Dientes de Navarino

The Dientes circuit runs about fifty kilometres around the jagged peaks behind Puerto Williams on Navarino Island, over several passes at around 800 metres, and it is generally described as the southernmost trek in the world. The route was laid out in the 1990s and is marked with cairns and posts, but sections cross open peat, scree and beaver-flooded valleys where the marking is thin and route-finding is on the walker. Registration with the Carabineros before starting and reporting on return are compulsory, which reflects how often people get into trouble - the weather here can produce snow, rain and wind in any month.

Highlights

• About fifty kilometres of circuit - over several exposed passes.
• The southernmost trek in the world - behind Puerto Williams.
• Thin marking in places - peat, scree and route-finding.
• Beaver-flooded valleys - from the introduced population.

When to go

December to March, and even then weather can stop it. Four to five days.

Practical notes

This is self-sufficient walking with no refuges, no resupply and genuinely serious weather - people are rescued from it every season. Registration is compulsory. Navigation skill and a GPS track are effectively required. Getting to Puerto Williams is itself difficult.

Nearby

Puerto Williams is the trailhead; Cape Horn is south by sea.

Key facts