Milodon Cave Tour

General information

Destination	Category
Puerto Natales, Chile	Sightseeing Tours

Program details

Take this private tour of the fascinating natural monument, Milodon Cave. Named after the extinct prehistoric animal found within it, Milodon Cave is part of a series of caves known as Cueva del Milodón and an important paleontological site.

In 1895 a German explorer of Patagonia, Hermann Eberhard found in the cave a very well preserved piece of skin along with bones, fur and excrement that came from an animal later identified as the Milodón. The Milodón was one of the very large herbivores that once roamed the earth in prehistoric times. A giant sloth, somewhat resembling a large bear, the Milodón is thought to have become extinct at the end of the Pleistocene Epoch. There is a life-size model of the Milodón made of fiberglass at the entrance to the cave but the huge animal seems small relative to the size of the massive cave. At 30 metres in height, 70 metres wide and over 200 metres deep, Milodon Cave is absolutely huge. In the cave and other caves of the monument, remnants of other extinct animals and humans have also been found. It is believed that human habitation at Cueva del Milodón is dated as early as 6000 BC.

A visit to the small museum located at the monument is worthwhile, as is a walk in the surrounding reserve on the flanks of the spectacular Cerro Benitez Mountains.

Meeting/pick-up point: Lobby of the Hotels in Puerto Natales.
Duration: Approx. five hours.
Start/opening time: Depends on the customer’s choice, starting 8am.
Languages: English and Spanish.