We had two days left on the rental car and decided that it was time to head back to Chile and Torres del Paine National Park. We wanted to drive through the park while we still had a car and we also wanted to day hike the Torres the following day. That was the one segment we were unable to secure a reservation for when we do our “O” hike. After we filled up with gas again, we could see all of the young hikers lined up across the street trying to catch a ride. We decided to pi

When we drove back to Lago Roca from visiting the Perito Moreno Glacier, we once again had our choice of campsites overlooking the glacier and the lake. Our young French hitchhikers that we met while visiting the glacier unloaded their bags and set-off to find the privacy of their own campsite. Ol and I enjoyed some much needed rest. Our plan for that morning was to leave early, however I was more than a little surprised to find everyone already packed up and ready to go when

It’s funny how people will do things when they are on holiday that they would never do back home. I think that one reason why we travel is to escape the routines of our daily lives. For example, Ol and I would never pick up hitch hikers (ok, maybe near a trail head). However, while we are traveling in Patagonia, we have rented a 4x4 SUV and we feel guilty if our backseat is empty. It might be that when we see young backpackers standing by the road we envy their bravery and se

“You must go see the penguins. Penguin Island is amazing and I don’t want you to miss it. You need tickets for the ferry to Penguin Island! I’ll take you to the ferry office and make sure that you get the tickets you need.” Juan Pedro our hostel owner host in Punta Arenas, said. We got into Juan Pedro’s car and he drove us fifteen minutes across town to the ferry boat office. He walked us to the front of the line and explained in Spanish to the clerk what we needed. We purcha

If you ever find yourself in the city of Punta Arenas, in the Patagonia region of southern Chile, and you do not stay with Juan Pedro, you are making a huge mistake! After returning from Easter Island we had a two day layover in Santiago before leaving for Patagonia. In Chile, most flights to Patagonia go through the city of Punta Arenas. Located on the Strait go Magellan, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Punta Arenas is a working port town that is used as a ba

Our flight from Easter Island arrived back in Santiago around 10 pm. As soon as we landed, Ol opened his booking.com app and I looked at Trip Advisor and Priceline. These apps have helped to save us thousands of dollars on lodging. We have found that the more last minute the booking, the better the price. The hotels know that they are unlikely to sell these rooms, so hence the great discount. I’m a travel agent and these rates beat any travel agent discounts or commissions. P

A bike ride around Easter Island is an experience of a lifetime. Anyone willing to strap on a bicycle helmet and brave the forty kilometer loop will be rewarded with stories to tell and the feeling of accomplishing a great adventure. Easter Island has one main road. The paved but potholed road runs along one coast and back through the middle of the island before returning to Hanga Roa, the only town. It travels up and down the gentle volcanic hills, along the rocky coastline,

I could get used to this. I awoke to the sweet smell of freshly peeled oranges and the sound of the surf. Ol, was already awake and out on the verandah. The sun doesn’t rise until after seven a.m., and the cool breeze made it easy to sleep in. When I remembered where we were, I rolled over and grabbed my Rapa Nui Park visitor guide (the entire island is a national park). It was time to plan our first full day on the island. After looking at the map, I thought that it might be

Easter Island is just magical. It is always fun to read travel magazines and articles about distant and exotic lands. There is a certain amount of excitement in dreaming about visiting beautiful destinations and learning about different cultures and people. For that reason, I have settings on my news feeds to highlight these types of articles. So, when I recently saw an article called “The twenty five places that you must visit in your lifetime” I immediately started reading