Highlights from trekking 55 Miles through Patagonia

If Patagonia is on your bucket list, I can confidently say it's worth the trip. We hiked 55 miles on the W Circuit Trek, a five-day journey through some of the most stunning mountain scenery I've ever experienced.

My top highlights include:

Do it scared and with Women Who Explore.
The landscape and wildlife.
The cultural and familial connections.

Do it Scared and with Women Who Explore:

Patagonia had always been on my bucket list; the thought of trekking through those mountains was my goal! I knew I would get there and I became extra excited when I got to experience it with women who share the same adventurous spark that made it something even bigger. Women Who Explore brought together a group of incredible women, each arriving from different places around the world.

That's one aspect I love about traveling with Women Who Explore: we get to meet so many ladies from different backgrounds, cultures, and careers, and yet we connect because of our passion to hike through incredible mountain ranges. When we leave these trips, we leave with friendships that feel like they are a part of us now. There is something to be said about not doing it alone and to experience it with other women at the same time. We support and encourage each other with words of affirmation, our smiles while hiking on the trail, and the wisdom that we gain from each other while trekking is incredible. With Women Who Explore, we also provide a safe place to learn and experience all the emotions.

I want to share my personal experience from when we went kayaking near Grey Glacier. Ladies, I am not a water person by any means and anything with deep water makes me nervous thinking about an activity. So I signed up for kayaking and I had all the nervous emotions. I was paired up with another lady and I had to warn her about my nerves. Not once did she make me feel odd or different. She embraced where I was at and encouraged me that everything would be good and safe. She would remind me that the kayak was safe and how the movement did not mean anything dangerous. My nerves were able to go down and in the end I got to learn more about appreciating kayaking and in amazing location in Patagonia right next to the incredible Grey glacier. So make sure to do it scared and do it with Women Who Explore.

The Landscape and Wildlife:

There’s something unforgettable about watching a group of women stand in awe together. Of what? Of all the landscapes and wildlife that we saw during our trek. Some were within the quiet moments, and others were shared with excited shouts because of what we were seeing! Like we are talking about the speechless moments, but only squeals are coming out. The laughter carried by the wind. We shared “wow” when we first saw the iconic Torres del Paine granite peaks that were covered by glaciers and snow, but even better since they were illuminated by the sunrise glow. We were welcomed into the Torres Del Paine National Park with the vibrant hues of orange, pink, yellow, gold, and some light purples. We also got to see the iconic “Curenos del Paine” (English translation: Horns of Piane). The mountain peaks are jaw-dropping in their size, filled with many valleys and glaciers. Their colors are dramatic, as you can clearly see the granite and darker rock layer colors. There were so many moments where the clouds parted to reveal those iconic Patagonian peaks. Every step felt like we were walking through a postcard… only better, because we were living it!! You can only imagine how many group pictures we took, but now these moments are with us for a lifetime.

During our time in Patagonia, there was wildlife that stood out to us. I remember on the first and third day, we saw Patagonian green parrots that were flying above us and would land on trees to socialize. Talk about amazing! On our last day, we got to observe the tiniest owl in Patagonia, known as the Austral Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium nana). This owl was perched on a tree branch, watching us and moving its little neck with sass. It didn't move and just admiring it about 10 feet away was quite a show! Multiple times on the hike, we were surprised by soaring Patagonian eagles. I can clearly recall 2 occasions, but the most special time is when an eagle stayed perched on a rock and just stood tall. It was so big that I couldn't believe it was an actual eagle.

The Cultural and Familial Connections:

This is more than a hike in Patagonia, it's us exploring a new country together! The Spanish that is spoken is amazing, and a perfect place for one to practice it. Everyone is welcoming here, and they don't make you feel different for being a tourist. If you want to push your limits in a new culture, Chile is perfect for you! On this trip, we got to explore Puerto Natales, La Estancia La Península, and Torres del Paine National Park.

This trek is no casual stroll. Patagonia asks you to show up prepared… and rewards you tenfold when you do. Strengthening your knees, legs, ankles, and core makes all the difference, turning challenging climbs into empowering victories while experiencing the Chilean culture in the mountains. At the end of each day, cozy refugios and delicious Chilean meals became the perfect celebration of what our bodies carried us through. Our shared meals in every refugio included local, freshly cooked soups, meats, veggies, lots of homemade bread, and delicious tasting desserts. Every refugio also deserves a celebratory cappuccino or latte!

If you're craving a familial adventure, connection, and the kind of experience that stays with you long after the boots come off… Patagonia needs to be on your bucket list with Women Who Explore. There’s something powerful about answering that call alongside other women who are just as ready to explore… Leave with a story that feels bigger than you imagined as you immerse yourself in new cultures and help it to develop ourselves!

Culture has a way of changing us, for the better and Patagonia did just that.

Do it Scared and with Women Who Explore:

The Landscape and Wildlife:

The Cultural and Familial Connections:

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