Torres del Paine National Park

Everyone, even someone who does not know geography at all, read Jules Verne, or, at least, watched a movie about the world tour of the children of Captain Grant's, and at the word "Patagonia" he immediately recalls Jacques Paganel :)

Today, I propose to visit Patagonia - The Torres del Paine National Park in Chile.

Going to Patagonia, reserveat least a month to study the local beauties. For example, the Torres del Paine park should be dedicated for at least a week and you should go through the famous "W" route, see mountains and rivers, lakes and glaciers. Believe me, because I myself did not believe such stories and laid a month for a half of South America, and in Torres del Paine spent only a day and a half. What can you do in such short time - but almost nothing!

The park can be reached by car or by public transport. Buses here depart from the town of Natales. There are several different companies, but they usually departure twice a day at the same time - around 7:30 in the morning and at half past three in the afternoon. You can buy tickets both at the bus station and in any hotel. They are valid in both directions, with the reverse date being open, because the true connoisseurs of nature can hang here for a week or two. In the park, buses make several stops. The first happens near the administration, where all tourists should be instructed on the rules of staying in Torres del Paine, as well as pay entrance fees.

From here I started my little walk. For the day and a half that my travel plan has allocated to me, it is only possible to look at the observation deck of the towers. Let's hit the road!

I was lucky with the weather - the towers are visible! You don’t need to be a meteorologist to predict the weather in Patagonia - today, tomorrow, and the whole next week there will be a strong wind. Will there be dense clouds and rains? With a high probability, there will be both. In general, you can already consider visiting this corner of the planet a success!

The first couple of hours of my track I walked along a dirt road that ended at an expensive hotel where rich European retirees like to stay, I can’t afford such a rest, so I'm moving on.

Ahead of the mountain. Here already on the bus you can not come, but if there would be a demand, and the offer will be. Rich and lazy can use the services of the gauchos and ride along the trail on a horse.

The trail ends at the campsite under the towers. According to the rules of camping, you can stop here in your tents, but only for one night, so that there is enough space for those who will come here tomorrow. Tents, by the way, can be rented in any hotel in Natales. Fires are prohibited here, so if you plan to prepare a hot dinner, do not forget to take a burner and gas.

Surely, you have seen enough in Google pictures that the morning in Torres del Paine - it's all sorts of shades of all colors of the rainbow, and burning with gold sharp peaks of towers. Yes, if you spend here a couple of months, then there is the possibility of such a morning. In practice, everything is a little different.

In fact, the morning in the mountains is half past four in the morning, the cold and the wind that can break your tent if you have not set it up good. From the camping to the mirador, 45 minutes of cheerful ascent along the mountain path with driftwood, streams and scree slopes. Bring a torch.

Yes, except for the torch you still need a rug and sleeping bag, then you can really enjoy the dawn. After all, with 100% probability there will be such a strong wind that you want to wrap yourself in a sleeping bag and lie down near a big stone, and from there and watch how others suffer, those who do not read such recommendations)

Colorful dawn, of course, did not happen, there was a light rain and flying in the air grains of sand of the size of small pebbles. But still, it was beautiful.

Do not forget that the pictures convey only a small part of the atmosphere and emotions, so do not be surprised if you want to stay here, or vice versa, there will be complete disappointment. It all depends on your perception, well, and a little bit from the weather.

On the way down I met a caravan with the next rich tourists. At the head of the column is one of the gaucho - local cowboys in berets.

On the right were the vast expanses of the places that I did not visit this time, because today it was the second day of the one and a half that I had.

But, therie is not a problem, there are a lot of no less beautiful landscapes of the mysterious Patagonia are waiting for me.

And maybe someday, I'll come back here again, this time already, at least for a week.