South America

A 33-day adventure by Brian Read more

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Trip start
December 30, 2021
South America Traveler
Santiago..the start
December 30, 2021 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
20 hours from leaving LHR..I arrived at Mercure Hotel..Santiago Centro..nothing to report…yet..apart from being very tired..as I am in quarantine..until my PCR test is returned..this one really must be negative🧐Read more
TravelerThat I call a global player - have a safe trip and a perfect start into next year - looking forward for your stories 🧿🌈😊
12/30/21Reply
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South America Traveler
Quarantine..
December 30, 2021 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
..quarantine sucks..its 30c and sunny out there..and I am in here..only till tomorrow morning..hopefully..
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South America Traveler
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Cerro Santa Lucia..Santa Lucia Hill
December 31, 2021 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Having been released by the authorities from quarantine…am now out and about..this is where the Spanish Conquistadors founded Santiago in 1541…its on a volcano..15 million years old..of course..it would be..this is Chile☺️..with Andes in background on one pic..stunning..Read more
Traveler Impressiv!
12/31/21Reply
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South America Traveler
Santiago street art
January 1, 2022 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
..my time in Santiago is coming to an end..an excellent NYE dinner last night..the city is very quiet today..Happy New Year to you all..lets hope 2022 brings us a finality to the Covid pandemic..somehow…I believe it wont😳Read more
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South America Traveler
Parque Nacional Torres del Paine
January 3, 2022 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
….arrived late afternoon..sans luggage..yes..LATAM mislaid my main suitcase..it has now been flown separately down to Punta Arenas..and is on its way..stressful..very..but accommodation is cracking..and the views..well..one word..stunning..5 full days here…bring on the trekking☺️Read more
TravelerWish you amazing hikes 😊😊😊
1/3/22Reply
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South America Traveler
Los Cuernos
January 6, 2022 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
..really day 6..as no internet last 3 days..absolutely stunning..only 14k..breaking us in gently😚
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South America Traveler
Valle del Frances
January 6, 2022 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
.really day 7..catching up..first glacier..10 hours trekking today..24k..everything ached by the finish 😳..but what a trek..dont think I will ever better this one..
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South America Traveler
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Glacier Grey
January 6, 2022 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
…I have decided I love glaciers😍..our Ecocamp has been closed due to some pesky pandemic..so we are being lodged in Las Torres..a rather pleasant 4 star hotel..result I say..today was less strenuous..only 11k..as a catameran ride to the glacier and back took some time....followed by 2 hours minibus back here..the distances out here are mind blowing..back to a long km day tomorrow….its only the granite towers 🙃Read more
Traveler Amazing 😍😍😍
1/7/22Reply
Traveler..and that was it..the W Trek..done..now what ☺️
1/8/22Reply
TravelerHow many days does the W-Trek needs? 4 days, 70 kilometers?
1/8/22Reply
Traveler..4 days..80k..2 days were 22k each😳
1/9/22Reply
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South America Traveler
Base Torres
January 7, 2022 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C
..another gruelling 9 hour day trekking..22k..and this is what we came to see..the picture postcard shot of the 3 granite towers...Torres del Paine..the blue towers...from The Mirador Base de la Torres…time for a beer😚Read more
TravelerSo stunning - this trek is now on my bucket list 😁😉🤦‍♂️!
1/8/22Reply
Traveler..stunning…is the right word..I dont think anything will ever match this..
1/9/22Reply
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South America Traveler
..final day in Torres del Paine
January 8, 2022 in Chile ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
…more stunning landscapes..and a final dinner with the W trek crew..tomorrow..we disperse..to New York..Houston..Sao Paulo..Washington DC..and I move on to The Lake District…Chile style😚
TravelerWhich provider for the W-Trek would you recommend?
1/9/22Reply
Traveler…Swoop….Patagonia..who contract some items..like logistics..to Cascada Expediciones….I booked the luxury trek…all inclusive..incl Ecocamp..but we couldn’t go there due to Covid..so had 4 nights in Las Torres Hotel..4 star..Punta Arenas now..a nondescript place..but only here to fly out later☺️
1/10/22Reply
TravelerWOW 😍
1/9/22Reply
Traveler…WOW just about sums up this trek..which is in Lonely Planet’s Chile Top 20 ..at No 1 ☺️
1/10/22Reply
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South America Traveler
Puerto Montt..>>>>The Lakes District
January 10, 2022 in Chile ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C
..2 days travelling..and 2500km later….I am in Puerto Montt..with my luggage😚..this starts the next phase of this trip..lakes..rolling farmland and…volcanoes..at some point this week I hope to climb the blast path of Volcan Chaiten...which erupted in 2008..what excitement in store🤪
I can only offer you a pic from my IBIS hotel window today..better will follow☺️Read more
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South America Traveler
Puerto Varas
January 11, 2022 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
…another travel day..here for 2 nights..the snow capped volcano across the bay is a taste of what I am doing later in the week..this isn’t the one I am climbing..but what a cool pic it is….Chile ..continues to deliver..but..tomorrow..is a beach day⛱..I have earned it😚Read more
TravelerWish you perfect weather for the summit 🙏🌞😊
1/11/22Reply
Traveler..thanks 🙏 ..I am planning trekking up the blast path of Volcan Chaiten..just sorting out the travelling to get over there...I am still 12 hours away here☺️
1/12/22Reply
Traveler12 hours 😱😱😱?
1/12/22Reply
Traveler..yes..the distances in Chile are absolutely immense😃
1/12/22Reply
Traveler..travel time reduced to 10 hours..overnight ferry⛴
1/12/22Reply
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South America Traveler
..planning day
January 12, 2022 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
..following the Torres del Paine luxury trek..I was then on my own..meaning I have to plan ahead..for transports and accommodations..and it is apparent how Covid still impacts..despite me thinking the pandemic was over.
Had been trying to arrange the 10 hour bus down to Chaiten..for the volcano walk and had to give that mode up..I have now got a berth on an overnight ferry..leaving 23.00 tomorrow..perseverance is the key to all this..
The Volcan Osorno trip..where one treks up and cycles down..is not running..a big disappointment..the first of this vacation though..but I will get much nearer it tomorrow..for a trek ..with some pics..its a Mt Fuji type picture postcard volcano..seen across the water from the beach today⛱..never had a volcano view from a beach..till today☺️Read more
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South America Traveler
Petrohue waterfalls
January 13, 2022 in Chile ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
..close to Volcan Osorno..which was unfortunately in much cloud today..so no picture postcard shot😔

