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South America is known for epic hikes like Patagonia’s W Trek in Torres del Paine and the Inca Trail to Peru’s Machu Picchu. Beyond the famous routes, there are plenty of options for hikers who prefer a path less traveled, such as the trek through northern Colombia to the lost city of Teyuna and the hike through Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina. Whether you have one day or 14, this list of the best under-the-radar hikes in South America is bound to inspire you.
Top 3 Can’t Miss
Head to Colombia to explore the Ciudad Perdida ruins and swim in the Buritaca River.Visit the glacial lakes of Los Glaciares National Park on a trek through Argentine Patagonia.Explore Peru’s Sacred Valley before heading to the awe-inspiring Machu Picchu.
Lost City Trek to Teyuna National Park, Colombia
Courtesy of G Adventures Inc.
Length: 7 Days
Level of Difficulty: Challenging
If you’re searching for a trail few have traversed, a journey to Colombia’s northernmost wilds is for you. Beginning in Santa Marta, discover the lush jungle of the Sierra Nevada with G Adventures on this challenging trek to Teyuna, also known as Ciudad Perdida (Spanish for “lost city”), an ancient Colombian town developed by the native Tayrona people. To access the site, visitors must climb 1,200 steps, and it’s estimated that only 10 percent of the ruins are unearthed, which lends to the mysterious appeal of this forgotten city.
Highlights of this tour include swimming in the Buritaca River, exploring the Lost City with a guide, and watching hummingbirds flutter through the trees. Trekkers will need to carry their own gear or hire a mule (for an additional fee) to carry their packs. Hiking typically takes between four and six hours each day, and the highest elevation reached is just under 4,000 feet.
El Chaltén to Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina
Paul Biris / Getty Images
Length: 10 Days
Level of Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging
Start your journey in vibrant Buenos Aires before you head deep into Argentine Patagonia to experience its stunning beauty. On this trek with GeoEx, you’ll visit El Chaltén, a small mountain town on the edge of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field with many hiking options. Continue exploring the rugged mountains and glacial lakes of Los Glaciares National Park, where you might experience Perito Moreno Glacier calving into the lake below. Before returning to Buenos Aires, spend a few days at Estancia Cristina, a remote lodge where you can fish, ride horses, and take in the beauty surrounding you.
Lost City of Choquequirao Trek to Machu Picchu, Peru
Alex Robinson/Getty Images
Length: Varies
Level of Difficulty: Challenging
In a country known for exceptional trekking, it’s rare to find a less-trodden path. If you have your sights set on Machu Picchu, the Inca Trail or Salkantay routes are ideal, especially with an operator like Mountain Lodges of Peru, where you can rest in the comfort of a luxurious lodge each evening of the hike.
But if you’re seeking an alternative route to the illustrious ruins, perhaps the Sacred Valley trek with Wilderness Travel is for you. The Inca fortress of Pisac is one of the first stops on this route after leaving Cusco, followed by a visit to the ruins of Huchuy Qosqo, known as “Little Cusco.” The elevation here is nearly 12,000 feet, and the views of the Sacred Valley below are impressive. There is a midpoint stop at the ruins at Pumamarka before joining the Inca Trail for the final push to Machu Picchu.
Aysén to Fitz Roy, Chile
Stuart Black/Getty Images
Length: 9 Days
Level of Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging
Although most travelers go directly to southern Patagonia, northern Patagonia also boasts glaciers, fjords, wild rivers, lakes, and waterfalls, all set along the Carretera Austral, the southern highway winding through the Aysén region. On a trek with Upscape Travel, spend nine days traversing areas like Patagonia National Park.
Located in the Chacabuco Valley, the park is home to the highest levels of biodiversity in the Aysén region – you’ll likely spot endangered huemul deer, pumas, and condors. Trek through verdant woods and past lagoons and waterfalls until you reach the Chilean-Argentine border, where you will cross to southern Argentina for a final hike to Mount Fitz Roy.
Volcano Trek to Cotopaxi National Park, Ecuador
pxhidalgo/Getty Images
Length: 6 Days
Level of Difficulty: Challenging
Just outside of Quito, Ecuador’s bustling capital, the country’s revered avenue of volcanoes begins. While the avenue includes an array of peaks throughout the region, see the best on a six-day hike with Tierra del Volcán, where each night of camping is juxtaposed with cozy lodge stays at Hacienda El Porvenir and Hacienda El Tambo.
Begin with an acclimatization walk in the private reserve of Hacienda Santa Rita, then explore the Inca fortress of Pucará del Salitre. Along the way, you’ll hike through straw fields and native Andean forests with the iconic peaks of Antisana, Cayambe, and Sincholagua in the distance. Make the final steep ascent to reach Refugio Jose Ribas at nearly 14,000 feet, set just beneath the summit of towering Volcán Cotopaxi.
