Argentina Travel - Aracely on the cliffs of Punta Ninfas in Patagonia Argentina

10 Unusual Things to Do in Buenos Aires
Punta Ninfas (Spanish, “Nymphs Point”) is found in Patagonia, Argentina. Just opposite of Península Valdés the Point is about 90 km southwest of Puerto Madryn. Argentina travel is vast and varying, from the bottom of the world in Ushuaia Patagonia to the the Gaucho lands of Northwest Argentina.

Punta Ninfas is the ideal location for observing a colony of elephant seals, whose breeding season occurs from September to December.

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Ecuador Travel - A Sea Lion Pup hangs out on a park bench in the Galapagos Islands

The wildlife on this Galapagos tour has been incredible as we continue #HangingWithTurtles during our Ecuador travel.

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Ecuador Travel - An Ecuador Food Tradition - the Empanada

Top List of Things To Do in Quito, Ecuador
During our tour of the Galapagos Islands, we were excited to come across a street food vendor making fresh empanadas. Empanadas are a food tradition present in most Latin American countries. Each country puts their twist on the fried dough snack, but Ecuador’s were always on top of our list. Our empanadas on this day were stuffed with either cheese or beef and fried right in front of us. During your Ecuador travel, don’t forget to indulge in some Spanish Empanadas.

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Ecuador Travel - Giant Galapagos Tortoise

Ecuador Travel - Giant Galapagos Tortoise

Once a thriving species in the Galapagos Islands, with an estimated 250,000 strong, the tortoises almost went extinct, down to 3,000.

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The damage was done from hunting for their meat and oils, the introduction of agriculture and other non-native animals such as rats, pigs, cattle, goats and dogs.

Ecuador Travel - Giant Galapagos Tortoise

Many of the species still can’t breed on their own in the islands, because the eggs are dug up by non-native animals or trampled on by large cattle. And considering tortoises remain very small for several years with soft shells, they are stil very susceptible to their predators.

Ecuador Travel - Giant Galapagos Tortoise

Today, breeding stations on the islands keep newborn tortoises for 7-11 years before releasing them in the wild.

Ecuador Travel - Giant Galapagos Tortoise

With agriculture, tourism and population continuing to grow on the islands, tortoises will continue to remain a vulnerable species. Be sure to experience the giant tortoise during your Ecuador travel.

Ecuador Travel - Giant Galapagos Tortoise

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Ecuador Travel - Galapagos Land Iguana (Conolophus subcristatus)

The wildlife on this Galapagos tour has been incredible as we continue #HangingWithTurtles during our Ecuador travel.

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Ecuador Travel - Dolphin Jumping Around our Boat in the Galapagos Islands

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Ecuador Travel - Green Sea Turtle

2 Backpackers - Travel Photo of the Day – Galapagos Green Sea Turtle 2 Backpackers - Travel around the world sharing budget travel tips, travel photos and adventure travel videos.

Ecuador Travel - The city of Quito, Ecuador

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Choosing from the hundreds of Galapagos tours doesn’t sound like an easy choice, but it actually wasn’t too hard for Aracely and I. As someone that’s active on the web, always reading others’ experiences while touring the world, I sort of knew who the best tour operators for the Galapagos were.

Galapagos Travel

Adorable sea lion pups, Chinese Hat, Galapagos by GirlUnmapped, on Flickr

This trip is a special one, it’s to celebrate Aracely’s 30th Birthday. Our visit to the Galapagos Islands is a bit different compared to when we backpacked through Central and South America between 2009 and 2010. In 2010, our budget prevented us from experiencing Galapagos the way we had always imagined. We were living on $55 a day, which didn’t cover the cost of Galapagos tours. Now, in 2012, we are ready to book the tour we have always wanted, and we expect G Adventures will be able to deliver that for us.

10-Day Multi-Activity Galapagos Land Tour

We experienced a small tour with G Adventures in 2009 to the Iguazú Falls and had an excellent trip. Add that experience, all the other positive experiences written about by travel bloggers and the experiences by our friends in the Wanderers in Residence program and you end up on a trip with G Adventures. That’s why it was an easy choice for Aracely and I.

