Back in July, we bought a 4Runner in Santiago (Buying the car in Chile was fun!). We were going to be in Chile long enough that it made sense to own our vehicle versus rent it. After Christmas, we decided to embark on a several month journey to the south of Chile. We drove the […]
Drive Ruta 40 to El Calafate, Argentina
After a successful border crossing at Chile Chico, we woke early the next morning and drove nine hours along Ruta 40 in Argentina. The highway crossed remote deserts and steppe. There’s not much out there besides plants, guanaco, and armadillo, but it’s a popular highway for road trippers. The winds were super strong and seemingly […]
Crossing the Border as a Foreigner with a Chilean Car from Chile Chico into Argentina.
After completing the Carretera Austral, we took two days to cross from Chile to Argentina. This was our first border crossing on our own, so we dedicated a full day just to crossing, giving us time to accommodate setbacks. We slept the night in Chile Chico at a hostel. The next morning, we crossed into […]
Reaching the End of the Carretera Austral at Villa O’Higgins
We left from Tortel on a single-minded mission to reach the end of the Carretera Austral at Villa O’Higgins. The trip involved a couple hundred kilometers and a ferry ride. Our goal was to reach the end of the road, take a picture, and then turn around and backtrack. Our schedule had become a bit […]
Tortel, the Fishing Village Built on Docks and Decks
After camping in Rio Tranquilo, we headed south on the Carreterra Austral on a several day mission to reach the end of the famous highway. After lunch in the park in Cochrane, we opted for a detour to Tortel, a unique fishing village built on docks, decks, and boardwalks along a steep hill at the […]
Helicopter Tour of San Rafael Glacier Parque Nacional
When camping in Rio Tranquilo, we had originally planned to drive a few hours for a boat ride to the front of San Rafael Glacier. We were take aback though by the cost for the boat tour, which is a whole production with food and drink. Combining the time and cost, it just wasn’t worth […]
Tour Capillas De Marmol, Rio Tranquilo, Chile
While camping at Rio Tranquilo, we went to town to catch a tour of the marble caves of Lago General Carrera. We opted for the longer tour, which lasted a few hours. We rode out across the choppy lake in panga boats to get an up close look at the caves. It was worth the […]
Camping at Puerto Rio Tranquilo on Carretera Austral
We camped at a fantastic campsite on a peninsula reaching into General Carrerra lake. The green waters of the huge lake and the snow-spotted mountains provided a beautiful setting for camp. We made the most of gusting winds by flying the kite, and of course set a stuffed animal mouse, Rita, on a test flight […]
Hiking in Reserva Nacional Coyhaique
While in Coyhaique, we took to a nearby trail on a cold and wet morning in Reserva Nacional Coyhaique to hike to Laguna Verde.
Obituary for an Old Friend
My dearest crockpot, before we even moved to Santiago, I asked about you in Chilean expat forums. I knew if we were going to be adventuring all day, we’d need to come home to meals warm and ready. You, my friend, were just that. I found you on the blessed Gringos in Chile Whatsapp group. […]