Beyond Borders: Discovering North and South America's Most Breathtaking Treks

We explore eight spectacular hiking trails across North and South America, from Panama's bird-filled cloud forests to Chile's iconic Patagonian peaks. Each trail offers unique experiences during winter months when Canadians are seeking warmer destinations for outdoor adventures.

• Sendero Los Quetzales in Panama - a moderate 9km one-way trail through lush cloud forest with stunning volcano views
• Acatenango Volcano in Guatemala - experience nighttime eruptions from a neighboring active volcano
• Pico Duarte in Dominican Republic - the Caribbean's highest peak featuring diverse ecosystems from tropical to alpine forests
• Torres del Paine West Trek in Chile - iconic Patagonian 80km loop with granite peaks and glaciers
• Huayna Potosí in Bolivia - one of the "easiest" 6,000-meter peaks requiring basic mountaineering skills
• Laguna 69 in Peru - trek to a stunning turquoise glacial lake at 4,500m elevation
• Roraima Trek in Venezuela - climb one of the world's oldest tabletop mountains with bizarre rock formations
• The O Circuit in Chile - a challenging 130km alternative to the West Trek with more remote landscapes

Please reach out to us anytime at hi@supergoodcamping.com. Like, subscribe, share and we will talk to you again soon.

Transcript

Introduction to Americas Hiking Series

Speaker 1 0:00

Hello and good day . Welcome to the Super Good Camping podcast . My name is Pamela , I'm Tim .

Speaker 1 0:05

And we are from supergoodcampingcom . We're here because we're on a mission to inspire other people to get outside and enjoy camping adventures such as we have as a family . Today's episode is the third in our series of the top hikes . This time we're going to do North and South America . We're excluding the United States at this time just because it's not . We are excluding the United States at this time just because it's not safe for some of us to travel there . And we just wanted to give a shout out to Tim's T-shirt today . So the elbows up is helping in terms of Canadians for trying to encourage more people to travel in Canada and or support Canada . The T-shirt he's wearing is from Brittle Stars Peace , love Canada selection . So peacelovecanadaca , if you want your very own . And so the first on our list for hikes is Sendro , los Quetzales in Panama , and we apologize in advance for butchering any of the names in this particular podcast .

Speaker 2 1:02

She will butcher less than I butcher , but I will absolutely make up for the fix that she gets right .

Speaker 1 1:07

It's between Bouquet and Serra Punta , panama . The trailheads in Bouquet and or Bouquet in Serra Punta is accessible by car or bus . The distance is a nine kilometer one way and it's moderate . Best time to go is in their dry season , which is December to April . So if you're looking for something to do in our winter months here and it's moderate Best time to go is in their dry season , which is December to April . So if you're looking for something to do in our winter months here in Canada , this sounds like a good place to go . Why you would hike it ? It's a lush cloud forest trail known for quetzal bird sightings and stunning views of Volcan Baru Features , dense jungles , fair rivers and mist-covered mountains Misty mountains .

Speaker 2 1:44

Let the butchering begin .

Speaker 1 1:48

A catanango .

Speaker 2 1:51

Okay , a catanango volcano in Guatemala . It's near Antigua Trailhead , is in La Soledad , la Soledad , la Soledad , one hour drive from Antigua . It's a 15-kilometer round trip . It is a difficult hike . November to April , in the dry season , is the best time to go , and it offers a breathtaking view of the active Volcano de Fuego . I got that one right . I'm sure it is when you can see and hear eruptions at night . The summit provides panoramic views over Guatemala's volcanic landscape . Wow , volcanoes .

Speaker 1 2:28

They're erupting right near you , I think .

Speaker 2 2:30

Diana mentioned something about hiking a volcano . It's like yeah , no .

