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.
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Episode Transcript
Hello and good day.
Welcome to the Super GoodCamping podcast.
My name is Pamela, I'm Tim.
And we are fromsupergoodcampingcom.
We're here because we're on amission to inspire other people
to get outside and enjoy campingadventures such as we have as a
family.
Today's episode is the third inour series of the top hikes.
This time we're going to doNorth and South America.
(00:20):
We're excluding the UnitedStates at this time just because
it's not.
We are excluding the UnitedStates at this time just because
it's not safe for some of us totravel there.
And we just wanted to give ashout out to Tim's T-shirt today
.
So the elbows up is helping interms of Canadians for trying to
(00:42):
encourage more people to travelin Canada and or support Canada
.
The T-shirt he's wearing isfrom Brittle Stars Peace, love
Canada selection.
So peacelovecanadaca, if youwant your very own.
And so the first on our listfor hikes is Sendro, los
Quetzales in Panama, and weapologize in advance for
butchering any of the names inthis particular podcast.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
She will butcher less than I butcher, but I will
absolutely make up for the fixthat she gets right.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
It's between Bouquet and Serra Punta, panama.
The trailheads in Bouquet andor Bouquet in Serra Punta is
accessible by car or bus.
The distance is a ninekilometer one way and it's
moderate.
Best time to go is in their dryseason, which is December to
April.
So if you're looking forsomething to do in our winter
months here and it's moderateBest time to go is in their dry
season, which is December toApril.
So if you're looking forsomething to do in our winter
months here in Canada, thissounds like a good place to go.
(01:29):
Why you would hike it?
It's a lush cloud forest trailknown for quetzal bird sightings
and stunning views of VolcanBaru Features, dense jungles,
fair rivers and mist-coveredmountains Misty mountains.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Let the butchering begin.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
A catanango.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Okay, a catanango volcano in Guatemala.
It's near Antigua Trailhead, isin La Soledad, la Soledad, la
Soledad, one hour drive fromAntigua.
It's a 15-kilometer round trip.
It is a difficult hike.
November to April, in the dryseason, is the best time to go,
(02:12):
and it offers a breathtakingview of the active Volcano de
Fuego.
I got that one right.
I'm sure it is when you can seeand hear eruptions at night.
The summit provides panoramicviews over Guatemala's volcanic
landscape.
Wow, volcanoes.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
They're erupting right near you, I think.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Diana mentioned something about hiking a volcano
.
It's like yeah, no.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Next on the list is Pico Duarte.
It's in the Dominican Republic.
The location is Jose ArmandoBermúdez National Park in
Dominican.
The trailhead is La Cienaga,near Yarabacoa.
The distance is 46 kilometerround trip.
It is difficult.
This time is again dry season,december to March.
(02:58):
The highest peak in theCaribbean is on this hike, with
diverse ecosystems from tropicalforests to alpine pine forests,
it offers incredible sunrisesand a sense of accomplishment.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
That's at the end of a hike.
That's always a good thing tohave.
The next one we have is theTorres del Paine West Trek in
Chile.
It's in the Torres del PaineNational Park on the Chilean
Patagonia.
The access is from PuertoNatales, all right.
(03:31):
You take a bus to the parkentrance.
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 delTowers.
One of the most famousmulti-day treks in the world.
(03:52):
Wow, cool.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Next is in Bolivia.
It's Huayna Potosi, cordilleraReal, near La Paz, bolivia.
That's where it's located.
The access is a one and a halfhour drive from La Paz to the
trailhead at Base Camp and thedistance is an 18 kilometer
round trip.
It's a three-day climb.
(04:15):
The difficulty is verydifficult.
Best time is may to septemberin the dry season.
And why you would hike.
This is one of the easiest 6000 meter peaks to climb.
It doesn't sound so easy, withbreathtaking views over la paz
and the andean, requires glaciertravel and basic mountaineering
skills.
(04:35):
Six kilometers, but it's one ofthe easiest six kilometer peaks
.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
That's wonderful.
Next on the list is Laguna 69in Peru.
It's in the Huascaran.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
National.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Park.
There you go.
It's a three hour drive fromJuarez to the trailhead at
Cebollapampa.
Okay, that's a 13 kilometerround trip.
It's a moderate to difficultbecause of the high altitude
(05:14):
Again, dry season May toSeptember is the best time to do
it and it's a stunningturquoise glacial lake at four
and a half kilometers up,surrounded by snow-capped peaks.
Very cool Must do in theCordillera Blanca region.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Blanca region.
Next on the list, number seven,is the Roraima Trek, which is
in Venezuela.
It's located in the CanaimaNational Park.
You would fly to Santa Elena deJuan, then drive to Paraitapui.
The distance is a 90 kilometerround trip.
(05:55):
It is difficult December toApril when we're looking for
something to do here in Canadain our off season, where it's
not, where there's hard water.
Then this might be good timesto go somewhere else where it's
nice and warm and sunny and dothese While you would hike it.
This trek takes you to the topof Mount Roraima, one of the
world's oldest tabletopmountains.
(06:15):
It features bizarre rockformations, endemic plants and
incredible panoramic views.
I just wonder who determinesthat they're bizarre, like just
rocks are rocks.
I don't know what is bizarreabout these rocks.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
I don't know.
Every reason is entitled totheir opinion, I guess, just for
the record, other than doscerveza, por favor.
I don't speak Spanish, so weshouldn't do this.
Last on our list is the OCircuit in Chile.
It's in the.
Oh, we've done this, oh, no, wedidn't.
It's a different loop in theTorres del Pino National Park.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Yeah, on the Chilean.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Patagonia.
So access is oh same deal fromPuerto Natales.
Take a bus to the park entrance.
It's a 130-kilometer loop.
It's very difficult, Same inthe Patagonian summer is the
best time to do it October toApril.
Why?
(07:15):
Because it's a more challengingand remote alternative to the
West Trek, offering even moreglaciers, mountains and solitude
in one of the world's moststunning landscapes.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Cool.
So just as a word of cautionmany of these treks are
difficult or very difficult, somake sure that you know what
you're doing before you evenattempt any of this.
We don't want to lose any ofyou.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Don't be old and out of shape like this.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Yes, Know your limits , play within it.
That's it for us for today.
Please do check us out on allthe social media and reach out
to us anytime.
We are at hi atsupergoodcampingcom.
That's hi atsupergoodcampingcom.
Like, subscribe, share and wewill talk to you again soon, bye
, bye.
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