An epic hike through blockbuster nature is waiting to be found no matter where you go.
You can find the tallest mountains in the Americas to your east if you stand at the geographic center of the country.
Beyond a few dozen lakes and volcanoes, you can reach the rainforest, glaciers and fjords of Argentina. The desiccated salt flats, steaming geysers, and soaring sand dunes of the Atacama Desert can be found up north.
Scout new ways to explore the planet's wildest places with our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox.It will be difficult to choose which route to take, from multi-day circuit treks on remote islands to half day hikes up Andean volcanoes.
Thanks to specially trained guides and lightweight trekking wheelchairs, the W Trek is accessible for travelers with disabilities.
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It's the best hike for a classic experience in the region.
80 km is one way for 5 days.
The W Trek is one of the most popular routes in all of South America. The O Circuit can be used to extend this five-day path through the national park to eight days.
The area is incredibly remote, but you can still make the trip as relaxing as you want. In addition to a string of well-run campsites along the way, hikers can also stay at well-appointed mountain lodges, sleeping in a bunk and dining on three-course meals.
It's best to book in the shoulder seasons on either end because the trail is overrun with domestic tourists at the peak of summer.
Rock climbers like the best hike.
Moderate for 12 km one way and 2 days.
The Cocham Valley Trail was used by the Cassidy's to drive their cattle over the Andes from Argentina to Santiago. The trail used by the American outlaws has not changed since they escaped, and the valley has become a hub for mountain climbers.
Most visitors hike in along the muddy horse trail to the outpost of La Junta and use eitherCamping La Junta or the comfier Refugio Cocham as a base for several days of walks and climbs in the surrounding mountains.
Hike for hardcore explorers.
A round trip of 34 miles.
You can tell your friends that you completed the southernmost hiking route in the world if you tackle the remote and little-visited Dientes Circuit. The weather can span four seasons in one day and you have to brave thundering winds, frigid nights and weather that can be very cold.
The most austral town in South America is located in the tiny hamlet of Puerto Williams. Most visitors hire a trained guide because of the lack of markings and the need for experience with gps and maps.
Hike near Santiago is the best.
11 km round trip, moderate.
The lookout in the Cajn del Maipo valley makes Santiago feel worlds away, and is accessible by climbing. The trail is only an hour away from the city.
There is a chance to try some goat's cheese at a muleteer's house less than a mile from the summit. The biggest highlight of the trail is the condors, which encircle the cliff at the trail's end.
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It's the best way to see the lesser-visited part of Argentina.
The 50 km is one way and is challenging.
If hikers are serious about fighting overtourism, they should consider the Cerro Castillo Trail. The peak of the national park is called Cerro Castillo. It looks like a castle of rock and ice on the edge of the Southern Highway.
The longest day trail in the park is the Las Horquetas Circuit. You will cross montane streams, picnic next to turquoise lagoons, photograph hanging glaciers, and camp in Andean beach forests over the course of a few days.
It's the best hike for volcano fans.
10 km is one way for 7 hours.
It may come as a surprise that climbing to the top of Volcn Villarrica is one of the most popular things to do in the Lake District.
At 2847m (9340ft), the volcano's perfectly conical peak towers above the resort town of Pucn, where several tour companies offer guided trips. The journey can be sped up by more than an hour with the help of the chairlift.
Hike for desert views.
The distance is 1.6 km one way.
In the heat of the day, the ethereal lunar-like landscape of Valle de la Luna is just as evocative. You can escape into caverns, climb dunes or get lost.
Most visitors come on an organized tour from San Pedro.
It's the best hike for Robinson Crusoe wannabes.
19 km is one way, 7 hours.
There are two ways to get to your hotel in San Juan Bautista after you land on the island. Most visitors take the one-hour boat taxi to the far side of the island, but you can instead send your luggage on the boat and hike to the island's only town.
The majority of the flora here is found nowhere else on the planet, with many of the plants similar to New Zealand. You can walk in the footsteps of Alexander Selkirk, the Scottish privateer who inspired Robinson Crusoe.
The article was updated 8 minutes ago.
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