Mount Tarn - Birding & Nature Hike

Hike to Mt. Tarn. A moderately to highly demanding but very rewarding hike up Mount Tarn, a conspicuous peak south of Punta Arenas. Located in the south-eastern edge of the Brunswick Peninsula, literally at the end of the southernmost road in the American continent, it was climbed by none other than Charles Darwin in 1834, and it was here that he found the first Ammonites fossils known to South America. This hike will present us with fantastic vistas of the Magellan Straits, the southernmost shores of the Americas and the nearby islands, and we’ll enjoy a great sample of Patagonian flora, from sub Antarctic temperate forest to alpine bogs and other open mountain habitats. Above the snow line we will look for one of the least known birds of the area, the rare White-bellied Seedsnipe, plus other Andean specialties like Yellow-bridled Finch.

• Birds such as Thorn-tailed Rayadito, White-throated Treerunner, Patagonian Tyrant and the spectacular Magellanic Woodpecker

• Mountain birds such as Yellow-bridled Finch and White-bellied Seedsnipe

• Native forests ans peat bogs

• Characteristic plant species such as Donatia fascicularis, Primula magellanica, Perezia magellanica and Caltha sagittata

• Spectacular views over the Straits of Magellan, the nearby islands and the interior of Brunswick Peninsula

• Experience the real Patagonia with its variable weather conditions, which may include sun, strong winds, rain, maybe even snow

• Hike to the Mount Tarn on a marked trail through forest, peat bog, Andean desert – and mud

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).

This is a very scenic and attractive trail of a serene, delicate beauty that will unveil before our eyes as we walk past vast peat bogs covered in Sphagnum moss before reaching, not far from the summit, an 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; just below the snow line we will find the alpine moorlands of the Patagonian Andes, an ideal habitat for mountain specialties such as Yellow-bridled Finch and White-bellied Seedsnipe.

The summit of Mount Tarn (830 m. / 2,723 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. 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 about 9-10 hours.

Mount Tarn was named after English surgeon John Tarn, who first climbed its peak on February 1827. Dr. Tarn was crew member of the British hydrographic campaign (1826-1830) that carried out extensive surveys along the Patagonian coast including studies on its flora and fauna. The Royal Navy Admiralty appointed Captain Philip Parker King as the commander of the expedition. A few years later, the great Charles Darwin climbed it again. A noteworthy part of what the famous naturalist collected on his winter climb were the first Ammonites fossil specimens from South America.

Day Tour

This trip is available on a daily basis from November until March.

Meet/Depart

Daily departures from Punta Arenas, Chile.

Duration

10-12 hours | Pick-up time at the hotel at 6.00am.

Rates

The above prices are per person in US Dollars. All payments are in US Dollars.

What the trip includes/excludes

The trip price includes: Private transportation and guide services during the tour, packed breakfast and lunch and mineral water. VAT of the tour is also included.
The trip price excludes: Tipping, travel insurance, a la carte dishes, alcoholic drinks, and anything else of a purely personal nature.