Chile - Patagonia - Puerto Natales

 The town of Puerto Natales is nothing special but the boat tour is the reason to visit the area. We stayed at the Remota Patagonis Lodge which is a very modernistic hotel. Bill was able to watch an NFL football game because another guest was streaming it in the lounge. 

We did a day cruise to the Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers. The senery was spectacular. By boat is the only way to visit this part of Patagonia as it consists of many islands off of mainland Chile.

The following pictures are from our cruise on board and on land.

Our last day of travel with Trafalgar we had to go to Punta Arenas airport for our flight to Santiago Chile. This is were we departed and spent the night near the airport in Santiago befor flighing to Ecuador for our next excursion to Quito and the Galapagos Islanda.

Chile - Patagonia - Torres del Paine National Park

When we were in El Cafalate ten years ago we could not travel across the border into Chile to get to Torres del Paine National Park. Now people can easily drive across the border into Chile. This is a long way around if you were able to go from Glacier National Park to Torres de Paine National Park it would have been a 30 km distance instead of a whole day drive and 279 Km.

Driving to Chile it is a very dry area.

Guanaco

In addition to guanaco, we saw grey foxes and rheas an ostrich-type bird while driving. The sheep farms are numerous in the area as other livestock don't do well. In addition, this area has many gas wells.

Along the way, we stopped at  Lake Esperanza for a short break. 

Lake Esperanza

Mountains between Argentina and Chile in the background

The border crossing on the Argentine side. We had to get off the bus and go into the station to have our passports stamped. Then we got back on the bus and drove to the Chilean border station where we had to take our carry-on bags into the station and have them x-rayed for agricultural products.

At the Chilean border crossing, there was a store and a money exchange. You could exchange your Argentine pesos for Chilean pesos.

We continued on our way to Torres de Pain National Park. At the park office, we had to wait to get approval to enter the park. We waited quite awhile for the approval.

After entering the park we came across a bridge that was used to count livestock. The bridge is only wide enough for the livestock to pass single file. A crazy tourist tried to drive acorss the bridge so it is now closed.

 We finally arrived at Hosteria Las Torres and were greeted by gauchos on horseback waving flags.

Hosteria Las Torres

This was a wonderful all-inclusive accommodation in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park. The meals are well prepared with accommodations for dietary needs. 

The highlight of the area is definitely the scenery. The mountains, glaciers, and blue lakes. You can take a hike or a horseback ride to a remote area.

On the trail

Bill enjoyed his ride down to the lake. It is the scenery that attracts visitors to the park.

The three peaks of the Pain Mountain range is the icon of the park. We had a wounderful two days at this location. Before leaving by bus to Puerto Natales.