Patagonia/Chile/Tierra Del Fuego - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

maleficent · 05-16-2004, 05:38 PM

A couple of pals of mine and I are considering planning what will hopefully be the trip of a lifetime.

We were trying to decide where to go, Europe (been there done that), The Tropics? (Tahiti was nice, but too damn hot), Australia (beautiful country, but not much different than the US), The Far East, perhaps, but McDonalds is already there--

Thanks to a brochure from American Express, one of the places mentioned was Chili and Patagonia -- Patagonia sounded really impressive, and it'd be fantastic to get somewhere before McDonalds --

Anyone ever been? Is it worth the hellacious flight?

LowRider · 05-19-2004, 08:49 PM

If you are into hiking, camping, and unbelievable terrain and scenery, then absolutely yes. I spend some time in Chile and Argentina while in college and it was a great experience. If you have the time (and money) I recommend flying into Santiago and going over land to Punta Arenas. This route will actually take you across the Andes and into Argentina. You will see a lot more of the country that way. From PA, you can get a bus up to Puerto Natales (don't hold me to the spelling) and hike the Torres del Paine. The area is ripe with glaciers and scenery you cannot imagine. There is also a large glacier just over the border in Argentina whose name escapes me right now. It is very popular with climers. For something really different, you can catch a ship from PA down to Puerto Williams, which I believe is the southern most city in the world. Not a whole lot there, but it is one of those "been there" sort of things. I found the Chilaens I met to be friendly, the prices reasonable, and the food and water palatable to American stomachs after an adjustment period of a few days. If you have a lot of time, a trip north to the Atacama desert is worth the trip. You can also travel overland all the way to Peru and fly home from there given enough time and money. Santiago is pretty westernized, but the rest of the country was not when I was there.

Don't rule out Alaska, there is a whole world beyond Anchorage that few people get to see. And there are no McDonalds there either.

acostello · 05-22-2004, 06:24 AM

Flight: You'll probably do JFK-LIM-SCL and from there a domestic to Patagonia. Southern tip is really breathtaking. Great for hiking. Sinc you live in N-NJ, you can bear the cold

The Glaciers are very fascinating to look at.

05-16-2004, 05:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	Patagonia/Chile/Tierra Del Fuego A couple of pals of mine and I are considering planning what will hopefully be the trip of a lifetime. We were trying to decide where to go, Europe (been there done that), The Tropics? (Tahiti was nice, but too damn hot), Australia (beautiful country, but not much different than the US), The Far East, perhaps, but McDonalds is already there-- Thanks to a brochure from American Express, one of the places mentioned was Chili and Patagonia -- Patagonia sounded really impressive, and it'd be fantastic to get somewhere before McDonalds -- Anyone ever been? Is it worth the hellacious flight? __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

05-19-2004, 08:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
LowRider Upright	If you are into hiking, camping, and unbelievable terrain and scenery, then absolutely yes. I spend some time in Chile and Argentina while in college and it was a great experience. If you have the time (and money) I recommend flying into Santiago and going over land to Punta Arenas. This route will actually take you across the Andes and into Argentina. You will see a lot more of the country that way. From PA, you can get a bus up to Puerto Natales (don't hold me to the spelling) and hike the Torres del Paine. The area is ripe with glaciers and scenery you cannot imagine. There is also a large glacier just over the border in Argentina whose name escapes me right now. It is very popular with climers. For something really different, you can catch a ship from PA down to Puerto Williams, which I believe is the southern most city in the world. Not a whole lot there, but it is one of those "been there" sort of things. I found the Chilaens I met to be friendly, the prices reasonable, and the food and water palatable to American stomachs after an adjustment period of a few days. If you have a lot of time, a trip north to the Atacama desert is worth the trip. You can also travel overland all the way to Peru and fly home from there given enough time and money. Santiago is pretty westernized, but the rest of the country was not when I was there. Don't rule out Alaska, there is a whole world beyond Anchorage that few people get to see. And there are no McDonalds there either.

05-22-2004, 06:24 AM	#3 (permalink)
acostello Crazy	Flight: You'll probably do JFK-LIM-SCL and from there a domestic to Patagonia. Southern tip is really breathtaking. Great for hiking. Sinc you live in N-NJ, you can bear the cold The Glaciers are very fascinating to look at.