The tariff to enter was wholly discriminatory to foreigners…double for us..and Chile seniors got in free..I will be writing to our Ambassador ..in the strongest of terms..still..only £5 to enter😝

The W trek is now taking its toll..delayed reaction..tiredness..and knees complaining..🧐Read more
TravelerKeep going Brian . You are doing are doing amazing
1/15/22Reply
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South America Traveler
Chaiten
January 14, 2022 in Chile ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C
..overnight on a commercial ferry ..I’m not fussy🤣..to get to Chaiten..where the weather forecast is looking decidedly ominous for the ascent of Volcan Chaiten tomorrow😩..so..am trying to book an alternative..have 2 nights down here..haven’t seen the sun yet today..which has been unusual on this trip..its 20c colder here than in my previous locations🥶

After 16 days in Chile..and the difficulties of getting around..I need to decide how long to stay here..Covid is continuing to have a bigger effect than I thought..incl not being able to get into Argentina..but they dont like each other at the best of times..they still recall Chile’s support of the UK over the Falklands😳Read more
TravelerLet's crossing fingers for better trekking conditions and ur further plans 🤞🤞🤞
1/15/22Reply
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South America Traveler
Selk’nam people
January 15, 2022 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
..indigenous peoples of Patagonian region....one of the last native groups in South America to be discovered by Europeans in the late 19c..they were wiped out through genocide..or being transported to Europe to be held in cages in zoos..a shameful episode in history..amongst many.

The full ceremonial get up in the pic..is in someone’s garden down the road from my accommodation…and the second pic is in my accommodation..they dont forget their ancestors over here.Read more
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South America Traveler
….only here for the volcano
January 15, 2022 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
It’s pretty much rained the whole time I have been here 😩..the volcano trek had already been postponed from today..but we did get a short interlude in the weather..when I went out and took these pics..in case its the last chance I get.

Volcan Chaiten erupted in 2008..taking most of the town with it..the crater yawned open to 3k..and emitted a cubic kilometre of ash..I will hopefully ascend the pyroclastic flow path..tomorrow.

