Dientes de Navarino trek guide

Distance 3.7 miles (6 km) 

Elevation 1607 ft (840m) ascent, 682 ft (208m) descent

The first day of the Dientes de Navarino trek starts either in the town of Puerto Williams or at Errante EcoLodge. Either way, the trailhead proper begins nearby at Rio Róbalo, where a steep path leads through thick lenga forest, winding slowly uphill for around two hours. 

The trail emerges from the forest to incredible views across the Beagle Channel at Cerro Bandera, which is marked by a flagpole with an enormous Chilean flag. 

From here, you turn inland over rough but mostly flat scree and the jagged nature of the Dientes ('teeth') in the interior reveal themselves for the first time. The trail winds high above the tree line of the Róbalo Valley, until you reach the shore of Laguna Salto, where you will make your first wild camp of the trek.

Distance 10.9 miles (17.5 km) 

Elevation 1887 ft (575m) ascent, 2369 ft (722m) descent

The second day of the Dientes de Navarino trek skits around Laguna Salto before heading straight into the mountains. There are two main challenges for this day. The first is to cross the Australia Pass, which is 2546 ft (776m) high. Even late in the summer there can be snowfields to cross here. A beautiful isolated mountain lake near the pass marks the halfway point of the day's hike. 

The second pass of the day is the Dientes Pass – at 2838 ft (865m) altitude, it's the highest point on the trek. Crossing it opens up views to the Southern Ocean. On a clear day you might even see Cape Horn.

After crossing the pass, and depending on the weather, a campsite will be chosen somewhere between nearby Laguna Dientes and Laguna Escondido further along the trail: two equally beautiful mountain lakes. 

Distance 5.5 miles (9 km) 

Elevation 1900 ft (579m) ascent, 2444 ft (745m) descent

The third day of the Dientes de Navarino trek has you starting in the deepest part of the mountain range. The trail for the day leads through a fantastical landscape, between lakes and forest with the sharp Dientes mountain range unfolding as a continuous backdrop.

The trail climbs to the Ventarrón Pass (2280 ft/695m), whose name in Spanish ('strong wind') suggests the stiff conditions often on offer. After a tough descent, the trail winds its way towards the day's second mountain crossing at the slightly lower Guerrico Pass, which has amazing views over the Lindenmayer Mountains and Laguna Hermosa.

From here, the walking is easier, taking you through the stunning Guerrico Valley and the twin lakes of Laguna and Martillo and Laguna Zeta, where you will camp for the night.

Distance 5.6 miles (9 km) 

Elevation 2247 ft (685m) ascent, 3395 ft (1035m) descent

The fourth and final day of the Dientes de Navarino trek brings the final ascent of the circuit, with the steep climb to Virginia Pass (2720 ft/829m). 

The pass bring the realisation that you've been hiking in a circuit, as the Beagle Channel reveals itself on the horizon for the first time since the afternoon of day one, along with the distant mountains of Argentinian Tierra del Fuego. 

A scree trail descends towards Laguna Guanaco, whose shoreline you’ll skirt until the trail reaches the forest, usually around the middle of the day.

The final part of the trek is through the trees, until you finally emerge at the coastline near Bahía Virginia, a few miles from Puerto Williams or Errante EcoLodge.