Hiking the Magallanes Forest Reserve

This half-day outdoor experience is an ideal opportunity for less experienced trekkers, since it is not a very demanding route but it does allow us to get to know the Magallanes National Reserve, a wooded protected area with a variety of trails suitable for trekking and also mountain biking. This reserve is located just 8 kilometers west of the city of Punta Arenas and has an area of 20,878 hectares. Within it is the Río De las Minas, the place where coal was discovered, the main reason for Governor José de los Santos Mardones to move the colony from Fuerte Bulnes to the Sandy Point or Punta Arenas area in 1848. At the beginning of the excursion we will cross different neighborhoods to the south of the city, to soon take a paved road that leads us to the reserve. Once there we must take a 4 km road. Approximately surrounded by the Patagonian forest that takes us to the beginning of the trail where we will walk for about half an hour. During the walk we will be able to appreciate different species of endemic flora such as rosemary, sarsaparilla, devil`s strawberry, calafate, murtilla, notro, leñadura, michay and coigüe and lenga forests. Among the local bird species, it is possible to spot chunchos, rayaditos, chercanes, cachañas, chincoles, cometocinos, thrushes, and tiuques. From the trail, we will also have a panoramic view of the De las Minas River Valley on its way to the Strait of Magellan. After noon, after finishing this experience, we will return by the same path back to Punta Arenas