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The Secret of Paradise

Let yourself be enchanted by this small settlement in the heart of Bernardo O'Higgins National Park. An unforgettable boat trip through the Patagonian archipelago will bring you to this unique village on the east coast of Wellington Island. Known for its geographical isolation, its population of 250 includes the 15 remaining members of the Kawéskar people.

Stroll among the laneways that take the place of streets in this village. Although the settlement is small enough to take in with a single glance, Puerto Edén offers a lot of activities including fishing, mountain climbing, and kayaking.

The village is a great base for visiting the Brüggen Glacier (Pío XI Glacier), a river of ice that flows down from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. It is South America's largest glacier, covering 485 square miles (1,256 square kilometers). The glacier has one arm that ends at the sea, a larger one that reaches towards the north, and several smaller ones.

This is a great place to find traditional Kawéskar crafts such as wicker baskets and boats made from sea lion skins and tree bark. Though many local people now produce them, a few indigenous craftsmen still make these marvels by hand and even take special orders.

Puerto Edén is steeped in the austere simplicity of life on the sea and the warm hospitality of its people.

Featured Destinations of Southern Patagonia

Antarctic		Strait of Magellan
Punta Arenas		Tierra del Fuego
Torres del Paine National Park		Puerto Natales

Tours you can do

Getting there By Boat You can only reach Puerto Edén is by sea. Boats depart Puerto Montt on Tuesdays and the journey involves two days of travel through the inland waterways. Boats also depart Puerto Natales on Fridays, and the trip takes one day.