Isla Morena Puerto Natales

... our walk back across the suspension bridge to the car, and with the strong wind too, we got a little wet. We did stop at a cave on the drive back, but as it had started to rain hard we decided against getting out and taking a walk. Instead we continued on our way back to Puerto Natales where we arrived at 3pm. We were dropped at our hostel where we warmed up and watched an afternoon film before going for tea at 7pm. After eating we watched a film before bed.

... in world. Trekkers around the globe wet their lips at an opportunity to tackle this beast yet here we were, in our trackies (no waterproofs, gaiters or such like) unbeknownst. Day 1 (Torres to Seron): The excitement of getting in touch with nature and spending the night in a tent outdoors got us through the first day's 5 hour trek quite easily. Like lambs to the slaughter we moved beyond the point of no return. Our first night the stats started to increase: Lost ...

... everyone who<br>camped at the top were treated to a great sunrise the following morning. Lesson #4: Never take the easiest option, you WILL disappoint yourself! <br><br>DAY 5<br><br>We awoke to a clear morning, with views of the towers from our campsite - should have camped at the top!!! I cursed myself and went back to sleep. We had nothing else to do until the bus turned up at 2pm.<br><br>After 65 km and 19 hrs of trekking with 4 lessons learnt, we finished our &#8216;W ...

... well on those bumpy roads. Back in Natales, we had dinner and a quick email check before trying to get a good night's sleep in preparation for a full day hike in the park tomorrow. I've seen lots of photos of Torres del Paine. Some of the photography is stunning, but nothing quite prepared me for seeing it in person. If you ever have the chance to get here, don't hesitate, just go. Yes, it's a long schlep and it's expensive and it can be cold and rainy, but it's all worth it.

... by a mixture of sand and water flying horizontally. After that, frozen stiff and exhausted, the rest of the tour was spent in the warmth of the bus and we came back quickly. I understood much better the stories of trekkers forced to crawl over passes or taking cover behind their backpacks! For the last day I had signed up for a zodiac tour with a tiny bit of kayaking in front of two ice fields, expensive but it looked great, but sadly the harbour captain forbade all ...

... tails between our legs and getting the expensive bus afterall. The glacier is gigantic - to give you an idea of size its about 13 km´s long by something like 1/2 a km wide. It also has a depth of more than 50 metres - that´s alot of ice. And it does regularly calve huge chunks of ice into the water, just not when you are looking at the spot. You have to be very patient and accept that most of the action happens around the other bloody side or inside the glacier ...

... the next day. We trekked the "w" from west to east saving the best till last and walking with the prevailing wind. The trek started with a catamaran ride over lake Pehoe to be dropped at the western end then we start walking up the side of lake Grey to our first campsite. It was a similar landscape to the Fitz Roy trek though a lot busier. There were lots of in experienced walkers with dour faces who would clog up the path and generally look miserable. We ...

... mix and chocolate during the day and macaroni and cheese for dinner EVERY night with one special treat of red wine at one of the refugios we camped at. During the day we would top up our water from the glacial streams which tasted like snow and icicles and was pure and cristal clear. In addition, we continued to freeze most nights but what kept us going was that everyday we woke up to beautiful weather, amazing scenery and the thought of the towers on the ...

... further increase capacity.<br><br> <br><br>These are some of the hotel rooms in the posher bit of the complex... <br><br> <br><br>...and here's the entrance to the hotel &amp; restaurant, which looked very nice, but had the most expensive prices I've seen anywhere in South America... 3 quid for a ...

... Latin American standards which is fine (we are on holiday and Brits do have a tendency to bolt their food!) But this was an hour wait for the bill after a one hour wait for the dessert menu (we didn't get dessert in the end despite ordering). Oh well... <br><br>Finally off to bed as we had an early start and a drive to Torres Del Paine.....I had a date with some Vicuna...<br><br><br><br>