Galapagos Adventures and Education

We will be sleeping on the Galapagos Islands each night, which is probably best for Aracely, who is prone to seasickness. This also allows us to spend longer days hiking volcanoes, exploring individual islands and museums. Other activities include kayaking, snorkeling and mountain biking. I figured we might get bored touring on a boat for 7 days, so the idea of multiple activities was a good thing.

Education has always been an important part of any tour we participate in. Ever since our Grand Canyon hike in 2006, we make every effort to get schooled in the places we visit, the local culture and it’s history. We know the Galapagos Islands has amazing scientific facts and a lot of wildlife to learn about.

Quito, Ecuador

We arrive to Quito this weekend, a city we have a spent over a month living in before. It will be fun to revisit some of the old places we ate at, maybe even climb back up the Basílica del Voto Nacional or just check off items from our list of best things to do in Quito.

By Sunday afternoon, we should be swimming with sea lions as Frigate birds fly above on San Cristóbal island during our Galapagos tour with G Adventures in celebration of Aracely’s 30th birthday.

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It’s official, we are traveling to the Galapagos Islands for the first time in our lives. This is a significant trip for us because Aracely has always dreamed of visiting the Galapagos Islands, but we had great trepidation in doing so when we spent over a month in Ecuador back in 2010. We both have discussed our concerns over Galapagos travel and have made the decision to move forward with our exploration.

Galapagos Islands by la nomada, on Flickr

Galapagos Travel

Exploring the Galapagos Islands is one of those bucket list places to visit.  The great Pyramids of Egypt, Easter Island, Uyuni Salt Flats, Taj Mahal, Ancient Rome, and for us nature lovers, the Galapagos Islands.  To make it even more significant and memorable, we are going for Aracely’s 30th Birthday.  She turns 30 on March 12th, so we need to book the trip immediately.

A Concern for the Environment

As described earlier, we are booking this trip with a little bit of guilt.  Excessive tourism and over population from Ecuadorians seeking work, has caused significant harm to the fragile ecosystem of the Galapagos.  We would be hypocritical if we didn’t admit our tour will be contributing to that slow destruction of wildlife that surrounds the area.

I promise to examine our tour and provide some insight into what different tour companies are doing to reduce or possibly increase the damage to the ecosystem.

Photos and Videos of Galapagos Islands

On a lighter note, we will also be taking thousands of wildlife photos and lots of HD video!  We are extremely excited about our decision and we hope you are looking forward to the colorful, nature pictures to come!

Now we have to seek out an adventurous tour.

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Bolivia Travel - Sunset at Isla del Sol on Lake Titicaca, Bolivia

The best of Bolivia

After a full day of hiking from the north part of Isla del Sol island to the south, we took a rest at a restaurant with an amazing view of Lake Titicaca.  The hours passed and the sun began to hide behind the horizon.  The sunset slowly revealed some amazing colors and relfections.

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Argentina Travel - San Telmo, Buenos Aires

In this travel guest post for 2Backpackers.com, Erin and Simon of Never Ending Voyage, share their list of unusual things to do in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Argentina Travel

Buenos Aires is one of the highlights when travelling South America and most visitors fall for this elegant city with its European vibe and South American energy. Although we enjoyed visiting the city’s most popular tourist attractions such as the huge Recoleta cemetery and one of the many tango shows, what interested us most during our two months in Buenos Aires were its more unusual activities. Here are our suggestions for exploring an alternative side of Buenos Aires when enjoying Argentina travel.

1) Explore the Barrios

Argentina Travel - La Boca neighbourhood, Buenos Aires

You’ll find the soul of Buenos Aires in its barrios, the diverse neighbourhoods that make up this city of 13 million people. Each area has its own unique atmosphere from the trendy boutiques and cool cafes of Palermo Soho to the cobbled streets and colonial buildings of San Telmo. Walking the streets on foot is a good way to get a feel for the city, and there’s a lot less traffic in the barrios than there is in the busy commercial centre.