Speaker 1 2:35

Next on the list is Pico Duarte . It's in the Dominican Republic . The location is Jose Armando Bermúdez National Park in Dominican . The trailhead is La Cienaga , near Yarabacoa . The distance is 46 kilometer round trip . It is difficult . This time is again dry season , december to March . The highest peak in the Caribbean is on this hike , with diverse ecosystems from tropical forests to alpine pine forests , it offers incredible sunrises and a sense of accomplishment .

Speaker 2 3:11

That's at the end of a hike . That's always a good thing to have . The next one we have is the Torres del Paine West Trek in Chile . It's in the Torres del Paine National Park on the Chilean Patagonia . The access is from Puerto Natales , all right . You take a bus to the park entrance . It's an 80 kilometer loop . It's moderate to difficult . Again , october through April . Patagonia in summer . It features granite peaks , massive glaciers , turquoise lakes and the famous Torres del Towers . One of the most famous multi-day treks in the world . Wow , cool .

Speaker 1 3:54

Next is in Bolivia . It's Huayna Potosi , cordillera Real , near La Paz , bolivia . That's where it's located . The access is a one and a half hour drive from La Paz to the trailhead at Base Camp and the distance is an 18 kilometer round trip . It's a three-day climb . The difficulty is very difficult . Best time is may to september in the dry season . And why you would hike . This is one of the easiest 6 000 meter peaks to climb . It doesn't sound so easy , with breathtaking views over la paz and the andean , requires glacier travel and basic mountaineering skills . Six kilometers , but it's one of the easiest six kilometer peaks .

Speaker 2 4:41

That's wonderful . Next on the list is Laguna 69 in Peru . It's in the Huascaran .

Speaker 1 4:49

National .

Speaker 2 4:50

Park . There you go . It's a three hour drive from Juarez to the trailhead at Cebollapampa . Okay , that's a 13 kilometer round trip . It's a moderate to difficult because of the high altitude Again , dry season May to September is the best time to do it and it's a stunning turquoise glacial lake at four and a half kilometers up , surrounded by snow-capped peaks . Very cool Must do in the Cordillera Blanca region .

Speaker 1 5:32

Blanca region . Next on the list , number seven , is the Roraima Trek , which is in Venezuela . It's located in the Canaima National Park . You would fly to Santa Elena de Juan , then drive to Paraitapui . The distance is a 90 kilometer round trip . It is difficult December to April when we're looking for something to do here in Canada in our off season , where it's not , where there's hard water . Then this might be good times to go somewhere else where it's nice and warm and sunny and do these While you would hike it . This trek takes you to the top of Mount Roraima , one of the world's oldest tabletop mountains . It features bizarre rock formations , endemic plants and incredible panoramic views . I just wonder who determines that they're bizarre , like just rocks are rocks . I don't know what is bizarre about these rocks .

Speaker 2 6:28

I don't know . Every reason is entitled to their opinion , I guess , just for the record , other than dos cerveza , por favor . I don't speak Spanish , so we shouldn't do this . Last on our list is the O Circuit in Chile . It's in the . Oh , we've done this , oh , no , we didn't . It's a different loop in the Torres del Pino National Park .

Speaker 1 6:54

Yeah , on the Chilean .

Speaker 2 6:55

Patagonia . So access is oh same deal from Puerto Natales . Take a bus to the park entrance . It's a 130-kilometer loop . It's very difficult , Same in the Patagonian summer is the best time to do it October to April . Why ? Because it's a more challenging and remote alternative to the West Trek , offering even more glaciers , mountains and solitude in one of the world's most stunning landscapes .

Speaker 1 7:26

Cool . So just as a word of caution many of these treks are difficult or very difficult , so make sure that you know what you're doing before you even attempt any of this . We don't want to lose any of you .

Speaker 2 7:40

Don't be old and out of shape like this .

Speaker 1 7:41

Yes , Know your limits , play within it . That's it for us for today . Please do check us out on all the social media and reach out to us anytime . We are at hi at supergoodcampingcom . That's hi at supergoodcampingcom . Like , subscribe , share and we will talk to you again soon , bye , bye .