South America and Seattle 2024

November - December 2024

A 50-day adventure by Pat & Tracey Read more

List of countries

Peru
Argentina
Chile
New Zealand

Categories

Couple, Nature, Sightseeing

61.5kkilometers traveled

Means of transport

Flight57.4kkilometers
Walking-kilometers
Hiking-kilometers
Bicycle-kilometers
Motorbike-kilometers
Tuk Tuk-kilometers
Car-kilometers
Train-kilometers
Bus-kilometers
Camper-kilometers
Caravan-kilometers
4x4-kilometers
Swimming-kilometers
Paddling/Rowing-kilometers
Motorboat-kilometers
Sailing-kilometers
Houseboat-kilometers
Ferry-kilometers
Cruise ship-kilometers
Horse-kilometers
Skiing-kilometers
Hitchhiking-kilometers
Cable car-kilometers
Helicopter-kilometers
Barefoot-kilometers

Newest first

South America and Seattle 2024
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- Nov 11, 2024, 11:34 PM
- ☁️ 14 °C
- Altitude: 20 m
- New Zealand Tautauroa Creek -36.978899, 174.78653336°58’44” S 174°47’12” E
Day 1–2
Auckland
November 11, 2024 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
A night at Jetpark Hotel Auckland to split the flight to Santiago. Tracey struggling to find gluten free food, and also suffering from a virus she came down with as we left Australia.
Matthew Esler Gah, that's bad luck about the virus. Hopefully not from us! #MelbourneHouseofPlague
11/13/24Reply
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South America and Seattle 2024
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- Nov 12, 2024, 2:33 PM
- ☀️ 29 °C
- Altitude: 585 m
- Chile Plaza de la Constitución -33.440056, -70.65359133°26’24” S 70°39’13” W
Day 2–4
Santiago
November 12, 2024 in Chile ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
We had booked a lift from the airport through Booking.com. The driver didn't turn up, so after about an hour waiting and contacting b.c, during which time we had to fend off all sorts of people trying to "help" us, they (b.c) arranged an uber to pick us up. One scam artist pretended to phone our missing driver for us, even handing me his phone. The person on the phone pretending to be our driver told me he couldn't come for three hours. The scam artist had phoned an accomplice.
Next morning, during a wander through central Santiago, we discovered the beautifully restored Banco de Santiago. Pat withdrew some local currency & was so shocked at the fee (aus$15 for a withdrawal of 40,000pesos - aus$60), he walked away leaving his card in the machine. On return 5 mins later it had vanished. After prompting from Pat, the staff advised him to return at 4pm, just in case the card had been 'swallowed' by the ATM. Happily, it proved so!
Santiago has seen better days and we were suffering jetlag, so only had a cursory look. Tim & Jessica arrived after lunch & unfortunately Tim had food poisoning from the flight. Although we all went out to dinner in the evening, everyone was so in recovery mode.Read more
Matthew Esler That sounds like quite an intense level of criminal activity. Good that you were on the ball.
11/13/24Reply
Arabian Nights Well! That sounds like an interesting start - NOT!
12/4/24Reply
Arabian Nights Not sure why i’m called Arabian Nights (aka Pam - in case u r wondering …)
12/4/24Reply
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South America and Seattle 2024
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- Nov 14, 2024, 3:00 PM
- ☁️ 14 °C
- Altitude: 16 m
- Chile Río Natales -51.727715, -72.49960651°43’40” S 72°29’59” W
Day 4–5
Puerto Natales
November 14, 2024 in Chile ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
After meeting Peter & Anita at Santiago airport, we took an early flight to PN. RIchie was there to meet us & take us to our accommodation. Pat, Tim, Jess & I shared a dome tent, while Peter & Anita were in a cabin with the last member of our trekking group, Nicole.
We all made our way into town for lunch, coffee and last minute purchasers for the trek. PN is a 'nice' little frontier style town, making the most of the Patagonian tourist boom. Time was short & we had to be repacked and ready to hit the road by 6.30am next morning.Read more
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South America and Seattle 2024
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- Nov 15, 2024, 12:05 PM
- ☁️ 4 °C
- Altitude: 860 m
- Chile Torres del Paine -50.943428, -72.95012850°56’36” S 72°57’0” W
Day 5
W Trek day 1
November 15, 2024 in Chile ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C
WELCOME CTR - TORRES DEL PAINE, return
We were bussed to Torres Del Paine NP, but we didn't start the trek until 9.40am. At the Chilean Refuge (6/10 of the way up) and recovering from jetlag and viruses, Anita & I pulled the pin.
We hadn't realised that there was a time limit on entry to the last few kilometres & that, for us older, slower walkers, the pace expected was a bit much. A Shame! The boys and Jess continued, but food poisoning caught up to Tim & he & Jess turned with just over a kilometre to go. Pat & Peter made the final ascent without incident. Despite the ups and downs, it was a beautiful & memorable hike. The beer & hot chocolate at the end weren't bad either. 13km to 22km, 530 to 1080mt.Read more
Arabian Nights Gosh!
12/4/24Reply
Arabian Nights Great photo at the top!👏
12/4/24Reply
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South America and Seattle 2024
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- Nov 16, 2024, 12:22 PM
- 🌬 4 °C
- Altitude: 114 m
- Chile Estancia Pudeto -51.02662, -73.02617251°1’36” S 73°1’34” W
Day 6
W Trek day 2
November 16, 2024 in Chile ⋅ 🌬 4 °C
We had a good night's rest in Richie's "rustic" cabins, which included splitting our own wood for the stove which heated the water & making scrambled eggs for breakfast (Thanks Tim). It was an interesting experience - remote, but with a direct view to the towers, Torres Del Paine. We were half expecting to see the local puma family.
