It is one of the largest parks in the world and the second largest in Chile. It covers a large part of the archipelagos of the Provinces of Magallanes and Ultima Esperanza, as well as half of the surface of Riesco Island. Its landscapes are a mosaic composed of mountain ranges, forests, glaciers, fjords, lakes, wetlands and valleys that form virgin ecosystems of unparalleled beauty and habitat of a great diversity of species. The fjord of the mountains and the Sarmiento mountain range are some of the natural wonders of this park, which attracts the eyes of visitors from all over the world.

The Magallanes Rainforest dominates the landscape with species such as Coigue de Magallanes, Ciprés de las Guaitecas and Canelo, to a lesser extent. You can also find Lengas and Ñirres and species associated with the peat bogs, as well as shrub vegetation such as Chilco, Calafate, Zarzaparrilla, Murtilla, scrubland and coastal grassland composed of coastal strips of grasses.

The park is home to around 24 species of mammals, including Huemul, Puma, Gato Montés, Zorro Culpeo and Chilla, as well as 136 species of birds such as the Condor, Fío, Churrín del Sur and the Magellanic Woodpecker. It is also home to marine species such as Black-browed Albatross, Sea Swallows and Cormorants. There are 4 types of Dolphins, Wolves, Sea Elephants, Penguins and Whales like the Humpback, as well as Leopard Seals, Huillines and Chungungos.

Seven thousand years ago the Kawésqar would have sailed between the southern Gulf of Penas and the Strait of Magellan in their boats known as “the queen of American canoes” for the perfection of its construction. Made of Coigüe bark and covered with vegetable fibers, they spent much of their lives in them, hunting and going through the labyrinthine fjords, while the women were expert divers. Its name means “to be rational skin and bones”, its average height was 1.66 meters and its population was estimated at more than 3 thousand inhabitants. In 2006, paintings were found on Madre de Dios Island, south of Puerto Eden, which would suggest that this town developed some kind of writing or symbolism.

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