Long weekend in Santiago de Chile - Climbing La Parva

About an hour ride from Santiago de Chile sit La Parva a Ski centre that rises 2750m from sea level.

At winter time people go skiing and in summer you´ll find avid cyclists and hikers riding the windy road that takes you there. When you get to the base you can pay the chair lift that will spare you an hour walk, for 13 bucks, or you can macho it up, but from the air lift station you´ll have 3 or 4 hours hike to the summit and back.

In all it is a great trek with a rewarding view.

Exploring Patagonia - Ruta 40 - Villa La angostura

Villa La Angostura in the Neuquen province sits an hour and a half from Bariloche that is the biggest city in the area. Very popular in winter for its sky slopes it is also the southern entry point to the " Ruta de los 7 Lagos" which is why most people stop here in the summer time.

Villa la Angostura is basically a small town with all the shopping amenities for your excursion with some very nice restos pubs and hotels .

Exploring Patagonia - Ruta 40 - San Carlos de Bariloche

Finally we re-entered the tourist circuit, actually we stopped by Bariloche cuz its on the way, but nevertheless it is a very nice place to visit. Located 1500 clicks from Buenos Aires, in the province of Rio Negro.

San Carlos de Bariloche sits right on the shores of the Naguel Huapy lake, which is one of the several great Patagonian lakes tucked beneath the Andes.
The city was founded in mid 19th century after they did the infamous "Campaña del Desierto" which slaughtered most of the natives in the area.

The city was promptly inhabited by central European immigrants which imparted a Swiss like ambiance to the city with beautiful chalets and great chocolate.

Exploring Patagonia - Ruta 40 - Rio Negro - El Bolson

Now getting into the trothen path, where all the tourist go, we arrived at the city of "El Bolson"in the province of Rio Negro

El Bolson was renowned in the 70´s to be a Hippie hang put, due to its remoteness and great weather, but nowadays the hippies of old are no where to be found. What you do have are great panoramas like the Epuyen Lake, and even around the small city there are picturesque places to visit, like "Cabeza del Indio".

Another attraction are the many Berries grown in the area, you mus´nt miss out on the giant cherries, raspberries and Boysenberries.

Exploring Patagonia - Ruta 40 - In the middle of nowhere - Los Tamariscos

If you continue north on the 40 you´ll find another stop in the middle of Nowhere in the Chubut province."Los Tamariscos" named after a small shrub, is a variety store or Patagonian bar, founded in 1938 by the Bohme family of German pioneers.

Tended by the family members since its origins, there you can buy food, tools, clothes or just have a meal or a drink.
The complex also houses a Museum of items related to the first settlers and a Hotel.

Exploring Patagonia - Ruta 40 - In the middle of nowhere - Bajo Caracoles

Moving back North on the Ruta 40 in the Santa Cruz Province, we stopped at Bajo caracoles that´s a small Patagonian settlement in the middle of nowhere, next big City is Perito Moreno (Not related to the Glacier).In between both lies "La cueva de las manos"

This cave is 40 clicks off the main highway on a gravel road. This paintings were made by the local cavemen thousands of year ago, even though they look like they were touched up a little.

Exploring Patagonia - Ruta 40 - El Chalten

"El Chalten" is a City in the Santa Cruz province located 213km north of "El Calafate" on the Northern tip of the Parque Nacional los glaciares.

The city itself founded in 1985 is composed of a series of outfitters, hostels and pubs, basically a backpackers haven. But the surrounding areas make it a must on any Patagonian excursion.

Ideal for hiking and biking. the "Chorillo del Salto" waterfall and the mirador Fitzroy are fantastic for a one day stopover.

Exploring Patagonia - Ruta 40 - Camping in Torres del Paine

In Torres del Paine National park, there are plenty of places to stay, be them Hotels or campsites.

If your on a budget you might want to consider camping, and among the camp sites, the cheapest ones are those located outside the park itself.

We stayed at one that was just outside the Serrano entrance towards the south, Called Camping Serrano, and it was very comfy and cheap.

Exploring Patagonia - Ruta 40 - Guanacos gallore

I have discovered that Guanacos roam basically all over the Ruta 40 from top to bottom, besides neighbouring Chile and Bolivia.

The Guanaco belongs to the same family as the Alpaca,llama and Vicuña, being the llama the more domesticated version used in the Americas as transport before the coming of the Europeans.

That said I have to warn you that the Guanaco is more reluctant to friendship and it will spit you if you come too close. So bring your tele lens and enjoy from afar.

Exploring Patagonia - Ruta 40 - Patagonian Beasts

When I talk about "Patagonian beasts" I´m not referring to the many dinosaurs found there, nor to the guanacos that populate this vast extension of Land.

This post is dedicatted to the vehicles that are brought from all over the world to ride through patagonia and the rest of the Americas.

Be them Land Rovers or Benz, even some overkill all terrain trucks that would fit right in at the Dakar Rally, they are fine examples of all weather wheels that will do the job.

Exploring Patagonia - Ruta 40 - From El Calafate to Torres del Paine

After seeing the "Perito Moreno" Glacier the next best thing is to head west to Chile and visit the "Torres del Paine" National Park

For that you have to drive roughly 7 to 10 hours some parts are gravel roads in bad condition.

You have to go from Calafate to a place called Esperanza and gas up your car and your canisters cuz there are no gas stations neither at the Chilean border or inside the Park.

Exploring Patagonia - Ruta 40 - Feeding the Foxes

There are´nt that many wild animals in Patagonia, mostly Guanacos and Jack rabbits.

During one of our sightseeing stops we encountered a pack of Fox puppies that were as hungry as they were suspicious.

They certainly ate our bred without much resistance.

Exploring Patagonia - Ruta 40 - Perito Moreno Glacier

The Perito Moreno Glacier sits roughly 70 clicks from El Calafate. Its located inside the "Parque Nacional los Glaciares" National Park.

You can only stay in the park for the day and the entrance fee for foreigners is roughly 20 bucks.

Needless to mention that the Glacier is one of the largest worldwide and that it is magnificent.

There's a walkway that spans all round the glacier and gives you plenty of great photo angles.

Exploring Patagonia - Ruta 40 - El Calafate

Continuing south on the 40 we arrived at one of our main destinations which was the Perito Moreno Glacier, the closest city to it being "El Calafate", a small city that has no other merit than being a Tourist Trap.

In any case if you go to the glacier by land you will need to stop there for gas and food.


El Calafate is one of those picture perfect towns like the one on Wayward Pines, but it does have some attractions.