Dientes de Navarino

Over roughly 50 kilometers and usually done in four to six days, depending on weather, the circuit goes around the jagged skyline that gives the Dientes their name. The passes are steep. The highest point that most groups cross sits around 850 meters (Paso Virginia), and that climb gives you a rare view of, on a clear day, Cape Horn and the open Southern Ocean to one side, and the Beagle Channel on the other side.

But the Dientes are not dramatic only in profile. Walking here is a true lesson in contrasts. One hour, you will be struggling through subantarctic forest, and the next you will be on a moraine with blue-green lagoons. The campsites are on the firmest ground possible near the bogs; others are placed in almost perfect shelters that hikers have built from dead trees left by beavers.

You’ll be aware of the weather for the entire trail. Fog, rain, sleet, snow, and sun make the route feel totally unstable. Throughout the route, mud is also everywhere. This is something you should accept, as fighting it will only make the trail unpleasant. You’ll also need to be good at route finding, as the cairns can be difficult to spot, mountain passes can disappear under the fog & clouds, and the descents can be tricky.

Finally, you come back toward Puerto Williams, where the town’s simple lodgings, local seafood, and conversation with people who live at the edge of the map can feel like arriving on a different planet. You’ll be able to warm up, dry your gear, and celebrate the crossing with others. That final Austral beer in front of the Beagle will taste like a reward you earned with your knees and your nerves.

The best time to hike the Dientes de Navarino Circuit is during the southern summer, from January to March. These are the months with the most stable daylight, slightly milder temperatures, and the highest chances of clear windows for crossing the passes. Even then, “stable” in Tierra del Fuego still means fast-changing weather, strong winds, and the possibility of every season in a single day.

Even at the peak of summer, the Dientes remain unpredictable. Snow can fall at any time of year, winds can shut down passes, and a normal day can quickly turn into an expedition challenge.

Preparation is the only way to succeed on the Dientes de Navarino Circuit. Bring layered, quick-dry clothing, a waterproof and windproof shell, sturdy waterproof boots, and gaiters (essential for the constant mud and bogs). Pack a warm hat, gloves, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Nights can be cold and damp, so use a sleeping bag rated to at least -5°C to -10°C, plus an insulated sleeping pad to stay warm on wet or soft ground. Carry a reliable stove, spare parts, a lightweight water filter, and basic personal meds and blister care.

Objective hazards on the Dientes also require proper gear and planning. The trail includes steep passes, loose rock, slippery peat, and sections where weather can shut down visibility. Navigation and communications are mandatory: a map, a compass, the GPX downloaded offline, and a satellite messenger or satellite phone, plus a personal locator beacon for emergencies.

The Dientes de Navarino Circuit is rated as difficult, not because of distance or altitude, but because the trail conditions are so challenging. The route is short on paper, but the reality on the ground is far tougher than the numbers suggest. A 6km day can turn into a 10-hour hike depending on weather conditions.

The terrain is the biggest factor. The Dientes are built out of bogs, boulders, peat, and passes. Much of the route crosses wet, uneven ground where every step sinks, slips, or tilts. The peat bogs will swallow your ankles, and beaver-altered landscapes will force you to detour. And even higher up, the steep climbs to the passes, loose scree, and long descents make it a different type of difficult. Even short distances can take hours because the ground rarely gives you an easy time.