Some of our favourite barrios are pretty, tree-lined Palermo Hollywood; gritty, working-class La Boca, away from the touristy, colourful Caminito street; and Abasto, where houses are decorated with portraits and lyrics of tango maestro Carlos Gardel.

2) Ride an Old-Fashioned Subway

Argentina Travel - A Line Subway car, Buenos Aires

The subte (subway) is an easy, inexpensive way to get around Buenos Aires, but most tourists don’t realise that Line A is an interesting attraction itself. It’s the oldest subway line in South America dating back to 1913. They still use the original cars with wooden panels and benches, and a conductor to open and close the manual doors. It’s an atmospheric ride and you can use the trip to explore one of the less-visited barrios along the A Line such as Almagro for its Sunday book fair.

3) Meet Gauchos at the Fería De Mataderos

Argentina Travel - Feria de Mataderos, Buenos Aires

Surprisingly you don’t need to leave the city to explore Argentina’s gaucho culture. Very few tourists make it to the Fería de Mataderos where colourfully dressed locals perform chacareras (country dances) to the folk music played on stage; and gauchos young and old gallop past the crowds to compete in traditional contests at the most ferocious speeds.

Over 100 market stalls sell leather crafts, metalwork, mate gourds, handicrafts, and jars of dulce de leche. An asado (barbeque) serves up huge chunks of beef and sausages, creating a smoky haze over the rest of the market. You’ll also find ladies dishing up locro, a traditional meat stew, and empanadas with a range of fillings.

It’s worth the one hour bus ride to the far west of the city for this unique insight into gaucho traditions. Fería de Mataderos is held every Sunday (Saturday evenings in the summer) from 11am – 8pm.

4) Try Speed Dating for Language Learners

If you are looking for the opportunity to practice your Spanish head to Spanglish. It’s a language exchange event held in a bar that pairs English and Spanish speakers for a series of 10 minute conversations – half in English and half in Spanish, before moving on to a new partner.

Not only is it good for your Spanish but you get to meet porteños of diverse backgrounds and ages – we chatted with people aged 20 – 70 years. Everyone is really understanding if your Spanish isn’t brilliant, as they are all learners too. It’s a lot of fun and we’d really recommend attending one of the events held four times a week.

5) Take a Break From Steak

Argentina Travel - Armenian mezze at Sarkis

Buenos Aires is famous for its high quality, affordable steaks but after a while all that meat gets a bit much. Luckily there are some excellent, healthier alternatives including delicious Armenian mezze at Sarkis restaurant – we loved the flavour-packed dishes including mashed red peppers with walnuts, grilled aubergine in herbs, and feta cheese with olives.

There’s also a growing vegetarian restaurant scene where you can sample pear, goats cheese and rocket bruschetta at Artemisia and inventive dishes like mushroom and sundried tomato ceviche at Kensho. For more details read our picks for the best vegetarian restaurants in Buenos Aires.

6) Attend a Dinner Party

Puerta Cerrada (closed door) restaurants in private homes are popular in Buenos Aires and make a unique eating experience. We attended a dinner party along with 10 others at Casa Saltshaker which is run by American Dan and his Peruvian partner Henri in their Recoleta apartment. Not only was the five course gourmet meal delicious but we also met interesting people from all around the world.

7) Learn About Recent History

Argentina has had a turbulent past, especially in the last 50 years, and you can learn more about it on the Buenos Aires Traces walking tour. We learnt about Peronism at the Evita museum in a trade union building that isn’t open to the public; about the people who were ‘disappeared’ during the military dictatorship in the 1970s at the recently discovered site of one of the detention camps; and about the protests following the collapse of the economy in 2001 at plaques commemorating protesters who were shot by the police. It’s a fascinating tour that will help you to understand Argentina today.

8 ) Watch the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo

Argentina Travel - Mothers of Plaza de Mayo protest

Plaza de Mayo is the centre point for all protests in Buenos Aires. There’s one happening on most days but the most moving is watching the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo commemorate their children who vanished 30 years ago during the military dictatorship in the 1970s. The organisation still campaigns for justice, and they meet every Thursday at 3pm at the Plaza.

