Surprisingly unspoilt, Torres del Paine is Chilean Patagonia  - and you can either get a bus there from Santiago (Chile), or from Argentina.  The regular buses from Calafate to the national park are super-busy in peak season – December to March – so book ahead.  We turned up at the bus station the night before to book tickets and both companies were full – both leave at 8am for Puerto Natales (just over the border [...]

Arrived home on Christmas day, after an UNBELIEVABLE trip to Patag0nia!  Hiking country at its best .. mountains, glaciers, one-horse towns (even without the horses) and of course, excellent Argentinian wines for $5 a bottle!  All the right ingredients for a great vacation!  Don’t even think about bringing your work with you here – internet connection is on and off, and Chalten, home to about 1000 year-round residents, doesn’t have a cell phone network yet. [...]