Argentina and Chile... done, Bolivia.

Hola,

Right since last post we have been to Salta, Jujuy, Humahuaca (and surroundings), Salinas Grande, San Pedro De Atacama, Uyuni, Potosi and now we´re in Sucre.

I haven´t got long so just the photo´s.

Salta, Argentina

Salta

7 coloured mountain, near Jujuy

Statue in Humahuaca

Car we rented for a day to do Humahuaca and Salinas Grande, Argentina

Valle de Luna, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

Looking over Death Valley at sunset, Chile

Death Valley at sunset

1st day of 4x4 journey from San Pedro de Atacama to Uyuni. Laguna Blanca (White Lagoon), Bolivia

Red Laguna, 2nd day of 4x4, Bolivia

Dali Rock, nd day of 4x4, Bolivia

Another Lagoon

2nd night of 4x4 trip in middle of nowhere

Uyuni salt flats

People from 4x4 trip

Sucre, Bolivia

Sorry not much explanation, all is going well and Bolivia is nice and cheap!

Cheers Will x x

El Calafate, Bariloche, Santiago, Valparaiso and Mendoza

Hi, 

Its been a busy few weeks. From Puerto Natales we got a bus up route 40 (kind of like Argentinas version of route 66) to El Calafate which was pretty long and the majority of it along gravel roads. El Calafate is where the Perito Moreno Glacier is, it is one of the biggest glaciers in the world an one of the few that is still advancing.

Perito Moreno Glacier

  You had the option of going out on a boat and sailing near to the Glacier, however you get just as close by doing the balconies, which was what we did and was a lot cheaper. The boats can´t get that close anyway as bits are constantly falling off.

The Balconies

Large chunk falling off,

Perito Moreno Glacier

View from bus window along route 40, it didn´t vary much for a good 10 hrs.

 From El Calafate we went again along route 40 to Bariloche, again more gravel roads and an even longer journey. In Bariloche we rented bikes and did the Circuito Chico around the lakes close to Bariloche.

Miriador (Viewpoint) near Bariloche

Circuito Chico, Bariloche

Circuito Chico

Then from Bariloche we got another bus to Santiago over the Andes. Santiago was a really nice if very busy city, lots of nice architecture, parks, Museums etc.

Cathedral, Santiago

Overlooking Santiago near to Virgin Mary Statue.

Virgin Mary Statue

Museum in Santiago

From Santiago we took a short 2hr (finally) bus journey to Valparaiso which is just North of the Capital. It is a Unesco Heritage site. The City itself was very nice and set against very steep cliffs which the neighbourhoods rise into. You can get up via very steep streets or old Ascensores (lift like thinks) which take you up. There are about 8-12 ascesores in the city.

Naval Building, Valparaiso

Street near our hostel in Valparaiso

Ascensores

Then from Valparaiso we got another bus again across the Andes to Mendoza, the wine capital off Argentina. There we rented bike, me and Mitch got a tandem and went wine tasting! Was a great day, and to top it off "Mr Hugo" who we rented our bikes off of provided unlimited free wine when we got back.

Winery, Mendoza

Mevi Bodego, Mendoza

Mitch the conisour, (exceptional sense of smell)

Familia di Tommasi Bodego, Mendoza

Our Tandem, we got pretty good... check out the no hands!

Mr Hugo, after the free wine... good beardage!

Finally some Beesley Birdies...

Not sure saw it in Bariloche

Condor in Perito Moreno

Rights thats it for now, we are currently in Salta and are going to San Pedro de Atacama later this week and the to Boliva and hopefully some money saving!

Cheers Will x

Ushuaia, Puerto Natales and a lot of walking!

Hey all,

In Puerto Natales at the moment having just done a 7 day, 6 night trek in the Torres del Paine National Park. We did the Paine Circuit which should take 8 days but we managed to cut one out by walking a lot on a couple of days!

We arrived here from Ushuaia. In Ushuaia we also did some walking (a lot less tiring) around the Tierra Del Fuego National Park. Only a day trip but worth it, Ushuaia itself was really good, expensive but a nice city although the port wasn´t to keen on English Ships stopping by... (see bellow). We tried some of the southernmost brewed beer, by the Beagle Microbrewery and even a special Irish variety which is made for one Irish pub called the Dubliner (Southernmost Irish Pub) and is bright green! Tasted good though.

Tierra Del Fuego National Park

Beagle Dublin Brew

We got a bus from Ushuaia to Puerto Natales, where we stayed a couple nights to sort out our equipment for a trip to Torres Del Paine (tent, stove, etc) and a place to leave our extra stuff. Then went to the park itself, a 1.5-2hr drive to the middle of nowhere.
The trek was excellent, despite having to lug around 20kg ish of equipment and food around in our bags. Bellow are some of the photos from the trip.

Day 2, Torres del Paine

Day 2, Torres Del Paine

Day 2, Torres del Paine. (There is a glacier behind me but you can´t see it)

Day 4, Glacier Grey

We were really lucky and had good weather until the final day when we got up early to see the Torres (towers) at sunrise and couldnt see a thing becuase of cloud after an hour hike in pouring rain... nevermind.

We are in Puerto Natales fo 2 more nights before heading on to El Calafate and then to Bariloche.

Puerto Natales

Puerto Natales

Last photo is of me at the top of the John Gartner Pass (highest bit and most difficult bit of trek) Grey Glacier behind and some exceptional hair I think you´ll agree!

Top of John Gartner Pass

And finally another birdie for Mr Beesley, there were loads of these about.

All the best, Will x