9) Listen to Modern Tango

Attending one of the many tango shows is a typical tourist activity in Buenos Aires but for a more authentic experience go and see one of the new tango bands that fuse modern influences with tango traditions.

The Orquesta Típica Fernández Fierro play every Wednesday night at the Club Atletico Fernandez Fierra in the historic tango barrio of Abasto. The hipster crowd and old warehouse venue feel like a rock gig, and the dreadlocked orchestra play dramatic, impassioned tango infused with rock and jazz.

10) Escape to Tigre

Argentina Travel - Tigre delta

When you need a break from the big city, Tigre is a perfect getaway. It’s a peaceful town an hours train ride north of Buenos Aires and is the starting point for boat trips into the green, tranquil Paraná Delta with its network of interconnecting rivers and streams.

2 Backpackers - 10 Unusual Things to Do in Buenos Aires 2 Backpackers - Travel around the world sharing budget travel tips, travel photos and adventure travel videos.

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After traveling throughout Central America and South America, we have experienced our share of unique cultural norms in Latin America, one of which includes putting home speakers on your car and advertising loudly through the streets. This wasn’t an occasional site, it was a frequent site, often advertising for events, radio stations or products, and also for politicians. We see this in some parts of Miami too, which is not too strange considering Miami is primarily Latin. I’ll have to get some video of that to share. To see more unique cultural norms from Latin America, check out their tricked out custom chicken buses!

In this travel video clip #6, we share some creative advertising methods used in Latin America.

2 Backpackers - Advertising Latin Style – Travel Video Clip 6 2 Backpackers - Travel around the world sharing budget travel tips, travel photos and adventure travel videos.

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We celebrate fun Ecuador traditions on New Year’s Eve in this HD travel video from 2 Backpackers, Jason and Aracely Castellani, while visiting Chone, Ecuador during the Holidays.  In travel video episode #19, we join Aracely’s family in her hometown of Chone to experience the chaos that is New Year’s Eve in Ecuador. Enjoy the show!

Ecuador Travel - Año Viejo / Saying Goodbye to the Old Year

Año Viejo / Old Year

Ecuador traditions are wild on New Year’s Eve. More attention is given to saying goodbye to the old year instead of celebrating the new year. Ecuadorians build life-size dummies or dolls that typically represent negativity in the Old Year. Considerable effort is sometimes invested in building your doll, or you can buy them off the streets. Some will build wire frames, stuff them with fireworks and cover them with paper and plaster before finally painting them. Others build stuffed dummies and purchase a famous head or mask to complete their person.

In addition to the traditional aspect of burning a hated figure such as a politician, today’s Ecuadorians also burn characters such as Bart Simpson and Michael Jackson for fun.

• Ecuador Travel – Top Things To Do in Quito
• Ecuador Travel – More to Ecuador than Galapagos Islands
• Ecuador Travel – Otavalo Market
• Ecuador Travel – Discover Chone, My Hometown

Ecuador Travel - Fireworks during New Year

Fireworks, Dancing and Food in Ecuador

The burning of the dolls is the most unique New Year’s Eve tradition, but not the only one. Bonfires of dummies and dolls litter the streets while fireworks and music fill the air until daybreak. As is the case with any Latin holiday, Ecuadorians will dance the night away, only stopping to eat dinner after midnight.

Ecuador Travel - Young Boys Dressed as Widows on New Year

During the day most will parade their creations, the dolls and dummies, around town for everyone to appreciate before the midnight burning. Also, during the day, young boys will dress up as widows (made widows from the burning dolls) dancing in the streets for passing cars as they beg for money. Be careful on the highways, where they hold ropes across the street forcing cars to stop and acknowledge them.

If you looking for a unique, chaotic, loud, but fun experience, travel to Ecuador for New Year’s Eve.

A Special Thanks to Chone, Ecuador

We want to specifically thank Aracely’s family in Chone, Ecuador for hosting us during the Holidays and sharing their Ecuador traditions and homes with us. Being away from home during Christmas and New Year’s Eve when traveling around the world can be depressing, but having met new family made it a unique experience we will never forget. Thank you.

