We were expecting the four day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu be a tourist trap nightmare. While Machu Picchu was just that, we managed to have the trail mostly to ourselves and our wounderful group of six. Don´t get us wrong, Machu Picchu was great, but getting there was what we´ll remember most. It was magical way to end our trip. We´re sad to be leaving this week, but can´t wait to see family and friends. This trip was a a big deal in a lot of ways for us. Thanks for all of your love and support!
Photos from our hike into Colca Canyon near Arequipa, Peru.
San Pedro de Atacama, Chile corners Bolivia and Argentina. The landscape was incredible and similar to what we saw in Bolivia a few months ago. We got to check out the Tatio geyser field at sunrise, stargaze with an astronomer, and float in salty Laguna Cejar.
Photos from La Serena and Valle del Elqui
We kind of blew through Santiago and Valpariso last week, but enjoyed both none the less. In Santiago, we had the chance to visit one of Neruda´s three custom built houses, La Chascona. A great idiosyncratic house and collection. Santiago is right at the base of the Andes, try to find them through the smog in our photo from Cerro San Cristobal in the heart of the city.
Valparaiso was charming. A major port city (pre Panama Canal), Valpo´s neighborhoods and brightly colored tin homes were built all the way up the steep hills that surround the bay. At the end of the 19th century, fourteen ascensors or funiculars were built around the city, many of which are still in use today. We spent a great afternoon riding up and down, enjoying the view and speculating on saftey features.
Pucon reminded us a lot Oregon. Beautiful forests, rolling hills, and great rivers. There was however a smoking volcano and bizzare dino like monkey puzzle trees. Maybe it was just all the blackberries that made us think of McMinnville. We did a short three day hike through Parque National Huerquehue to some really lovely hot springs on the Rio Blanco.
(Source: Pucon)
You can´t travel by land from Puerto Natales up to Puerto Montt, the next major town. So, we decided to take the Navimag ferry up through numerous fjords and channels. The trip took three days and four nights; we boarded at midnight the first night and woke up to the sounds of a farm over the next three mornings.
Torres Del Paine part 2
Torres del Paine was epic. We were convinced by the guys at Erratic Rock (from Salem, Oregon woot!) to do the full circut around the park and are so glad we did. We hiked it clockwise starting with the Torres (and some sunrise oatmeal and coffee), followed by the French Valley on day 3, Glacier Grey on day 4 (which we got to hike right alongside and was totally incredible), John Gardner pass on day 5 (the weather got funky and we enjoyed some celebratory snow at the top) and finished with some wonderful backcountry views and soggy boots on days 6 and 7. For sure, a trip and life highlight.
