Torres del Paine

This morning I got up early to catch a van from El Calafate, Argentina to Torres Del Paine Naitonal Park in Chile.  It was a quick 5 hours to the park. I got to practice my spanish a lot with the driver and was even translating music to him. It was pretty funny trying to figure out how to explain "bad to the bone" to him.

TdP has this amazing network of refugios, basically mountain hut hostels.  I originally wanted to stay at them, but the lack of online reservations and questionable availability made me concerned.  I didn't want to get all the way out here and not have a place to stay so I decided to stay in a hotel. I also wanted to be able to talk with Emilie every day. There are only two or three of them in the park and they are more like 5 star resorts.  It is a bizarre switch going from cheap $10 hostels and public transportation to a $250 per night mountain lodge with private transportation to and from the park.  The place is amazing. The trail is litterally 20 feet from my room.   The food is unbelievable (and probably overpriced).  Having spent 3 weeks in a country where they basically eat a big chuck of meat, a couple pieces of bread, and some wine for every meal, it is great to have fresh fruits and vegetables, seafood, and other great food.



View from the hotel



After checking in and getting some lunch, I hit the trails.  I ran to the Los Torres overlook for about a 12 mile round trip.  It was unbelievable.

Las Torres Viewpoint just before it started snowing

Amazing Conger Eel for lunch