5 spectacular Latin American treks

Latin America is one of the most culturally and geographically diverse regions of the world, encompassing ancient cities, imposing rivers, endless forests, blissful beaches and, most of all, spectacular treks.

So follow us as we explore five of the best routes in the region that have been listed on the popular hiking app Wikiloc by its active community of users. Download the app and prepare to be amazed by wondrous nature and breathtaking panoramas!

The famous W circuit in Chile is astoundingly beautiful and encapsulates that sense of openness and freedom that can only be experienced in the great outdoors. Located in the Torres del Paine National Park, there are few places on the planet like this impressive spot.

The W-shaped trekking route takes four to five days to complete and covers an ever-changing landscape. It will take you through still lakes and lush forests, and you’ll be able to marvel at the glaciers that surround the huge vertical granite peaks and give the park its name.

You might have heard of the wonderful trail that takes you to Machu Picchu, the famous Inca citadel considered one of the wonders of the world. A less touristy but equally impressive alternative is the Salkantay trek.

This five-day route runs along the hills of Salkantay mountain, where you’ll get to enjoy one of the best views overlooking this Andean giant before descending to Playa Sahuayaco. You’ll feel the temperature change when you move from the mountain to the jungle, until finally there it is: the crown jewel, Machu Picchu.

Imagine a desert of white dunes flanked by dazzling lagoons. This paradise is located in the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park in the north-east of Brazil. You can navigate the trek in different sections and crossing it from end to end usually takes three days.

The sandy terrain might hinder your passage every now and then, but diving into the natural lakes totally makes up for it. You can even spend the night in a local resident’s straw hut, where you rest in hammocks and recuperate for the next leg of your journey.

There are few areas of natural beauty as evocative as Argentine Patagonia. The route begins in the small town of El Chaltén, considered the Argentine capital of trekking because of its high number of routes.

On this specific trek that takes you to Mount Fitz Roy, you’ll discover majestic glaciers, magnificent mountains and magical forests. Once you get a glimpse of the clouds converging near the mountaintop, you’ll see why they call it “the smoking mountain”.

Feel prepared to climb the Nevado de Toluca volcano? Located a short distance from Mexico’s capital, this one-day route offers glorious vistas of the two lakes of Nevado. Even though the route is steep – the peak is 4,680 metres high – making it to the top is hugely rewarding and you’ll have phenomenal pictures of the view to treasure forever.

Your first milestone on this trek is the Humboldt Edge viewpoint where the palette of shades distinguishes itself wonderfully from the volcano’s crater. Continue along Pico del Fraile, a more abrupt section that will take you to the top where you can finally revel in that feeling of being able to touch the sky.

Want more? Check out five more spectacular treks, this time in Europe.

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