The trails in between the Torres del Paines famous craggy
mountains are among the world's classic trekking routes. Breath taking views
together with glaciers, rivers, lakes, forests and abundant wildlife
provide a trip with constantly changing experiences. With Andean condors
circling overhead and guanacos grazing in the valleys, this trips offer a
genuine wilderness experience.
patagonia - Discover the Magic at the end of the world
Patagonia is a vast and diverse region, with scenery
ranging from dramatic mountain formations and smoky volcanoes to flat barren
pampa and expansive ice fields. At the far south of the Andes is the Torres del
Paine National Park, one of the most impressive sights in the Southern
Hemisphere. The dramatic mountain formations are crowded with glaciers, lakes,
fjords, ancient forests and wildlife such as guanacos, flamingos, condors,
nandus and huemules also offer some of the most magnificent trekking and nature
in the world. Chilean Patagonia : discover the magic at the end of the world!
Patagonia is home of a world heritage site Torres del Paine. This national Park
has unlimited beauty and adventure to offer, with glaciers, lakes, mountains,
wild flowers and birds, trekking and horseback riding to choose from. Outdoor
recreation at its best, our trips in Patagonia offer accommodation in camping or
refugio or top class hotel. Suitable for group, individual or family
vacations.
Torres del Paine Chile
Set in the heart of Southern Patagonia the
Torres del Paine National Park (declared a World UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in
1978) is one of the most impressive natural geographical spectacles on Earth.
Torres del Paine Park covers 182,000 sq hectares and is the jewel in
Chile's tourist crown. Just why it’s worth travelling 4.5 hrs from Santiago on a
plane and then driving a further 5 hrs by car is only apparent when you stand
and stare in amazement at the unbelievable sight of this monumental cluster of
mountain peaks that appear to stand all on their own in the middle of an
otherwise flat plateau. Comprising this central massif are the "Cuernos del
Paine" (Horns of Paine), covered in snow at varying altitudes and offering
support to giant blue-white blobs of ice otherwise called hanging glaciers, and
three other towers - which are the Torres del Paine (Towers of Paine). The sight
of the almost vertical rock sides rising up to an altitude of close to 3,000 m
is what causes such an awe-inspiring view. For outdoor lovers Torres del Paine
is a must to see before you
die.
North and atacama
Atacama and Altiplano
Chiles north is an open desert landscape,
characterized by its extreme dryness. Towards the west, a 1,240 miles coastline
faces the Pacific Ocean and to the east, the Altiplano, a very high plateau in
the Andes, connecting Chile with the mysteries of the Andean
cultures.
The Atacama desert has
salt lakes, geysers, oases and mineral rock formations. Trekking, guided tours
or visit on your own, with San Pedro as your base. This is a paradise for people
interested in outdoor recreation, nature, ecology and adventure. The Atacama
desert is said to be the driest in the world, with places where it hasn't rained
for 400 years. With zero humidity and numerous natural mineral sources the
desert takes on rock formations of a fantastic kind, with a background of
volcanoes in the distance. There are salt lakes full of flamingoes, geysers
which erupt at daybreak, oases of a miniature and perfect kind, countless
archaeological relics from the ancient graves which were perfectly preserved by
the dryness and minerals. There are special plants and cacti and, in parts of
the desert after a rare fall of rain, flowers. Then the southern Atacama bursts
into life, with stunning colors and rare exotic flowers covering hundreds of
kilometers of normally desert land.
Many people have the
view that deserts are places forsaken by Mother Nature and that no living thing
would possibly want to set up camp in a place so dry. Although it is tough to
find anything living in the Atacama there are isolated pockets and small patches
of plants, which support life for animals and insects. Some plant species have
adapted well to this dry environment by developing tap roots that run very deep
into the ground gathering water from below. There are flocks of flamingos that
live in and around the salt lakes feeding on red algae that grows in the waters.
For the most part,
Atacama is a pretty lonely place. Humans have lived in the Atacama for many
thousands of years, based on the cultural relics and artifacts that
archaeologists have found. The South American Indians who have set up in the
desert over the millennia have left relics from their culture and even
themselves. Because the Atacama is so bone-dry the bodies of the buried indians
have dried perfectly preserved turning them into mummies. Some of the oldest
mummies found anywhere on earth have come from the Atacama Desert and have been
dated to be 9,000 years old!