Bulnes, Lolita, Punta Arenas (19-22 December 2008)

More tourism in the windy city. We went south by car to visit Fuerte Bulnes which was established by the Chileans to claim the area back in 1843.


Oh, look, a ship approaches! The location was found to be too inhospitable, in 1848 the settlement of Punta Arenas was established some 60 km to the north.

Here I am at the city lookout in Punta Arenas. It is not called the windy city for nothing, although we were fortunate on this day.

To the north of Punta Arenas we visited the "Estancia Lolita". We wanted to see some of the wildlife that we might have seen in the National Park. In the estancia we saw swans, wild geese, cuy, grey fox, Ñandù, alpaca, guanacos, and of course the Puma.

Isla Magallenes (18 December 2008)

Back in Punta Arenas with a few days to spare so we caught a boat out to Isla Magallenes. Here there is one of the largest colonies of the Magellenes penguin.

And they do carry on! Here is a male penguin calling out to find his partner.


More penguins!


Lorena and I with penguins!

Torres del Paine (14,15 December 2008)

Now for the right side of the "W" we headed up toward the main feature of the park, the Torres del Paine themselves. We camped overnight near the base of the climb to the lookout at Campamento Las Torres.


The walk up got a little steep near the end to get to the top of the moraine.


But finally we were presented with an awesome view of the towers.


Then the descent, back to collect our camping gear and then down to Refugio Torres. Very comfortable!

Valle Frances (11 December 2008)

In the National Park we completed the hike called the "W". The walk up to Glacier Grey formed the left side of the letter and here we are about to complete the central arm. We camped at Campamento Italiano on the night of the 10th of December and the next morning headed up the valley on a day walk which was supposed to take 2.5 hours to the lookout.
Here is Lorena with Glacier Frances in the back ground. Every 5 minutes or so one could hear the rumble of an avalanche which you could then spot on the mountain side near the glacier. Entertaining.


The lookout was awesome, an ampitheatre of mountains for some 300 degrees around. It took us 4.5 hours to get there though, I think the recommended times must be based on atheletes running!


Lorena heading back down from the lookout for the return walk.


Yipee, a good view during our descent of Lago Nordenskold.


Back at Campamento Italiano.

Glacier Grey (8,9 December 2008)

On the 8th of December the walking was underway. We walked from Camping Paine Grande to Campamento Lago Grey. We struggled through "Quebrada de los vientos" (Windy gorge) which lived up to its name. A little later passing "Lago de los Patos" (Lake of the ducks) it was time for a photo.


This was our campsite for the night, quite comfortable after a day of walking.


The next morning was much calmer, here we are at the lookout near Glacier Grey. The glacier is enormous mind you, the picture does not do it justice.


Walking back to Refugio Paine Grande on a much nicer day here we are with Lake Grey and the glacier behind.

Seno Ultima Esperanza (7 December 2008)

We caught a bus (3 hours) to Puerto Natales, the gate way to Torres del Paine National Park. We decided that a more picturesque way to get to the park would be to go by boat. So here we are in Seno Ultima Esperanza (Last hope sound).


The wind was very cold, we popped outside from time to time for a photo. Here I am in front of Glacier Serrano.

Debarking from the boat in Bernardo O´Higgins National Park.


A short walk to have a look at Glacier Balmaceda.


For the next stage of the journey we travelled by zodiac up the Rio Serrano. It was quite spectacular to see the mountains of the National Park getting closer and closer. Pretty cold though, the orange outfit was necessary.

Punta Arenas (5 December 2008)

It seems like it has been ages since we have been on holidays and this one has been long anticipated. After a long series of flights we arrived at Punta Arenas. Here I am in the Plaza del Armas, legend says that if one kisses the foot of the indian on the statue then they will return to Punta Arenas! So I guess we are to return some day!


Still de-jet-lagging here in a popular local restaurant "La Luna" and Lorena has a copy of the local rag "El Pinguino".