Tag: south america
-
Not Quite the End of the World – Punta Arenas & Monte Leon National Park

Maggie and I had about a week left in South America. We wanted to get a far south as we could, but we needed to budget some time for the long drive back north. We settled on stopping through Punta Arenas, then made some fun stops on the way north through Argentina. 3 February 2023…
-
Towers and Traffic Jams – Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine Day 1

One of Chile’s many crown jewels – the Torres del Paine massif – is tucked away near the southern end of the continent. It is far from just about everywhere, yet it has become a destination for backpackers and big wall climbers from around the globe. Maggie and I made our way to this remote…
-
To Argentina and Back Again – Entre Lagos to the Carretera Austral

In order to avoid a few ferry crossings on Chile’s Carretera Austral, Maggie and I chose to drive through Bariloche, El Bolson, and Alerces National Park in Argentina. Customs, cash, and camping all presented new challenges, but we were excited to carry on with our south bound road trip… 15 January 2023 After a scrambled…
-
‘Yaking, Laundry, and Taking the Wheel – Pucón to Entre Lagos

On a recommendation from a friend, Maggie and I stopped in Pucón, a cute tourist town on the edge of Lake Villarrica. We had originally hoped to climb Villarrica volcano, but with grand goals to continue south, we didn’t make time for the hike. Instead, we explored the lake and the town, and made plans…
-
Puzzles in the Mist – Curacautín & Conguillío National Park

The Andes were calling. Volcanoes, lakes, and bizarre trees were just up the hill from us in Curacautín. Without a car, we enlisted a local eco-tourism outfit for lodging and transportation, but first we had to prepare for a night out in the mountains. 9 January 2023 Maggie and I had wanted to go to…
-
On the Trail Again – Concepción

After a couple of flops and lots of time in urban centers, Maggie and I were feeling motivated to explore the outdoors. We finally got out on our first South American hike after spending a week in Chile. 6 January 2023 We were up and out of bed at 7 am. Our next destination was…
-
Bussing to the Beach – Rancagua & Pichilemu

2 January 2023 It was our last day in Santiago. Maggie and I packed up in the hostel, then left our big packs in the lockers for the morning. We went out for breakfast at Wonderland Cafe, an Alice in Wonderland themed restaurant. It was a little kitschy, but a fun vibe, and being in…
-
33 South Bound – Denver to Santiago

When I’m bored, I often peruse a combination of Google Maps and Wikipedia (because I’m a nerd). I quite enjoy exploring the world from the comfort of my own home. Well, one day I was looking at South America on the map. That enormous, unbroken chain of mountains from top to bottom was alluring. The…
