The Colca Canyon Trek in Peru: Everything You Need to Know
There’s a LOT of famous hikes in Peru, but the incredible Colca Canyon trek has managed to fly under the radar. Departing from the mountain town of Cabanaconde, this trail takes you deep into the Colca Canyon, which has a number of impressive titles, including being almost twice as deep as the Grand Canyon and home to the Andean condor, the largest bird of prey on the planet. In addition to being a spectacular hike, this trek can also be a bit confusing to plan—it’s kind of a choose-your-own-adventure, ranging from a dayhike to a multi-day hut-to-hut adventure. So if you want to hike one of the best trails in Peru for yourself, here’s everything you need to know about the Colca Canyon Trek.
Glacier Grey Hike: How to Hike to the Largest Glacier in Torres del Paine National Park
Torres del Paine National Park is, perhaps, best known for its namesake rock spires, but it has so much more to offer than that. For example, Glacier Grey, found in the western part of the national park, is a massive hunk of ancient ice, measures a whopping 270 square kilometers and feeds its own stunning glacial lake. While Torres del Paine is best known for its epic backpacking trips, like the O and W Trek, you can still experience some of its natural wonders, including Glacier Grey, on a (long, but doable!) day hike. Here’s everything you need to know about the Glacier Grey hike, one of the most underrated day trips in Torres del Paine National Park.
Mirador Base las Torres Trail: How to Hike to the Iconic Towers in Torres del Paine National Park
Mirador Base las Torres offers one of the most iconic views in Chile and arguably, all of South America—the rugged spires of Torres del Paine, towering above the electric turquoise waters of Lago Torres. But you’ll DEFINITELY have to work to enjoy these views—in order to get here, you’ll need to hike 6.3 miles (10.1 km) up an incredibly steep and rocky trail to the shores of the lake. If you’re up for the challenge, here’s everything you need to know about the Mirador Base las Torres trail, the best day hike in Torres del Paine National Park.
The ULTIMATE W Trek Packing List
The W Trek, also known as the W Circuit, is one of the most iconic hikes in Patagonia, passing ancient glaciers, alpine lakes, and some of the most rugged mountains on the planet in Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park. This hike is absolutely epic, but can also be epically confusing to pack for. It’s kind of a choose-your-own adventure, with hikers being able to choose how many days they want to be on the trail; whether they want to camp with their own gear or stay in equipped tents or hostel beds; and whether they want to make their own food or eat meals prepared at the mountain refugios along the way. Sound a bit confusing? It is! But luckily, my husband, Justin, and I recently hiked this incredible trail and have put together a complete packing list for everything you need to bring along for the W Trek, whether you’re staying in mountain refugios and eating food that’s prepared for you every night or whether you’re bringing all of your own gear and food.
The W Trek in Patagonia: Everything You Need to Know
The W Trek or the W Circuit is arguably the most iconic hike in Patagonia—and for good reason! This famous hike, which snakes through Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park, passes ancient glaciers, electric blue alpine lakes, and impossibly jagged mountain peaks. While this hike is absolutely incredible, it’s not exactly the most straightforward to plan—there’s limited (and expensive!) accommodations along the trail, a confusing array of transportation options that you need to take to get to and from the park, and multiple variations of the hike that you can choose from. So if you’ve got your eyes set on hiking the W Trek in Patagonia, here’s everything you need to know about planning and executing your trip.
Laguna Torre Trail in El Chaltén, Argentina
The teeny mountain town of El Chaltén in Patagonian Argentina is known for its epic hikes, including the Laguna Torre trail. This incredible trail offers jaw-dropping views of the impossibly blue Glacier Grande and the spiky towers of Cerro Torre, one of the most iconic mountains in the area. Hiking around El Chaltén has recently gotten a bit trickier these days, so if you want to experience these spectacular views for yourself, here’s everything you need to know about trekking along the Laguna Torre trail.
Laguna de los Tres Trail in El Chaltén, Argentina: The Best Hike to See Mount Fitz Roy
El Chaltèn, Argentina is home to Mount Fitz Roy, arguably the most famous mountain in all of South America. While Fitz Roy towers over the town of El Chaltén, the best way to experience the mountain is on foot, climbing along its slopes to see its alpine lakes, glaciers, and iconic spires. The best trail to do so is the Laguna de los Tres hike, which takes you up to a jaw-dropping viewpoint of Fitz Roy and two of its stunning lakes, Lagos de los Tres and Sucia. So if you want to experience one of the most iconic hikes in Patagonia for yourself, here’s everything you need to know about the Laguna de los Tres hike in El Chaltén, Argentina.
Hiking the Perito Moreno Glacier: Everything You Need to Know
The Perito Moreno Glacier, found in Argentina’s Los Glaciares National Park, sprawls a whopping 97 square miles, making it one of the largest glaciers on the planet. Seeing this behemoth of ancient ice is a must-do on any Patagonia itinerary—and, luckily, Los Glaciares has plenty of walkways that you can enjoy up-close-and-personal perspectives of the glacier. So if you’re planning a trip to Patagonia any time soon, here’s everything you need to know about hiking the Perito Moreno Glacier.
8 Best Hikes in Chiricahua National Monument in Arizona
Chiricahua National Monument is one of the most uniquely beautiful hidden gems in the United States—it’s no surprise that it’s slated to become our next National Park! Between its colorful rock pinnacles with the Chiricahua Mountains as their backdrop, it looks like no place else on the planet. My husband, Justin, and I recently visited this special corner of the planet and hiked almost every trail in the park—so if you want to explore the mind-blowing landscape for yourself, here are the 6 best hikes in Chiricahua National Monument.
Cerro Morrogacho Hike in the Cocora Valley, Colombia
The Cocora Valley and its famed wax palms are one of the most popular places in Colombia—it is, after all, one of the best places to see the tallest palm trees in the world! The Cocora Valley has a number of hikes, including Cerro Morrogacho, a challenging trail that heads through a lush cloud forest to the highest mountain summit in the area. If you want to hike this unique trail for yourself, here’s everything you need to know about the Cerro Morrogacho hike.