Easter Island: Part 4 of 4

While Easter Island is famous for its moai, or statues, we think it ought to be an international hiking destination.

On Day 1 we hiked to the volcano crater; on Day 2 we hiked about 15 miles around the northwest corner of the island; and on Day 3 we explored the Quarry, where the moai were made.

At the top of the extinct volcano.

Sunset from one of the remotest islands on Earth.

Hiking around the northwest corner of the island.

 

These guys were waiting for us at the beach at the end of the hike.

The next morning it was pouring rain. And then this happened.

Each statue has its own personality; no two are the same.

Torres del Paine National Park: Part 3 of 4

Ever since learning of Torres del Paine National Park about 15 years ago, it's been on our Bucket List.

Now that we've actually been under the park's iconic granite spires, we wonder what took so long.

One reason it exceeded expectations is the people we shared the experience with: seven fellow Americans (six from California) and two awesome guides from Oneseed Expeditions, Roberto and Nili. Together, we called ourselves The Undulators. (Long story. Don't ask.)

We hope you like photos, because this post has plenty of them.

The Undulators (minus Karen).

Karen nearing the Three Sisters.

This is view that put Torres del Paine on our Bucket List.

Nearing French Valley.

French Valley.

Descending from French Valley.

They call it The Recliner. That's Grey Glacier in the distance.

Grey Glacier during a kayak break.

This was the beginning a day hike on Grey Glacier.

This is Joe. He was the first into the ice cave.

Climbing into the glacier, rather than onto. 

The view from the cave.

We were so giddy after the ice cave, you would have thought we'd conquered Everest.

Leaving Grey Glacier.

It seemed like we were posing like this around every turn.

At the end of the trail, we caught a catamaran that linked us back up with civilization. But first, one last iconic shot of Torres del Paine.

The Lake District: Part 2 of 4

Leaving Chiloe, we drove north to Puerto Varas, one of the gateway cities to the majestic Lake District.

The highlights can be summed up in three words: hiking, hiking and hiking. We hiked on Osorno Volcano; we hiked the shores of Lago Todos Santos; and we hiked up a mountain in the Cochamo Valley.

This is Osorno Volcano from a distance. In just a couple hours, we'll be at the top. 

This is from the top of Osorno Volcano, looking at Calbuco Volcano, which erupted in April 2015, causing an evacuation of the area. At times, we could see poofs of steam just to the left of the summit. 

We celebrated our 20th anniversary at the lodge at Lago Todos Santos.

A local farmer has cut a trail up the side of the mountain  from Cochamo to his family's farm, which can be reached only by foot or by horse.

Some places on the trail had switchbacks. Others, like here, didn't.

This was our destination. Our host and his parents prepared us a lunch that was truly "farm to table." 

It may look like the Sound of Music, but nearby Cochamo Valley is known as Chile's "Yosemite of the South."

Chiloe: Part 1 of 4

Well, it's taken us "only" nearly seven months to update everyone with photos from our November 2015 trip to Chile.

Because of the passage of time, we're a little fuzzy on the day-to-day details of our travels. So we'll settle for posting a phew fotos and cutlines from each major segment of our trip.

The major segments were: 1) the archipelago of Chiloe, 2) the Lake District, 3) Torres del Paine National Park and 4) Easter Island.

Everyone should be so lucky to spend a few weeks in this part of the world. It has jaw-dropping scenery, soul-soothing solitude (soulsootude?) and the friendliest of people (not to mention some awesome wine).

First up: Chiloe. Or as we call it, the Islands of Friendly People.

The highlight was kayaking at dawn on the Puntra River, through a portion of the forest that was killed by a surge of seawater following the huge 1960 earthquake.

Our host for this adventure, Fernando of Chepu Adventures, advised us simply to paddle slowly upsteam without talking so we could "listen to Nature awaken" as the world turned from dark to dawn.

The sounds, and the sight, were magical.

Just before the sun hit the horizon, we had grabbed onto an old tree trunk so we could "listen to Nature awaken." 

The sound of the early birds, combined with the brightening sky, was magical.  

We heard the calls of large birds, the twitter of small birds and the pat-pat-pat of ducks' feet as they took off for flight.

This part of the forest died following a surge of seawater following the 1960 earthquake. The coast is about 4 miles away.

Following the dawn kayak, we drove to the coast near Ancud and went penguin watching. These are magellanic penguins.

A Chilioe traffic jam. We don't get these at home.