Puerto Natales and Punta Arenas, Las Torres del Paine and Magallanes

I go in to Chile again. Arriving at Puerto Natales where I do Couchsurfing in the Seguel family with many couchsurfers ... 4 tonight! We had homemade lentils for dinner.

The next morning I meet Judith and Karim to do some shopping of provisions for the trip to Torres del Paine National Park. We buy the lightest food and the more energetic one. The plans are up to 9 days to make the classic track "W" and "Circle" at the end of the “W” we'll see if we continue or not ...
In the evening dinner with fish and sleep... in the morning I have to go to the park.

El Chaltén and Calafate, Fitz Roy and Perito Moreno

The journey to El Chalten from Esquel has been long ...
It begin 5 hours delay, at 4:30 in the morning instead of 11:30!

The route passes through some very amazing desert landscapes. It remembers me the center of Australia!
The road is paved only in some sections.
We stop for lunch in the village Perito Moreno. A village 500 km away from any other.

I arrive in El Chalten at 4 am ... We walk around the village looking for accommodation, but nothing. Xavier, I and 5 people from the bus we sleep at the bus station. We wake up when it starts to arrive some buses at the terminal and we had breakfast.

Bariloche, Bolsón and Esquel

I exit Chile throught a mountain pass that crosses the Puyehue National Park, and for the first time on this trip, I have to wait on the border to get into Argentina. It's only a matter of time, but the heat is high and there is no shadows.
In Bariloche I look for accommodation with two Mexicans that I met on the bus. We finally stay at the Pudu Hostel, a hostel with spectacular views of Lake Nahuel Huapi.

I went to get information about which trips are recommended and all three go out to dinner.

The next day I walk up the Cierro Campanario (there is the option to do it with lift), and behold a panoramic view of lakes and mountains.

Chiloé

In Castro I Couchsurfing home Ana and Leo (Chile) and the wonderful family near the center of town. Jan and Gisele (Switzerland) are also staying here.

It looks like is another country very different from the rest of Chile.

Jan and Gisele have booked a tour to visit some of the wooden church heritage and to see also the island of Lemuy. I join them. We visit Nercón, Chonchi, and the island of Lemuy where we eat an "asado" at a home of some farmers from the island.
We had dinner all the people of the house together.

The next day visited Castro in a relaxed way. It is very hot and at the afternoon I cut my hair.

It is the anniversary of Gisele and for dinner I make a tortilla with tomato with pa amb tomaquet to join the mussels, baked salmon, carpacho of salmon and salads. Cake as a dessert. In the house were a couple more of Couchsurfing Florian (Austria) and Kim (New Zealand).

Pucón, Petrohué and Puerto Montt

I arrive at Villarica in the morning. I stop at the information point to see what I can do, I walk along the part of the lake Villarica and I visit a small museum about the Mapuche’s at the University building. The girl in charge of the museum opens for me the exhibition and explains traditions, the meaning and utility of the objects that are exposed.

I decide to go to Pucón, on the other side of the lake. A little more touristy, but closer to the volcanoes.

The first thing I do is look for accommodation. The first idea was to campsite, but I love the first refuge that I go to ask, "El Refugio”, which is like a mountain hut in the middle of Pucón.
After some rest, I go for a walk around the port and beach. The day is overcast and it seems that the volcano Villarica is hiding.

When I come back to the hostel, I meet Peter and Anika (Germany). The dinner became a Chileans wine tasting! Anika will join me to go to make the hike the next day.

So turn the alarm soon 6:45, to catch a mini bus to the start of the road.

"El Cañi" is a nature reserve that one can see the giant conifer Araucaria trees and lots of endemic fauna. The views from the lookout are spectacular, 360 degrees of forests and volcanoes.