Heading to Northern Patagonia

It´s Monday. We are back in Puerto Natales - a 3-hour bus ride north of Punta Arenas. We have just checked in to the Navimag ferry to Puerto Montt. Tonight we embark and tomorrow when the tide and winds are right we take off into the choppy Patagonian waters. We will be on the ferry - it´s a large one - for 4 nights and 3 days. On the 24th in the morning we will arrive in Puerto Montt and spend a day or so to see a doc for Jan´s wrist and get ready, if all is well enough, to head to Cochamo to do some more hiking.

Us, Cassilero del Diablo and the beach camp at Grey Glacier

A guide we met in Torres del Paine told us about this gem of a valley. The only way in is a 5-hour hike, after a 2-hour bus ride from Puerto Montt and a 6 km cab ride to the trailhead. I think you can see why this has such appeal to us :)

We could have flown up, but where´s the adventure in that? I look forward to heading up through the fjords of Patagonia, amongst glaciers and ice flows. With a bit of luck we might see some cool aquatic life, like dolphins or whales. Also, we hear they sell some pretty good pills against seasickness on board, as there are some choppy spots along the way. We´ll be sure to let you know how that all goes at the end of the week.

We are also working on finding a spot to stay in Valparaiso or Viña del Mar for a few days over New Year´s for some beach time and more exploring of the Chilean coast.

Should be good!