OT: Bucket List Trip

theyolksonyou

Working on bucket list trip with the wife tonight. SO MANY CHOICES. Awesome post. 

Stormbringer

I showed this to SWMBO ... that's our holiday early next year sorted out. Thanks @CTMike!

CTMike

Stormbringer said:

I showed this to SWMBO ... that's our holiday early next year sorted out. Thanks @CTMike!

No problem, and enjoy the trip. A few things to know:

- Make your reservations at the campsites early. If you don't have reservations you won't be able to enter the park. They were overcrowded last year and had problems with the toilets. The park rangers will ask for proof of your reservations as you leave one campsite to move to the next. I showed the emails on my phone. 

- Smoking and cooking are only allowed in designated areas. Someone was careless a few years ago and a fire destroyed a large portion of the park, that is just now starting to come back. 

- You can stay in beds in the Refugios (expensive), you can rent tents, sleeping bags, pads at the campsites and do full board so your pack only has to carry personal belongings. The Refugios and associated campsites are run by two private companies: Vertice and Fantastico Sur. You can book your reservations online at each of these company's websites. 

- The two government run campsites - Campomento Italiano and Campomento Torres are very basic: no running water, outhouses for toilets. Reservations are needed at these as well and can be made through CONAF's website. 

- I recommend using Bus-Sur to get to Puerto Natales from the airport in Punta Arenas, and to/from the Park from Puerto Natales. You can buy your tickets online. Clean modern buses and cheap prices. If you book ahead of time you need to print out your tickets, they won't accept electronic versions. 

- We stayed at Guanoco Blanco Hostel. Simple, clean, comfortable beds, hot shower, and Pamela the owner is an extremely nice person. There are plenty of other options in town.   

- The restaurant I posted above is Asador Patagonico in Puerto Natales - highly recommend it. 

- We used Sky airlines to get to Punta Arenas from Santiago and back. Very well run regional airline and cheap, was $100 PP round trip. Highly recommend.  

I guarantee you won't be disappointed, PM me if you want more details. 

We have 1000's more pics and GoPro video, these were just the ones I took with the phone. 

Stormbringer

Thanks for the info! SWMBO will want to stay in a pucker bed Refugios.

CTMike

Made it home this morning, amazing trip. I also brought back a spice called Merken, anyone have any first hand experience with it?

thetrim

CTMike said:

Oh, the bird is a Southern Crested Caracara, type of falcon evidently. I was within 10' of him and he just sat there. His crest looks a little like Trumps hairpiece. 

We have the Northern Crested Caracara in Florida.  It's my personal favorite bird of prey.  Very cool trip.  Thanks for sharing.  I don't know if you would trade it for Brisket Camp 2017 though.

thetrim

Here's a good pic I got of one on a US Hwy that runs thru the Glades