away is the tea clipper Ambassador, built in London and launched in 1869. Now reduced to a skeleton, this sailing ship, along with its counterpart, the Cutty Sark, which is exhibited as a museum in Greenwich, England, represents one of the last clippers of the "Tea Race."

Access to the Park,  facilities

Pali Aike can be reached from Punta Arenas via International Route 255, with only the last few kilometers being on a gravel road. The opening hours for tours and general visitors are from 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM every day during the high season. There are picnic areas with benches and tables that can be used as shelter, although cooking is prohibited, as making a fire is forbidden. Several tours to Parque Nacional Pali Aike are available from tourist agencies located in Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales, including the following:

* https://www.fullpatagoniatour.com/en/tours-and-expeditions/punta-arenas/pali-aike-national-park/

* https://patagoniatours.cl/excursiones/pali-aike/ 

* https://turismofindelmundo.cl/Inicio/tour/Trekking_Pali_Aike 

 

Contact Information

Oficcial Website Here

Landline: (56) 61 2360489

Email: parque.paliaike@conaf.cl

 

Address: 0309 Bulnes Ave., Punta Arenas

Email: magallanes.oirs@conaf.cl

(56) 61 2238554 ext. 200