Tercera Barranca to Sierra Baguales, Chile
Courtesy of Awasi Patagonia
Length: Day Hike
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Located near Torres del Paine National Park and set along the border of Argentina is Chile’s Sierra Baguales, an undiscovered, pathless, and utterly perfect region where wild horses, condors, and rheas roam. Here, the mountains harbor a constant sun-drenched glow, and during a stay at Awasi Patagonia in the property’s own Tercera Barranca Private Reserve, you can explore Sierra Baguales during a day hike, which will lead you through five cattle gates, the last of which only Awasi Patagonia holds the key.
Truly wild and delightfully untrodden, this is the locale to explore Patagonia serenely without the intrusion of other trekkers. Pass Catedral and Ciutadella peaks as you ascend the range’s slopes, passing fossilized leaves, shark teeth, and tree trunks from over 20 million years ago.
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park to Atins, Brazil
leonard78uk/Getty Images
Length: 6 Days
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
This Adventure Life trek takes travelers to Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, known for its unique landscape, composed of large dunes where fresh water sits in the valleys due to an unusual rain pattern. Four-wheel drive vehicles deliver you to the starting point, where the hike through the dunes begins. There are opportunities to stop and swim in the lagoons along the way before bedding down in tents for the night.
The trek’s midpoint is spent visiting the village of Baixa Grande, where hammocks provide a place to rest for the night. The journey culminates in a visit to the coastal fishing village of Atins, offering travelers the opportunity to slow down and relax on the beach.
Pariuma Village and Three Waterfalls, Guyana
Length: 6 Days
Level of Difficulty: Challenging
Hikes to waterfalls, a relaxing river float, and overnights in the Indigenous community of Paruima are highlights of this Guyana trek with Wilderness Explorers. With an elevation gain of close to 4,000 feet, hikers should be physically fit and ready to tackle the heat and humidity of the rain forest.
While in Paruima, visitors can learn about the Arecuna people, known for their basket-weaving, farming, and hunter-gatherer skills. The culture is shared through storytelling and meals, with nights spent in hammock camps and community guesthouses.
Ausangate Trek to Rainbow Mountain, Peru
Rory Fuller/Travel + Leisure
Length: 6 Days
Level of Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging
This stunning trek from Cusco draws few tourists as most travelers to the region have their sights set on Machu Picchu. Ausangate is considered one of the holiest mountains in the Andes, and visiting remote communities provides a unique experience as outside influence is sparse.
On a journey with FlashpackerConnect, you’ll cross mountain passes ranging between 15,000 and 17,000 feet. The landscape changes from snowcapped peaks to rolling hills, culminating in two natural hot springs, the perfect respite for both altitude sickness and tired muscles. Llamas carry all the gear and supplies, leaving you unburdened to tackle the rugged terrain. The true prize of this journey is at the trek’s end. When you arrive at Rainbow Mountain, known as Vinicunca to locals, the painted hills of the landscape are sure to transfix you — the highlight of this reverential trek in Peru.
Dientes Circuit on Isla Navarino, Chile
Courtesy of Cascada Expediciones
Length: 6 days
Level of Difficulty: Challenging
Known as the southernmost trek in the world, the Dientes Circuit on Chile’s Isla Navarino is largely pathless, with cairns as trail markers. On this journey with Adventure Life, you’ll have sweeping views across the Beagle Channel to Tierra del Fuego and south from Nassau Bay to the Wollaston Islands and Cape Horn. Hike past the jagged peaks of the Dientes de Navarino and stay in idyllic campsites at Salto, Martillo, and Los Guanacos lagoons.
For the final push, ascend to Ventarron Pass for an unprecedented view of Mount Codrington before ending with a climb up Virginia Pass to Montes Lindemayer, granting you a well-deserved rest at Lakutaia Lodge within the Cape Horn World Biosphere Reserve.
Condor Trek in the Andes, Ecuador
John Elk III / Getty Images
Length: 4 Days
Level of Difficulty: Challenging
Begin this high-altitude hike in the Cayambe-Coca Reserve, where packhorses carry the gear, enabling trekkers to push themselves to their limits. With an Ecuador Eco Adventure guide leading the way, you’ll tackle this route that’s said to be one of the most beautiful in the country, through lush valleys framed by impressive mountain peaks. Cross the Antisana Reserve and Cotopaxi National Park, camping for three nights in the shadow of the Andes. A stop at the Papallacta thermal springs is your reward at the end of the journey.
El Calafate to El Chaltén, Argentina
Marco Botticelli / Getty Images
Length: 5 Days
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
This trip to Argentine Patagonia has you traveling from El Calafate to the village of El Chaltén, one of the top hiking destinations in Argentina. The highlight of this trip with Say Hueque is the trek to the Piedras Blancas Glacier viewpoint, a stunning spot to stop and take in the views. It continues with an intense climb to Laguna de Los Tres, where you can take a side path to the nearby Laguna Sucia. Before heading home, you have a night in El Calafate to enjoy some Argentinian delicacies.
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Publish date : 2022-06-08 15:26:00
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Author : theamericannews
Publish date : 2024-12-06 10:37:46
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