Page 89 - Off the Tourist Trail - 1000 Unexpected Travel Alternatives (Part 1 of 2)

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GREAT JOURNEYS

Hikers in Peru’s Cordillera Blanca, with a snowcapped mountain peak in
the background
The bright blue Nordenskjöld Lake in Torres del Paine National Park,
Patagonia, Chile
Cordillera Torres del Paine
Blanca

NEED TO KNOW
NEED TO KNOW
LOCATION The Torres del Paine 4BOUJBHP
lie in Chile’s southernmost region of
LOCATION The Cordillera Blanca "3(&/5*/"
is located in central Peru, between &$6"%03 Patagonia, 250 miles (400 km)
Trujillo and Lima and less than northwest of Punta Arenas
62 miles (100 km) inland from VISITORS PER YEAR $)*-&
the Pacific Ocean #3";*- Almost 25,000 "UMBOUJD
0DFBO
VISITORS PER YEAR 5SVKJMMP $03%*--&3" CLIMATE The temperature 1BDJmD
0DFBO
Around 5,500 #-"/$" at this southern extremity of
South America rarely rises 5033&4
CLIMATE Coastal winds -JNB 1&36 %&- 1"*/&
keep temperatures between above 68°F (20°C), and winters
59°F (15°C) and 81°F (27°C) 1BDJmD #0-*7*" are often well below freezing 1VOUB "SFOBT 6TIVBJB
for most of the year 0DFBO "SFRVJQB
The harsh and beautiful wilderness region of
This little-explored mountain range not far inland Patagonia, which is shared by Argentina and
from Peru’s humid central coast is becoming Chile, does not give up its secrets easily, but
increasing popular with adventurous travelers. rewards the few people who make it this far south
ABOVE View of Salar de Uyuni from Isla de los Pescadores, a rocky The route is less than 112 miles (180 km) long, yet with some truly breathtaking scenery. Home to
outcrop covered in cacti in the middle of the salt flats
the range comprises more than 60 peaks above mountains, fjords, glaciers, unbelievably blue
clouds every color of the rainbow above this 16,400 ft (5,000 m), making it a mountaineer’s lakes, and perhaps the best fishing and big-game
immense sheet of white oblivion, is a truly delight. And when you consider that the weather hunting to be found on the continent, Torres del
unforgettable experience. While neither the here is not as harsh as it is in Peru’s windswept Paine National Park (see also p150) is the epicenter
longest nor most arduous trek on the continent, Altiplano (Andean plateau) farther east, that there of all that is untamed and unspoiled in the area. A
tackling the magnificent Salar de Uyuni, one of are plenty of trekking outfitters along the way trek through its many spectacular peaks – most
the world’s most harsh and arid environments, who can provide equipment and guides, and that of which can be scaled by mid-level climbers – is
surely ranks as the strangest of all. the landscape boasts some of the most awesome guaranteed to send you back for more. In fact,
mountains in the world, you’ll have more than most of its visitors are returning trekkers.
enough reasons to make this unforgettable trip.
Practical Information
Getting There Almost all visitors arrive by train from Oruro. There are also Practical Information
buses from La Paz that run daily, although these are not recommended – Practical Information Getting There Torres del Paine National Park isn’t a cheap destination. Most
some of the roads approaching the flats are incredibly steep and unsafe. Getting There Fly north from Lima to the town of Huaraz. One access route visitors fly the 1,350-mile (2,200-km) journey from Santiago to Punta Arenas,
4WD tours across the flats are increasingly popular. leads from here, although a more popular option starts in the Llanganuco and then travel by road on to the park. Some people arrive by ship or bus
When to Go The dry season in these parts is from April to October, valley 25 miles (40 km) to the north. at Puerto Natales, which is 70 miles (115 km) south of the park.
although February and March usually mean warmer temperatures. When to Go The best weather is between May and September. The earlier When to Go Between October and April, when days have up to 16 hours of
Website www.gonomad.com/destinations/0409/salar_de_uyuni_ part of the season tends to be the most popular with climbers. direct sunlight, is the best time to visit, although the park is open all year.
bolivia.html Website www.cordillerablancaclimbing.com Website www.torresdelpaine.com/ingles/index.asp

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