Puerto Natales 15.01.06 - 19.01.06

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Parque National Torres del Paine

After an easy boardercrossing on the Bus from El Calafate we arrived in Puerto Natales a lovely little port town and accsess point to the Torres del Paine Park. We found a lovely little Hostel in the center. We arrived on election Sunday. I found out the hard way as I ordered a beer and got a sprite. There is no alcohol on election day. This I guess does make some sense.

16.01.06 - 17.01.06 Trip to Cerro de Torres in Parque National Torres del Paine

We rented a tent and some sleeping mats in town and set off for the rugged peaks of the Cerro de Torres. We where not prepared for the route encountered. I canīt read altitude lines on a map. From the park entrance it went pretty much stright up the mountain. And for every 100 meters climbed the was a descent of approx. 25-50 meters. It was hard work. Halfway up we set up camp at the Refugio Chileno campsite and carried on to the top. after another 1,5 hours of the same terrain we saw the sign for 1 hour to the lookout on the top. We got quite excited only to find a boulder field around the corner which you have to climb if you want to see the peaks from up close. Which we did achieve in the end. The descent back to camp seamed easier as you already knew what your encountering. Next day we backtracked to the parkentrance and took the bus to Puerto Natales.

18.01.06 Peueto Natales

We spent the day lazing around (rain all day)

19.01.06 Puerto Natales

We are boarding the Navimag Ferry to Puerto Montt. It runs through the Fjords of southern Chile. But that will be the next chapter.