2 Backpackers - New Year’s Eve in Ecuador – Travel Video Ep. 19 2 Backpackers - Travel around the world sharing budget travel tips, travel photos and adventure travel videos.

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An incredible display of Christmas lights / Los Alumbrados Medellín in this HD travel video from 2 Backpackers, Jason and Aracely Castellani, while visiting Medellín, Colombia during the Holidays.  In travel video episode #18, we brave the splashing fountains of water and follow our Couchsurfing friend, Claudia, to the Rio Medellín for some holiday season fun. Enjoy the show!

Colombia Travel - Christmas Lights in Medellín, Colombia

Consider Colombia Travel

Colombia was one of our favorite countries to visit during our travel in South America and we highly recommend it. If your still contemplating, read “Why Travel to Colombia“.

Colombia Travel - Christmas Lights in Medellín, Colombia

Christmas in Medellín Colombia

We arrived to Medellín in December, just before departing to Ecuador to spend the holidays with family. To our surprise Medellín has a lot to offer during the holiday season. Lights, lights and more lights!

The Christmas light display is heavily concentrated at the Rio Medellín near Puente de Guayaquil. At this location, tourists and locals flock to grab festival food, view artistic light displays and most importantly, jump around the colorful water fountains. The maze of water displays is incredible. Although crowded, everyone seems to take turns in an orderly fashion. Aracely was brave enough to crowd under one of the mushroom-like fountains.

• Colombia Travel – Beaches of Tayrona National Park
• Colombia Travel – Discover Cartagena
• Colombia Travel – Mud Bath in Volcano Totumo
• Colomiba Travel – Discover Salento

Colombia Travel - Christmas Lights in Medellín, Colombia

A Local Tour Guide

We were lucky to have met Claudia at a Couchsurfing gathering a few nights before and she offered to take us to the Christmas lights display down at the river. Claudia introduced us to salt and lime beer, basically a margarita beer, sweet popcorn, Aguardiente and some sweets that resembled taffy, but was made from cow bones. Very interesting and tasted quite good.

Colombia Travel - Pueblito Paisa in Medellín, Colombia

We know a lot of travel bloggers that are still living in Medellín, Colombia, and it’s doubtful they will be bored this time of season. The Christmas lights are usually on display from December to January.

2 Backpackers - Colombia Holiday with Christmas Lights – Travel Video Ep. 18 2 Backpackers - Travel around the world sharing budget travel tips, travel photos and adventure travel videos.

With ten land border crossings under our belt, it’s time to share travel tips about our experience with land border crossings.  Our first land border crossing was from Guatemalato El Salvador and it involved a boat ride, two bus rides and a walk across a long bridge separating the borders.  We admittedly were nervous.  It was in a less developed country and we had heard frightening stories.  Ten countries later and we have yet to have an incident.  So what should you know when crossing a land border?

Travel Tips - Land Border Crossing Items

1. Know the Exchange Rate

In Central America, currency exchange is very informal at the land borders.  There are men standing around with a wad of cash on hand waving a calculator.  The calculator is to calculate but also to imply that you should trust them.  Don’t be fooled.  Make sure that you know the fair exchange rate, know how much you need to exchange and how much you should receive.  The good thing about this is that there is room to negotiate.  Make sure that you do, but remember that this is how they earn a living so you should allow them a small commission.  In South America, currency exchange practices are more formal and conducted in banks and money exchange kiosks with no room for negotiations.  It’s a good practice to still be aware of the exchange rate so you can at least note how much money you’ve lost in the exchange and be sure to remember to document that in your expenses.

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2. Have Passports and Documents Accessible

Have your passport and tourist card easily accessible and not stored away deep in your bag.  This may be obvious but it will help you expedite the process and possibly avoid stalling a bus inspection.  Also remember to store you immunization records with your passport.

3. Familiarize yourself with the Land Border Crossing Area

Do your research on the specific location of your border crossing.  Become familiar with the town or streets you will be traveling on, where your destination is and how you will get there.  Lonely Planet Guides and other travelers can be good sources of information. Border crossings can get very confusing in less developed countries and you should know where you are at all times.  Some borders are more isolated and dangerous than others.  If you know that to expect you can be more in control of the situation.

