Day 11: Torres del Paine
|
|
An all day visit to the Torres
del Paine National Park,
departing from and returning to Puerto Natales.
|
|
|
| |
Today's shore excursion
meant being off the ship for 12 hours and travelling around
280km by coach. Geoff wasn't keen on such a long journey
and decided instead to stay local, visiting the town of
Puerto Natales instead (see next page). For Bruce, it was
a very early start, disembarking at around 7:30am, as the
sun was rising. |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
This is the route we
took starting at the port of Puerto Natales, driving north
and then in a clockwise direction around the national park,
with various stops en-route before returning to the port. |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Approaching the park,
the scenery became ever more dramatic. |
|
|
| |
At the entrance to the
Torres
del Paine National Park, our guide had to check in and
get the necessary permits to enter. I took the opportunity
to take some photos of the spectacular views in the distance. |
|
|
| |
|
| |
What a treat we all had
in store! |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Our first stop within
the park was at Largo Grey, where we walked through a forest
and down to the beach. From there we walked to the far side
of the beach and then up to a viewpoint of the glacier,
located on a small peninsula. (Total distance there and
back was about 3km). |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
The walk down to the
beach began with a walk through the Nothofagus forest where
we saw a variety of plants and birds. I could hear woodpeckers,
but sadly didn't get to see any. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Patagonian calafate berries. |
|
|
| |
|
| |
After the gradual descent
through the forest, we walked onto the beach. |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
At the far end of the
beach, I walked up to the viewpoint to see the glacier. |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
After the lovely walk,
we all went for lunch at Hosteria Grey, a short distance
away, from where there are more impressive views. |
|
|
| |
|
| |
I was glad to see that
some calafate berries, as seen growing wild ealier, had
made it onto my dessert plate. They look like blueberries,
but taste completely different. |
|
|
| |
|
| |
From the restaurant,
there was another good view of the glacier and the beach
that I had walked along earlier. |
|
|
| |
|
| |
The amazing sight of
an Andean condor. |
|
|
| |
After lunch, we drove
on towards our next scheduled stop. |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Despite being told that
we didn't have too much time to spend at the falls, the
trail beckoned and I couldn't resist walking a short distance.
I am so glad that I did. The scenery was absolutely magnificent. |
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Back on the coach, I
couldn't stop taking photos as we drove! |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Our next stop was at
Lake Nordenskjold. |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
The Torres del Paine
("Towers of Blue") are the distinctive three granite
peaks of the Paine mountain range or Paine Massif, known
as Torre d'Agostini, Torre Central and Torre Monzino. |
|
| |
|
| |
Back on the coach and
more random photos as we drove. |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Next, we stopped at Laguna
Amarga. |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Another stop, this time
with a view of Lake Sarmiento. |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Our guide for the day,
Gabriella, was brilliant. There was nothing she did not
know about the geology, fauna or flora of the park, all
expressed with a keen sense of humour too. |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Our last scheduled stop
was at Cerro Castillo, which is reminiscent of an old Western
one horse town, comprising a few houses plus this emporium
of touristic delight, selling everything you could wish
for on a tour of the region, accompanied by rather loud
local music. Fascinating, but I didn’t linger inside
for too long. |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Back on the coach, we
were headed directly back to the port, but as we drove,
more and more wildlife was spotted and our guide decided
to make an unscheduled stop so that we appreciate the sights. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
...a small group of Darwin's
Rhea... |
|
|
| |
|
| |
...and a big hairy armadillo. |
|
|
| |
|
| |
From there, it was a
direct run back to Puerto Natales. |
|
|
| |
We arrived back at the
pier as the sun was setting and were quickly whisked back
to the ship on a zodiac driven by our expedition leader,
Michael. |
|
|
| |
|
| |
The car ferry was an
unusual sight on this trip. |
|
|
| |
|
| |
What an amazing day
it had been. Words and pictures don't really do this region
justice. You really have to be there! |
|
| |
|
|
