We will start our journey at 6am after pickup from your hotel, driving along the shores of the Magellan Straits south of Punta Arenas, in Chilean Patagonia. Along the 40-mile, mostly paved road we will come across a variety of seabirds and might spot marine mammals like dolphins or even whales! Our destination is literally the end of the road, at Punta Árbol (Point Tree), near San Isidro Lighthouse and merely 18 miles from the southernmost point of the Americas, the imposing Cape Froward.
We will begin our hike, leaving the coast behind and traversing a lush evergreen forest, where the prevailing tree species will be the Coihue (Nothofagus betuloides), Leñadura (Maytenus magellanica), Canelo or Winter’s Bark (Drimys winteri) and a few Guaitecas Cypress (Pilgerodendron uviferum).
As we continue our way uphill, we’ll cross vast peat bogs covered in Sphagnum moss, and native forests again. The trail to Mount Tarn is truly scenic and attractive. The serene, delicate beauty of this untouched area will unveil before our eyes with every step we make. Above the tree line, we’ll explore alpine damp moorland with a few ponds and the characteristic vegetation array, including Donatia fascicularis, Primula magellanica, Perezia magellanica and Caltha sagittata.
Birding can be very rewarding. The Magellanic forests are home for an interesting cast including Thorn-tailed Rayadito, White-throated Treerunner, Patagonian Tyrant, Green-backed Firecrown and the spectacular Magellanic Woodpecker. On the peat bogs we expect to find South American Snipe and Dark-faced Ground Tyrant. In higher altitudes, the alpine moorlands of the Patagonian Andes present an ideal habitat for mountain specialties such as Yellow-bridled Finch and White-bellied Seedsnipe.
Nature photographers will be delighted by the countless and varied subjects to take pictures of. An incredible array of wildflowers, mosses and lichen offers great macro photography opportunities. While ascending the mountain, we cross several different ecosystems, which all are habitats for different bird species. And for those of you who are passionate about landscape photography, the hike provides plenty of attractive sites from where to take pictures of the Straits of Magellan with its islands, adjacent hills, and pristine surroundings.
The summit of Mount Tarn (825 m. / 2,700 ft.) is reachable without the need of mountain gear when free of snow, although the walk can be quite hard. We may experience strong and cold westerly winds during our ascension, and there’s always a chance of a getting into a passing shower or even snowfall. From the top of the mountain we will behold commanding views of Dawson and Capitán Aracena Islands, both on the Magellan Straits, and on a clear day, the snowy peaks of the Darwin Range. The total excursion (without transfer from/to Punta Arenas) takes c. 12 hours.