Travel Tips - Land Border Crossing: Ecuador to Peru

4. Know Immigration Fees and Visas ahead of time

Depending on what country you are from and what passport you hold certain fees and documents may be required.  Visas can sometimes be purchased at the immigration center, but research the requirements.  In South America, US citizens are required to purchase visas for Brazil and Bolivia, both of which require you to pay in either US cash or the local currency.  Some countries also require entrance or departing fees.  Have enough cash on hand to cover any border fees and visa costs.  When flying into a country, different fees may apply.  Visit the US Department of State website for detailed information on specific countries.

5. Plan your Transportation to and from Border

If you are crossing the border with a bus company in a developed country they will most likely arrange and assist you with the entire process, but don’t expect the same in developing countries such as those in Central America.  In South America it is part of the service the bus company provides.  If you are crossing from Guatemala to Honduras on a local school (chicken) bus you will likely be crossing the border on foot or cycle rickshaws.  Know how far it is to the other side and how long before you can pick up another bus.  You may have to hire a shuttle bus, taxi or local school bus.  At customs, expect to be approached by many taxi drivers offering you a ride.  Take your time to make a decision, don’t be afraid to tell them to give you some space and back off while you organize your things and thoughts.   Include transportation in your research of the border crossing.

Travel Tips - Land Border Crossing: Ecuador to Colombia

6. Avoid Offers From Non-Official Border Police

In Central America, where the process is less organized, sometimes common people will pass out custom forms to you while you are in line.  It’s not out of kindness; they will charge you.  Do not accept these forms which are usually outdated anyway.  Some other strange fees may arise.  Research what you should be paying for in advance.

Travel Tips - Land Border Crossing: Peru to Bolivia

7. Staying Safe at Land Borders

Border crossings in Central America and parts of South America can be sketchy.  Take precautions with your possessions.  Do not store things of importance in your pockets or walk around filming and snapping photos with your expensive camera.  Customs officers usually won’t like it and robbers will spot you.  Look confident, don’t pull out a map, and always spot customs or law officers.  Greet the officer and ask them questions on how to get to your destination and anything you should know about crossing the border. You may get some valuable safety information.  When possible, don’t cross a border alone find another traveler on the bus and cross with them.  Traveling with someone is always safer.

If you have additional travel tips or experiences please share them with us in the comments section.

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Brazil attracts a lot of tourists each year for a lot of different reasons. With the upcoming 2016 Summer Olympic games, Rio de Janeiro is likely only going to grow in tourism popularity. But, in South America’s third largest city, how will you find things to do in Rio de Janeiro? Here are some travel tips for some of the tourist things to do in Rio.

Rio de Janeiro by Eduardo Pelosi, on Flickr

Brazilian beaches in Rio de Janeiro

With almost 80 kilometers of beach along the southern coast, Rio de Janeiro has plenty of beaches worth visiting. The most famous, however, is Copacabana. With three kilometers of pristine, white sand, Copacabana is the place to see and be seen in Rio. Whether you decide on staying in a Rio de Janeiro apartment on the beach, or one further inland, it’s never hard to find sand (or sun) in Rio.

Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro by JorgeBRAZIL, on Flickr

The other famous beach in Rio de Janeiro is Ipanema. This stretch of sand has a little less of the glitz and glamour of Copacabana, with the same amount of interesting people. Long known for its alternative culture, Ipanema is the place of inspiration for the international hit song “The Girl from Ipanema.”

Mike Vondran, Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil January 3 2009.

Tijuca Rainforest National Park

Plan a day trip to the Tijuca Rainforest located within Rio’s city limits when the sun and sand get to be too much. Tijuca Rainforest is the world’s largest urban forest and can be a welcome break from the consumer culture in Rio de Janeiro. After visiting boulevards full of shopping centers and beachside luxury apartments, it helps to get some fresh air in nature. It helps that the Tijuca National Park is free! Consider renting a bicycle to enjoy the many cycle paths that run through the forest.

