Some places are too beautiful to describe or capture in words or photos - Patagonia is one of those. It is awe inspiring and touches a part of your soul that you didn't even know existed. It awakens something in you that you only dream about. It is the reason I love to travel, to have that feeling of being connected to something so much bigger than us and being so excited to feel alive and surrounded by such quiet and beauty. I am a sucker for good quotes and song lyrics and this one was in the hotel intro book, and it is probably a new favorite on so many levels, simple yet profound just like Patagonia:
"There is a universal passion for remote places. They remind us of everything yet to be discovered, both in this world as well as in ourselves"
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| When a picture says it all |
There is not even that much to post about because it's all about the feelings and emotions you will have just being here - hiking and being outside. So personal and so beautiful. Patagonia is known for high winds (I got blown off a trail in my first 5 minutes there) and experiencing 4 seasons in 1 day! This post was from a trip in February and I thought the weather was a perfect mix of everything - some mornings with wind and rain were hard to begin hikes but a good lesson in endurance as the afternoon weather and scenery were usually worth the hike!
The Essentials:
1) LAN Airways is amazing - such an easy flight to Santiago, just wish there was time to stay there a few days - already planning next time. Getting to Patagonia is another 10+ hours so be patient! Going through Punta Arenas is really easy and it's a lovely quiet town without the Argentinian taxes for US citizens.
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| Hotel Explora - Epic |
2) Hotel: Explora was on the list for many many years and it lived up to its reputation - it is an architectural feat in this bold wilderness - the amazing thing is how warm and cozy it feels inside, like a home and the food & wine are amazing, especially when you consider where you are. The communal areas are lovely for reading and star gazing and having some wine. No internet and TV in the rooms - LOVE this place. Hiking is included every day with great guides and there is even a spa if you just want to take it easy - or do a polar plunge in the glacial water! The guides will teach you so much - the history is amazing and the granite Torres del Paine tell the story in their different colored granite layers, with the earth still rebounding which means new earth and fossils are still being uncovered.
In Punta Arenas, Hotel Rey Done Felipe is cozy - lovely little restaurant and close to town.
3) Hiking - do it every day! See as much as you can - even though it might be miserable in the morning, the weather moves through so fast you may have sunny skies in a few hours. My favorite part was drinking glacial water directly from the streams and rivers and just eating all the random berries along the way - easy entertainment for city slickers! Lots of animals and birds: Guanacos, Pumas, Woodpeckers, Condors. Good thing is there is little that will actually bite or attack you other than the pumas which are rare so such a safe relaxing place - loved that part.
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| Guanacos - so cute! |
4) Grey Glacier - it is beautiful in person, just go see it on the boat. Cloudy days make it more blue and you see icebergs everywhere - surreal. The pisco sours with glacial ice onboard seemed like a true gimmick, but it is cool once you see them actually fishing the icebergs out of the lake.
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| Grey Glacier |
5) Food - lots of meat and great wine. Know your Spanish, I wish I did as I love to just read menus and get to know all the local foods. There are mostly ranches in Patagonia so we went to a big BBQ one day and it was beyond delicious - local fish is great. Please just try the Merken - it is a spice with the perfect amount of smokiness and heat.
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| BBQ goodness |
6) More Adventure - boats leave from Punta Arenas to Antarctica. I heard so many people tell amazing stories, tempted to go but next time. The sea crossing is not an easy one on most days but beyond worth it - 2017?? You can also go see the penguin islands right in Punta Arenas to hold you over until you go.
Patagonia is isolated, pure, wild, stunning. All I can say is go for yourself, don't be put off by how far away it is, that is why it is so breathtaking - take a deep breath and take it all in - LOVE and LIFE, you will feel it.
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Another place to come back to...
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