http://en.mercopress.com/2012/01/03/pinera-says-torres-del-paine-fire-under-control-12.795-hectares-lost-to-the-blaze . However, hoping that even if I can't walk the circuit, I'll at least be able to see the 'Torres'.
Buenos Aires looks as if it's going to be hot and sunny the day I arrive, but storms are coming in soon afterwards, so I'll be hoping for not too bumpy a flight down to Ushuaia on Tuesday, 10th Jan - in readiness for the Penguin Walk with Pira Tours on the Wednesday: http://www.piratour.com.ar/indexEnglish.php
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25q04qMWxmg
From there, I travel north by bus to Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales and the Chilean Torres del Paine National Park, before continuing to El Chalten, and the Fitzroy National Park. From El Chalten, there is a border crossing back into Chile, and the start of the Carretera Austral 'highway' at Villa O'Higgins.
(Map and picture below from www.villaohiggins.com)
From Villa O'Higgins, I travel up the Carretera Austral (below: if all else fails, there is a bus at least twice a week!), to reach Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas and the Lake District.
From Bariloche, there is a bus back to Buenos Aires. That's the plan, anyway!
April 2012
Predictably, the plan got changed a bit as I went along - partly, but not entirely because of protests and fuel shortages, affecting buses. Went East into Futuleufu, and from there to El Bolsen and Bariloche. Bad weather then took me west to Puerto Montt and Chiloe Island, a bit sooner than planned - before doing a loop (after visiting Valdivia) to bring me a little further north to Pucon, then back to St Martin de los Andes for the bus back to Buenos Aires.
Patagonia, the land of dreams! Wild (Che Guevara) and Desolate (Sundance Kid), weaved in myths (the Bohemian of Christiania). Your come-true dream quite soon!
ReplyDeleteThinking about you angela, hope your ok!
ReplyDeleteLove The davies family :D