Floresta de Tijuca by rbrands, on Flickr

Christ the Redeemer

Well, a visit to Rio just wouldn’t be the same without a photo of the Christ the Redeemer statue on top of Corcovado Mountain. The Art Deco sculpture was named one of the New 7 Wonders of the World in 2007 and continues to attract attention and visitors from around the world. Poland recently unveiled a similarly massive sculpture of Jesus Christ to rival Rio’s.

Christ the Redeemer by Barkaw, on Flickr

Sugarloaf Mountain

So you hiked Corcovado Mountain to see the Christ the Redeemer statue, you’ve cycled through the rainforest and you relaxed on the beach? What’s next for your visit to Rio but some rock climbing! Sugarloaf’s monolithic formation of granite and quartz makes it a prime location for rock-climbing. Though if you’re not up for the challenge, there are plenty of ways to watch from a distance—including a cable car up to the top.

Sugarloaf Mountain by idnas71, on Flickr

2 Backpackers - Things to do in Rio de Janeiro 2 Backpackers - Travel around the world sharing budget travel tips, travel photos and adventure travel videos.

Torres del Paine from behind the Towers

Patagonia travel triggers visions and feelings of extreme adventure for trekkers around the world.  You’ve seen the pictures on-line and you’ve heard stories about the unpredictable weather, vast glaciers, snow capped Andes mountains and the dramatic reward of hiking in Patagonia.  Are you ready to hike one of the most renowned treks in the world?  Torres del Paine National Park will satisfy that adventure craving.  We share our experience hiking in Patagonia through the Torres del Paine circuit in southern Chile.

A Guide for Hiking in Patagonia

This is a lot of useful information for hiking Torres del Paine, so we have broken up the guide into a series of posts. Be sure to check them all out.

When to Go

In Patagonia, the weather is extremely unpredictable and for most of the year unbearable to hike due to high winds, below freezing temperatures and ice.  The park remains open all year, but unless you are an experienced adventurer with ice hiking skills, you will most likely want to hike in the Summer (Nov-Mar).

High winds blow Aracely's jacket over her head while hiking Torres del Paine

Summer (Nov-Mar) is the peak season for trekking in Torres del Paine National Park, which creates over crowded campsites and trails. It’s warmest in the Summer, averaging 11ºC/ 52ºF, but the Patagonia weather still remains unpredictable with possibilities of rain, snow and high winds, which can disrupt your most anticipated trip to Torres del Paine. Low hanging clouds around the towers and dense fog can also hide the great Patagonia views of amazing landscapes and the three towers.

We arrived to Torres del Paine in mid-March when the crowds had dissipated and the weather is supposedly most stable. I admit, we got very lucky with the weather. Our trek began with 2 days of cold rain and below freezing nights. As the days progressed, the weather improved with sunny warm days and clear skies. As we descended the towers at the end of our 9-day full circuit trek, the clouds moved in, the winds picked up and the rain began. We highly encourage that you pick the time of year carefully.

Torres del Paine Towers at Sunrise

What To Bring

Since we were traveling for a full year when we planned our Patagonia hike, we didn’t have tents, sleeping bags or a camping stove.  We rented all of our equipment from Glacier de la Patagonia in Puerto Natales. They have good quality equipment all from the same manufacturer, Doite. If you are flying down to Patagonia specifically for hiking, bring your own gear from home. The quality of your gear will most likely be better and you will be saving money. Make sure your tent can withstand Patagonia winds and rain.

Hiking over the John Garner Pass on the backside of the full circuit

Sleeping bag

This is Patagonia, it is cold. We opted for the -10 degree Celsius by Doite and we still felt cold on a few nights.

Sleeping Pad

The ground is hard and cold, don’t skimp on the sleeping pad. The ones we rented weren’t very thick. Consider renting 2 if they appear thin and worn.

Tent

We rented a Himalaya Doite Tent which was the smaller one of the two that Glacier de la Patagonia offered.  Another afterthought, we should have opted for the larger tent for more comfort and little additional weight.

