Alberto de Agostini National Park Voyage Tips and guide

Contents

Alberto de Agostini National Park (Spanish: Parque nacional Alberto de Agostini) is a large national park with an area of over 14,600 km² (5,600 sq mi) in Chilean Patagonia. It is one of both Chile's and Patagonia's most off-the-beaten-path destinations, and is only accessible by ship.

The park, founded in 1985, is about 148 km (80 nautical miles) southwest of Punta Arenas. There are huge glaciers in the process of detachment, namely De Agostini and -54.533333-69.5666671 Marinelli . The park covers practically the entire southwest of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago. It encompasses the entire mountain range of the Cordillera Darwin with its highest mountain, Cerro Darwin (2,488 m).

Together with Cabo de Hornos National Park, Alberto de Agostini National Park has been part of the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve since 2005.

The coast of the park is characterized by fjords. In its centre is the Cordillera Darwin, whose sheer slopes drop to the sea. It is dominated by -54.75-69.4833332 Monte Darwin (2,438 m) and -54.45-70.8333333 Monte Sarmiento (2,246 m). Many valleys and plateaus are covered with glaciers and have shaped the landscape. The Beagle Channel stretches between the main island of Tierra del Fuego and the islands of Hoste and Gordon, as well as several smaller islands.

The flora and fauna of the park is reflects its Subantarctic climate. A total of 49 bird species have been recorded, although Andean jackal and Argentine fighting fox roam the site. Its waters are home to, among others, white-bellied and Peale's dolphins, sea lions and sea otters. Leopard seals, maned seals, and southern elephant seals can be seen on the coast.

The park's climate has a sub-polar character – it is cold, humid and windy.

• Park website (in Spanish)
• InterPatagona (in English)

The only way to access the park is by ship. There is no road access to the park.

• Supply ship from Punta Arenas and Puerto Williams
• Ferries from Ushuaia to Porvenir and back.
• From Ushuaia to Puerto Montt
• Tour by catamaran or sailing ship through the Beagle Channel.

Map of Alberto de Agostini National Park

• -54.433333-70.4333331 Agostini Fjord (Agostini Sound). On a map, this fjord doesn't look anywhere remotely important apart from it separating two branches of the Cordillera Darwin, but you'll see some impressive ice-capped mountains and glaciers from this fjord. (updated Oct 2022)

The part of the Beagle Channel between Gordon Island and the main island of Tierra del Fuego is known as Glacier Alley.

• -54.9167-69.11672 Holanda Glacier.  
• -54.9-69.23333 Italia Glacier.  
• -54.8667-69.38334 Alemania Glacier.  
• -54.8667-69.46675 Romanche Glacier.  
• Pia Glacier. 

There are no eateries, shops, accommodation, bars, etc., within the park. All of it must be done on your ship.

Your best option is to return to where you departed from.