The Torres del Paine at dusk as we arrived at our destination
in Patagonia, near the southern tip of South America

CHILE: One end to the other -- Patagonia 

November 2000 

Seeing Magellanic penguins at Otway Sound, outside Punta Arenas, made us feel that we were actually in Patagonia, on the Straits.

The Straits of Magellan is in the background, but this couple is more interested in each other. Below, is a view from the top of the city of Punta Arenas, which totally charmed us.

One afternoon, school children and bands filled the street to celebrate an awards day and marched around the city's Plaza de Armas (below).

All four of South America's four camelids are found in Chile. We saw our first guanacos, the second largest, on the way to Torres del Paine National Park. Those above are in the park. Below, a Patagonian hare and a lapwing in the park.

Near the most southerly point of South America, Punta Arenas was settled and built by a wide range of nationalities meeting in a frontier atmosphere. They rest together peacefully in the city's fascinating old cemetery, with its rows of vaults.

In Punta Arenas, we stayed at the Jose Noguiera on the plaza. The former mansion of a pioneer sheep baroness, it houses the local "city club" as well as a trendy after-hours nightspot in the cellar and a great restaurant with what is believed to be the world's southernmost grapevine. The charm is worth putting up with the tiny double rooms. Below is the view from the balcony off the attached museum.

The rainy day dulls the blue color of the icebergs from Glacier Grey that break off into Lago Grey.

A windy hike over the hillsides of the park

The lakeside Explora Lodge is painfully expensive, but totally luxurious inside.

Near the entrance to the park, a half-day drive from Punta Arenas, is the Milodon ( prehistoric giant ground sloth) cave. To see the Mildodon, click here.