Parque Nacional Monte Leon: Chile's Wilderness Jewel

Endless sky, rock, and water: Where the arid grasslands of southern Argentina meet the Atlantic Ocean, the wild winds and waters of Patagonia have sculpted a magical landscape. This wonderland is Monte León National Park. Established in 2002 through public–private collaboration, the park’s creation was prompted by a gift from Kristine Tompkins, the former CEO of the clothing company named for this legendary region at the bottom of the Earth.

Encompassing roughly 155,000 acres and 25 miles of shoreline, Monte León is now held in trust for future generations as part of Argentina’s national park system. It is both a destination for adventurous travelers and a home to an array of charismatic creatures—a place where guanacos remain ever wary of stalking pumas, vast colonies of Magellanic penguins coat the beaches, and every tide pool harbors a universe in miniature.

In Monte León, photographer Antonio Vizcaíno takes readers on a visual tour of the park’s natural features, exploring the wildlife, landforms, and textures—and the sublime quality of light—where land meets sea. Essays by the key players who helped birth the new park and other experts complement Vizcaíno’s images. Monte León is a book as beautiful as the landscape it celebrates. For everyone who has ever dreamed of Patagonia, Monte León is your invitation to visit a treasure of the Patagonia coast.