The one that got away
The experience reminded me once again that you can't capture every special event, every gorgeous view, every memory with a camera, let alone with a pencil and paper. Sometimes you simply have to hold it close.
Travel tips
The ranch where we went horseback riding, Estancia Vista Paine, was down the road from Hosteria Lago Tyndall, and our receptionist made all the arrangements, allowing us to charge the $125 for two persons for three hours to our room. Horse Riding Patagonia also provides multi-day packages. www.horseridingpatagonia.com
When I initially made hotel reservations for Torres del Paine I planned for us to travel here from El Calafate by bus. In all my research of travel blogs and forums, no one mentioned any trouble with maneuvering through Torres del Paine via tourist bus. The few who rented cars complained about the bumpy roads and los baches, potholes. I am SO GLAD we had our trusty VW from Servi-Car 4x4 Renta a Car www.servicar4x4.com.ar . By the time we paid for all the tour buses for two people to get to Torres del Paine and back to El Calafate via Puerto Natales as well as back and forth during our stay in the park, we probably would have spent almost half of what I ended up paying for the rental car. Although we did see some tourist buses in Rio Serrano close to our cabin, the receptionists told us travelers had to pick up the bus at the park administration office, a seven km hike from our cabin. Hiking with all our gear. In the wind. Possibly in the rain. For once, I’m not regretting my decision or complaining about the additional expense. Possibly one could have taken the bus from El Calafate to Puerto Natales, Chile, and rented a car for even cheaper.
The cost to enter Torres del Paine Parque Nacional is $18,000 Chileano pesos (approximately $30 USD) per person, no student discounts allowed. They only take cash but will accept US dollars (only crisp, clean ones, they refused one of my twenties for being too worn) or Euros but no one wants Argentine Pesos.