The grumblings of a traveller series is back, with its sights firmly set on Chile, our 3rd country on the South American continent. So, what was it that irked us about this long thin contender? Here are the 10 worst things about Chile. Dog gangs. We are mostly talking about Valparaiso here, but our...
Our Chile top 10. The best things about Chile
What was fantastic about Chile we hear you ask? Well, look no further, here is our Chile Top 10! Collectivos are certainly not unique to Chile, but we had some amazing near death experiences hurtling around in these shared taxis. In Valparaiso taking a collectivo was the only way to get back up the...
Our Chilean culinary experience – Seafood and wine in Chile
Chile, South America’s long and thin country has over 4,300km of Pacific coastline; it is therefore no surprise that seafood features heavily on the menu. There are some cracking fish markets which we thoroughly enjoyed, but we noted that the mega-supermarket and industrially produced goods like plastic ham and cheese have a place in...
Torres del Paine National Park – Our Alternative to the ‘W’ or ‘O’ trails!
Torres del Paine National Park in Chile (TDP) was something which we were looking forward to, and dreading at the same time! A good friend of ours had visited the year before, and the pictures that she took were astonishing. Those pictures were one of the defining factors in us choosing to make our...
A cruise through the Chilean Patagonian Fjords on Navimag
After reaching the southern edge of the Lake District on our way to Patagonia, we only briefly stopped in the ‘charming’ port town of Puerto Montt in order to connect with our next adventure, a cruise through the Chilean Patagonian Fjords on Navimag. Whilst not being over enamoured on first impressions, we did find...
Pucón, gateway to the Chilean Lake District
On our way to Patagonia, we could not pass up the chance to stop for a few days in Pucón, gateway to the Chilean Lake District. Famed for the natural beauty that surrounds it and the outdoors activities it has to offer, it is a small town on the shores of Lake Villarrica, overshadowed...
Our Travellers’ tips for Santiago and around
Santiago Santiago, staged at the foot of the dramatic Andes mountain range, is an absolutely huge city, most of it being modern high-rise and sprawl. Over 30% of the country’s population live there (that’s 5 million). Despite it being a mega city, we found it enjoyable, easy to navigate and with ample green spaces....
Our guide to Easter Island in 2 days…or more!
We visited Easter Island for a week during October, 2015. We had wondered whether to include it in our itinerary at all, as it would certainly take a huge bite out of our backpacking budget. But, what were the chances of us being back in Chile any time soon? We just had to bite...
Valpo! A portrait of Valparaiso.
Valparaíso, or Valpo as it is affectionately called, is a significant port 120km from Santiago, which rose to importance following Chile’s independence from Spain and the liberalisation of trade. Copper, silver and nitrate were the main international exports, with many foreign investors (especially the British) flocking to the city to make their fortunes. Valparaíso...
The amazing graffiti of Valparaíso
Do you like graffiti? Is it an eyesore or art? If you are inclined to think the former, then perhaps a trip to Chile to see the amazing graffiti of Valparaíso, would change your mind! Valparaíso’s artists have covered, with varying degrees of skill, a huge percentage of the city’s labyrinth of streets. The...