The days hiking was spectacular. The track wound between beautiful, glacial Lago Nordenskjold & the snow-capped Andes. The constantly changing conditions just heightened the drama of the scenery. 17.5 km 520 mtRead more
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South America and Seattle 2024
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- Nov 17, 2024, 12:24 PM
- ☁️ 5 °C
- Altitude: 474 m
- Chile Torres del Paine -51.008208, -73.05307851°0’30” S 73°3’11” W
Day 7
W Trek day 3
November 17, 2024 in Chile ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C
Last night, we slept in Rooftop tents. Wow! Won't forget that experience in a hurry. Camp Francis is built on such a steep slope that they have used these tents on stilts to accommodate guests. Climbing in and out was a little challenging, especially in the middle of the night. However, the most memorable bit was waiting to sail off into the wild blue yonder as the next cyclonic gust of wind hit the timber & tin frame.
We started the day in pretty solid rain, but within an hour, it had lightened considerably and another hour pretty well saw the end of it. After the first few kms, Pat & Peter decided to head up to the French valley, despite the weather looking pretty grim at that point. The rest of us continued on! Leaving yesterday's Lake, we wound through hills past Lake Skottsberg & on to Paine Grande Refugio on Lago Pehoe. Throughout the relatively short walk (for most of us), we experienced a bit of everything, weather wise. At times, the wind was so strong we could not keep our footing. In fact, on the way in to Paine Grande, Peter was picked up by the wind and lifted a couple of metres sideways by Pat's estimate. 9km & 17km, 162 & 700mt.Read more
Arabian Nights I DID tell u abt the wind!
12/4/24Reply
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South America and Seattle 2024
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- Nov 18, 2024, 12:27 PM
- ☁️ 8 °C
- Altitude: 110 m
- Chile Torres del Paine -51.002153, -73.18252551°0’8” S 73°10’57” W
Day 8
W Trek day 4
November 18, 2024 in Chile ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C
Kevin Esler Spectacular place. Where do you sleep on the W?
11/22/24Reply
Traveler This requires a bit of a long answer. The short answer is they have Refugios scattered along the walk. Accomm. can be in tents, dormitories, double rooms, Rooftop tents or tour own tent if you want to carry it. But there is an easy way and a hard way to do the w trek, based on the Refugios you book.
12/4/24Reply
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South America and Seattle 2024
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- Nov 19, 2024, 12:59 PM
- ☁️ 12 °C
- Altitude: 35 m
- Chile Torres del Paine -51.073761, -73.09284751°4’26” S 73°5’34” W
Day 9
W Trek day 5
November 19, 2024 in Chile ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
REFUGIO GRAY - REFUGIO PAINE GRANDE -Boat & bus to PN
Today we hiked the 11km back to Paine Grande to catch the ferry and bus back to Puerto Natales. An easier walk today, with the climb up the almost vertical watercourse being easier than the climb down yesterday, especially for Tracey's knees!
We had quite a few hours to wait for the 6:40pm ferry. We went to get some pizza at about 5 but they had sold out. 🙁
We joined the queue at the jetty and were among those who managed to get on, with quite a few left to wait in the cold for the next ferry.
At the other end of the ferry ride we walked about a kilometre to find our bus.
The first part of the bus trip, to the park entry where we had started, was on a fairly narrow gravel road. On a bend in the road another bus coming towards us hit the side of our bus breaking a window. After stopping to assess the damage the driver drove on to the park entry where we waited about an hour for another bus.
We finally got to Puerto Natales at about 11:30pm. Ricci picked us up and took us to his restaurant where we had a very late but nice pizza dinner (except for gluten free Tracey).
Back in our cabin with Tim and Jessica the water kept stopping. We finally got to bed unshowered at about 1:30. What a day!Read more
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South America and Seattle 2024
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- Nov 20, 2024, 2:00 PM
- ☁️ 13 °C
- Altitude: 193 m
- Argentina El Calafate -50.338608, -72.26958950°20’19” S 72°16’11” W
Day 10–13
El Calafate
November 20, 2024 in Argentina ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C
After a very late night we had a bus to catch at 7:30. The water didn't work till I messaged Ricci at 6am, then it went off again fifteen minutes later.
The six hour bus trip to El Calafate in Argentina was very comfortable in the "Full cama" seats we had booked (~US$40). A long queue at the Chilean border post, very relaxed at the Argentinian one a few km later. Peter and Anita were on the same bus.
Taxi to Las Avutardas Hosteria (US$5). Quite nice and the hosts are very helpful, although we had twin narrow and hard single beds.
Very nice dinner at nearby La Candelaria restaurant.
The next day we left some clothes at a lavendaria and had a look around the town centre. We had dinner with Peter and Anita at Isabel Cocina.Read more
Arabian Nights Oh i remember the dogs!!😃
12/4/24Reply
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South America and Seattle 2024
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- Nov 22, 2024
- ☁️ 9 °C
- Altitude: 178 m
- Argentina Perito Moreno Glacier -50.464269, -73.04123650°27’51” S 73°2’28” W
Day 12
Perito Moreno Glacier
November 22, 2024 in Argentina ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C
We booked a trip to the glacier with PatagoniaChic. About and hour bus trip out there with interesting commentary from our guide, then plenty of time to walk the "balconies", and a boat trip across the north face of the ~50m high ice.Read more
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