And..we have just had a tsunami alert here..following the recent eruption in the South Pacific 🙄Read more
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South America Traveler
..volcano trek
January 16, 2022 in Chile ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
…this is as far as you can go on Chaiten..as climbing the steaming lava dome isn’t recommended…the trek up the blast path was one of the most incredible journeys I have ever made...bloody amazing..sums up this day..a volcano is ticked off the list☺️Read more
TravelerWell done, congratulations ☺️🙋‍♂️!
1/16/22Reply
Traveler..thanks..it was absolutely incredible..tough climb up..knees were complaining🤣
1/16/22Reply
TravelerAnyway.... Well done again.... Respect
1/16/22Reply
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South America Traveler
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..contd
January 16, 2022 in Chile ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
..the eruption and pyroclastic flow..solidified lava pieces..volcanic ash and hot gases..in 2008..wiped out everything in its path..trees were snapped like matches..the lava dome remains..thats the big pile of ash and rocks...and nothing all around..since then..vegetation has thrived..incl the wild fuschia..pictured…from complete devastation..nature renews itself.

The force is incomprehensible..I wont forget this day..Read more
TravelerStunning......!
1/16/22Reply
Traveler Natur always finds a way 😊😊😊!
1/16/22Reply
Traveler..indeed…I do hope you make it over here sometime..you’ll love it😍
1/16/22Reply
TravelerInşallah Brian, İnşallah 🧿🧿🧿
1/17/22Reply
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South America Traveler
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..a Pacific Ocean sunrise
January 17, 2022 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
..a travelling day..left Chaiten on Naviera Austral..my fav overnight ferry service..bound for Puerto Montt..and got some sunrise pics..which I think are pretty cool..

And..its my birthday..that was the first beer of the afternoon..cheers😚Read more
TravelerHappy B-Day my friend - stay healthy and have always sun in ur heart 🎉🌈🌞🤗
1/17/22Reply
TravelerDanke mein Freund 👋
1/17/22Reply
Beautiful pics ❤️ [Lisa]
1/18/22Reply
TravelerWhat a way to spend your birthday!
1/18/22Reply
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South America Traveler
Valparaiso..Queen Room…with Seaview
January 18, 2022 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
14 hours overnight bus to get here..with 1st class airline type seats..and...I got what I ordered..with a hulking great ship..from my 7th floor view 🤣..love it..
…well..I am in a port city-half way up Chile’s coastline..so its not like its unusual..off to explore this City..with so much history..more to follow….Read more
Happy birthday for yesterday! [Dave]
1/18/22Reply
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South America Traveler
..beer
January 18, 2022 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
..its so important to quickly establish a good purveyor of beer in any new city one visits..I found this place quite quickly..and they were insistent I try as many as I could😝..have returned to my hotel for a rest..before I head out for supper..

Valparaiso ..I like you very much already.. 😚Read more
TravelerAssume you don’t have internet, hope you’re ok x
1/19/22Reply
Traveler..I dont have a phone🙄
1/19/22Reply
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South America Traveler
Valparaiso
January 19, 2022 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
…syncopated,dilapidated,colourful and poetic..Valparaiso is a wonderful mess..just look at that main picture..you have commerce..tourists..and the Armada de Chile..all in one shot.

No sooner had the Spanish conquistadores arrived than Valparaiso became a stop off point for boats taking gold and other products back to Spain..more seafaring looters followed..English and Dutch pirates..incl Sir Francis Drake..who repeatedly sacked Valparaiso for gold.

More great murals here..and its hot and sunny..making the most of this glorious weather🌞Read more
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South America Traveler
Ciao..Chile🇨🇱👋
January 20, 2022 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
It’s time for me to depart this wonderful country..

On BA250 ..in an hour...G-ZBKK..Boeing 787..a direct overnight flight to LDN
...some stats from the trip..

18500 miles travelled..three quarters way around the world..
modes of transport....planes..trains..ferries..coaches..buses..and legs😚
12 different overnight locations..ranging from 4 star hotel..to a tent
Glaciers and volcanoes featured heavily….W trek done.🙏

But..travelling solo is challenging in these Covid times..and with difficulties in crossing borders..South America is just vast..so..after over 3 weeks here..I have decided to return to York..to continue the winter walking season in Lakes and Dales
..have loved this country…. the people..the sun..and the prices.

Ciao Chile❤️Read more
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Trip end
January 31, 2022