DAY 61 (1 OF 2) – LATITUDE 51-41’28”, PUERTO NATALES, CHILE

After Chiloe and Puerto Varas, it was time for us to say goodbye to the Chilean Lake District.  From Puerto Montt Airport, a 2-hour flight took us further south to our most anticipated destination of the South American journey – the legendary Patagonia.  Translated as the “Land of Giants”, Patagonia has always been the last frontier of human civilization before Antarctica.  At this legendary place where once was a synonym to hunger, hostility, extreme climate, and nothingness, today Patagonia is a mecca for adventurous and eco- tourism.

From Punta Arenas Airport, it took us three more hours by bus to reach Puerto Natales.  Originally a small fishing port by Seno Ultima Esperanza, nowadays everyone comes to Puerto Natales because of the adjacent Parque Nacional Torres del Paine.  Tomorrow we would embark for our 6-day journey in Torres del Paine.  Tonight we got to get ourselves prepared, pick out unnecessary items to leave behind at Puerto Natales, and reorganize our backpacks.

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Read more on Chiloe and Puerto Varas  in 2013 South America
Day 55.1 – Water Finally, Chiloe
Day 55.2 – Chacao Channel, Chiloe
Day 55.3 – Tide, Castro, Chiloe
Day 55.4 – Iglesia San Francisco, Castro, Chiloe
Day 56.1 – Palfitos, Castro, Chiloe
Day 56.2 – Wooden Tequilas Houses, Chiloe
Day 56.3 – Achao, Isla Quinchao
Day 57.1 – Parque Nacional Chiloe
Day 57.2 – Chanquin and Playa Cucao, Chiloe
Day 58.1 – Isla Aucar, Colo, Tenaun San Juan, Chiloe
Day 58.2 – Boat Building, San Juan, Chiloe
Day 58.3 – Seafood, Chiloe
Day 59.1 – Palafito 1326, Castro, Chiloe
Day 59.2 – Chacao Channel Again, Chiloe
Day 59.3 – City, Lago Llanquihue & Volcan Osorno, Puerto Varas
Day 60 – Parque Nacional Vicente Perez Rosales, Petrohue
Day 61.1 – Latitude 51-41’28”, Puerto Natales
Day 61.2 – Afrigonia, Puerto Natales

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South America 2013 – Our Destinations
Buenos Aires (Argentina), Iguazu Falls (Argentina/Brazil), Pantanal (Brazil), Brasilia (Brazil), Belo Horizonte & Inhotim (Brazil), Ouro Preto (Brazil), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Paraty (Brazil), Sao Paulo (Brazil), Samaipata & Santa Cruz (Bolivia), Sucre (Bolivia), Potosi (Bolivia), Southwest Circuit (Bolivia), Tilcara, Purmamarca, Salta (Argentina), Cafayate (Argentina), San Pedro de Atacama (Chile), Antofagasta & Paranal Observatory (Chile), Chiloe (Chile), Puerto Varas (Chile), Torres del Paine (Chile), Ushuaia (Argentina), El Chalten (Argentina), El Calafate (Argentina), Isla Magdalena (Argentina), Santiago (Chile), Valparaiso (Chile), Afterthought