Return to Bonsai Island

For those heading west, the Chilean maritime town of Puerto Natales is the last bastion of civilisation before the country becomes a pristine wilderness of fjords, mountains and glaciers. Crossing the Golfo Almirante Montt and navigating through the narrows brings you into the Fiordo de las Montañas, at the base of Cordillera Riesco. Here there are numerous peaks just as impressive as their famous neighbours in the Patagonian national parks, but relatively unknown due to their remoteness. The three peaks of Grupo La Paz, seen here behind one of the many islands of bonsai trees, are particularly impressive. Even more impressive was the ascent of the summit by local mountaineer Antar Machado and two colleagues in February 2022, which you can read about here: https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/alpinism/grupo-la-paz-patagonia-chile-traversed-antar-machado-sebastian-pelletti-hernan-rodriguez.html