Warming food in the rain by our Doite tent in Torres del Paine

Cooking Stove and Pots

Keep it light. One pot and one spoon is enough for 1 person. Be sure to have a multipurpose knife. You can’t fly with the fuel needed to light your stove, but there are many places here to buy them.

Making Tea while Hiking Torres del Paine in Patagonia

Food

This was our biggest mistake. We didn’t bring enough and therefore had to buy some along the way which was very expensive. Even with end of season discounts, the food prices were jacked up.

Water is available from streams in Torres del Paine National Park

Several of the campsites have items to sell such as camping food, snacks, wine and beer. You will be hiking 6-8 hours daily and our bodies require fuel. Identify ways to keep the food weight to a minimum, but make sure you’re getting enough calories and replenishing your energy sources. You can drink water from small streams that cascade down the mountains.

The Best Lunch Picnic in Torres del Paine Patagonia

Clothing

Dress warm and avoid the cotton underwear and shirt. You will be sweating a lot and with few showers those cottons clothes will quickly stink. It will be freezing at night and either freezing during the day, or sunny and clear skies. Just focus on layers instead of big thick jackets that take up too much room. Layers are always recommended for easy taking off and putting on of clothes. Boots are absolutely necessary. We hiked on rocks, through mud and in snow at times. Pack a wind and rain breaker and hats and gloves.

Hiking Torres del Paine National Park in Chile

Other Gear

Walking sticks are optional, but we decided to rent them. I felt as though it was a good decision, but they aren’t absolutely necessary. Bring head lamps or torches, and rope for hanging wet clothes and food in the woods. If you don’t hang your food or secure it incredibly well, mice will get into it. Also bring sunglasses, sunscreen, a map of the park and toilet paper! In the winter the gear completely changes and I am not an expert in in extreme conditions, sorry.

Reading the Maps for Torres del Paine Patagonia

How to Get There

You can fly there, bus it or take the adventurous Navimag vessel through southern Chile’s islands.

The office at the entrance to Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia

You can access Torres del Paine National Park from the gateway town of Puerto Natales. Puerto Natales provides hostels, hotels, restaurants, shopping and anything else you might need for your trek. If you plan to go during high season, be sure to book your hostel ahead of time.

Flights arrive to Punta Arenas, usually with a stopover in Puerto Montt, which lies on the Straights of Magellan. From Punta Arenas you will bus it 3 hours north to Puerto Natales.

You can bus it from Santiago, Chile, but it’s a very long 3100 km trip. If you are visiting Puerto Montt you can also fly to Punta Arenas or bus it to Puerto Natales.

In order to arrive at the entrance of Torres del Paine, catch a bus early in the morning from Puerto Natales. It’s 115 kilometers away and gates open at 8:30am

More Torres del Paine Hiking information to come!

2 Backpackers - Hiking in Patagonia – Torres del Paine Part 1 2 Backpackers - Travel around the world sharing budget travel tips, travel photos and adventure travel videos.

Heron Bird Flying on Beach in Colombia

In Tayrona National Park, an hour outside Santa Marta, Colombia, Jason and I were hiking to Cabo Beach. We both had camera in hand capturing all the beauty of these beaches during our Colombia travel.  I spotted a heron at the back of the beach near the woods.  I got my camera ready to take a picture. It started to fly and I just followed it with my lens and snapped. I didn’t even think about what setting I was on.  Sometimes you get very, very lucky, and this time I did.

2 Backpackers - Travel Photo of the Day: Flying Heron at Tayrona Beach in Colombia 2 Backpackers - Travel around the world sharing budget travel tips, travel photos and adventure travel videos.

Colombia Travel: Fortress of San Felipe de Barajas in Cartagena Colombia

During the seventeenth century, the Spanish paid for prominent European military engineers to build the fortresses which are today Cartagena’s most significant identifying features. Engineering works took well over 208 years and ended with some eleven kilometers of walls surrounding the city, including the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas shown below. In 1984, Cartagena’s colonial walled city and fortress were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Read more from Colombia travel.

2 Backpackers - Travel Photo of the Day: Castillo de San Felipe Cartagena Colombia 2 Backpackers - Travel around the world sharing budget travel tips, travel photos and adventure travel videos.