Pali-Aike National Park

Pali-Aike National Park (sometimes Pali Aike National Park) is perhaps unlike any other Chilean Patagonian national park. It isn't mountainous nor large – rather, it's the Pali-Aike Cave, home to one of Magellan's oldest settlements, that makes the park unique.

The Fell and Aike Caves have been on the tentative list for UNESCO world heritage since 1998.

History
Pali-Aike is an area from the Pleistocene or Holocene era about 150 km northwest of Punta Arenas. This volcanic field consists of maar lakes, basalt scoria cones, and lava flows. It is the northernmost field in Patagonia. In the 1930s, Junius Bouton Bird discovered a type of projectile, which was later determined to be 8,000 years old in the Fell and Pali Aike caves, both within the park.

Visitor information

 * conaf.cl (official park website; Spanish only)

Get in
By land: From Punta Arenas, take Route 255, which is paved and leads to the Monte Aymond border crossing. At km 168, take the detour to Punta Delgada (Villa O'Higgins). From this point, it's 26 km to the park.

From the Monte Aymond Border Complex at km 196 of Route 225, access is possible only with 4x4 vehicles, venturing 15 km northwest.

Fees and permits
The park is only open on Tu–Su between June 29, 2024 and June 29, 2024. It is closed on Mondays.

If you are visiting during the high season (Oct–Apr), there is a fee. The park is open to all visitors free during the low season (May–Sept).

For Chileans:
 * Children (≤11), seniors (>60) and children (≤17) with disabilities: Free
 * Teenagers (12–17):
 * Adults:
 * Adults (with disabilities):

For foreigners:
 * Children (≤11): Free
 * Teenagers (12–17): (or US$3.00).
 * Adults and seniors (including those with disabilities): (or US$6.00).

Eat
There are no shops in the park; you will need to bring your own food.

Sleep
The park fully closes by 19:30.