In Patagonia - Torres Del Paine National Park

After spending two weeks trying to learn something resembling Spanish in Buenos Aires (a truly stunning, very European city), we flew down to Punta Arenas in Chilean Patagonia. We spent a few days visiting the area my husband’s granny grew up in and then headed by bus to Puerto Natales. This was a great jumping off point for some wonderful experiences, not the least of which being the National Park of Torres Del Paine.

There’s a famous five-day ‘W’ trek that follows a w-shaped route through the park. You have to carry all of your own equipment but you at least have the choice of the lodges dotted throughout or the campsites. Being hardy folk (cough) we chose to rough it. Following an excellent briefing we decided to add another day on, as the guy giving the talk was so enthusiastic about the extra section. Despite his use of the word ‘sheltered’ a few times, if I’d been worried about the pumas then at least the 87kph winds whistling through the tent gave me something else to focus on!

The trek was hard work, especially as we were reaching the end of the season and they were beginning to close the more remote sections of the park as the weather set in. Having said that, it was truly stunning and the camaraderie from the fellow walkers was immense. I can only show some of the pictures here but to immerse yourself in spectacular Patagonian wilderness this is a must. Maybe stay in the lodges though!