Puerto Natales and a trip to Torres del Paine
We travelled by Navimag through the Chilean fjords from Puerto Montt to Puerto Natales in 2007 and again travelled through the fjords in the Silver Explorer in 2015, passing through Puerto Natales in a journey from Ecuador to Ushuaia
Far from its origins as a sheep exporting hub, modern-day Puerto Natales is a colourful and vibrant town that serves as the jumping off point for the Torres del Paine National Park. The park, which lies 2 hours to the north, has some of the most postcard-perfect scenery imaginable and draws tourists from the all over the globe.
The three granite pillars may form the highlight after which the park is named, but they are bolstered by magnificent support pieces, such as the nearby “Horns” with their dark tipped peaks, and the vast expanse of the Grey Glacier, an outflow of the Southern Patagonian Ice-field. The picture is completed by the milky green waters of Nordenskjöld Lake in the foreground, lending the whole scene a somewhat surreal touch.
The must-see park - which is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve - also provides ample wildlife spotting opportunities with flocks of guanacos - a relative of the llama - grazing the roadside hills, Andean Condors soaring in the heavens and if your luck is really in, perhaps even a glimpse of a puma, for Torres del Paine is considered one of the best places in South America to spot this reclusive cat.
Buoyed by the blend of adventure-loving tourists, the bars, cafes and restaurants of Puerto Natales have an energetic vibe, and are a great place to try some of the region’s specialities, like slowly barbecued Patagonian lamb or sweet and juicy king crab caught in the nearby fjords, all washed down by some fine Chilean wine or locally brewed craft beers.
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March 10th. Torres del Paine trip from Puerto Natales
The ship had not been able to berth at Puerto Natales due to strong winds and thus we had to go ashore for our day trip to Torres del Paine by zodiac, this at around 9.30. Then a 90 min drive, 70 of us in 3 coaches to the Ñake Hotel where we had a reasonable lunch just before noon. David and I had a quick walk after that to obtain a view to the glacier there,
Then we drove for up to an hour to obtain a good view of the Cuernos, past the lake where the Explora hotel was situated. Then onto a waterfall and a 600 yard walk where we were subjected to the most terrifying gusts of wind; think that footpath should have been closed as the arroeq for wind was on the high side of Danger!!
click on a thumbnail to get a bigger photo
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Then past another lake with salt round the edges and fields with guanaco and 4 rheas.
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We finally ended up ar Cerro Castillo, our old friend on the Argentina border, for shopping!!
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. Back to the dock by 7.10 and we were in the first zodiac back to the ship. back through the Kirke Narrows and then heading north. In to dinner first at 7.30. An early night after typing up this diary
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March 11th. A Day at Sea
After a lecture by Jackie on maps and charts, there was a briefing on what to expect for the next few days. Than a really tasty German lunch.before a chance to plot ones voyage on a chart in the Observation lounge - and the chart actually had Moraira on it!. An interesting Trivia on South America before a boring lecture by Damon. Then the Venetian Society cocktail party, where we discovered that we had the 2nd largest number of days at 439; a lady called Philippa had done over 600!. This was followed by dinner with Captain Freddie - of finding the Endurance fame!. A very pleasant evening, mainly chatting to Philippa and listening to Freddie
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On to the Bernardo Glacier