On vacation in Patagonia Chile
- Thread starter poleclimber63
- Start date
beautiful pics. Reminds me of Iceland with the glacier and differing scenery. Far more mountainous though
poleclimber63
Member
Thanks! The thing that grabbed me, was the drive to and from El Chalten---- you are in a desert driving beside this emerald lake for almost an hour (huge lake!), then you notice icebergs in the lake in the distance.... as you round a mountain you are presented with these incredible jagged mountains, and to the West, a massive glacier calving into the lake.... and you're more or less in a desert!! Absolutely mind blowing!
AuSeeker
Elite Member
I've been checking them out as you post them, awesome scenery!!
ArmyGreenPro
New member
That’s some beautiful country! I would love to go there and do some fishing and kayaking.
The Hilux trucks are amazing!
The Hilux trucks are amazing!
poleclimber63
Member
San Pedro
We stayed in San Pedro de Atacama for 5 days, and on the night of our wedding anniversary, we did a starlight tour--- which consisted of heading out of town a bit, to an observatory park, where they pointed out all the note-worthy objects in the sky and then we had a chance to look at some objects through 6 each 12in telescopes set up. I'd never been to the Southern Hemisphere before, so it was really awesome! Completely different view from what we're used to!!!
San Pedro was one of the few locations we didn't rent a vehicle, and I think if we'd been there longer, it would have been good thing to do. In the short time we had, we took several tours (not particularly expensive) which hit most of the high points my Wife and I wanted to see.
Later in the trip we stayed in Salta Argentina, and explored the opposite side of the Andes by vehicle. We visited some of the most beautiful high desert, mountain scenery and primarily indigeous villages in the region!! A similar geography, but an interesting contrast to San Pedro.
We stayed in San Pedro de Atacama for 5 days, and on the night of our wedding anniversary, we did a starlight tour--- which consisted of heading out of town a bit, to an observatory park, where they pointed out all the note-worthy objects in the sky and then we had a chance to look at some objects through 6 each 12in telescopes set up. I'd never been to the Southern Hemisphere before, so it was really awesome! Completely different view from what we're used to!!!
San Pedro was one of the few locations we didn't rent a vehicle, and I think if we'd been there longer, it would have been good thing to do. In the short time we had, we took several tours (not particularly expensive) which hit most of the high points my Wife and I wanted to see.
Later in the trip we stayed in Salta Argentina, and explored the opposite side of the Andes by vehicle. We visited some of the most beautiful high desert, mountain scenery and primarily indigeous villages in the region!! A similar geography, but an interesting contrast to San Pedro.
poleclimber63
Member
I'm lucky!
My workmates say the same thing, every time my Wife and I head out, its a trip of a life time!! In the last 3 years we've been to Nicaragua, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Czech Rep., the UK, Chile, Argentina and Brazil. I think next Fall my Wife is researching either Tunisia, Morocco or maybe Jordan. I'll let her surprise me!
Yes, that Diesel Hilux was a huge surprise! We had rented a small car but they upgraded us to the Hilux for nothing--- I'm so glad they did!! This may be sacrilegious to say on this forum--- but I'd trade my 4R AND Celica without hesitation, to have that Hilux Diesel 6 spd at home!! That truck was no less powerful (probably more torque) than my 4R but with insanely fantastic fuel mileage!!
My workmates say the same thing, every time my Wife and I head out, its a trip of a life time!! In the last 3 years we've been to Nicaragua, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Czech Rep., the UK, Chile, Argentina and Brazil. I think next Fall my Wife is researching either Tunisia, Morocco or maybe Jordan. I'll let her surprise me!
Yes, that Diesel Hilux was a huge surprise! We had rented a small car but they upgraded us to the Hilux for nothing--- I'm so glad they did!! This may be sacrilegious to say on this forum--- but I'd trade my 4R AND Celica without hesitation, to have that Hilux Diesel 6 spd at home!! That truck was no less powerful (probably more torque) than my 4R but with insanely fantastic fuel mileage!!
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poleclimber63
Member
Patagonia its all possible
Rafting, Kayaking and fishing--- all possible! Off-roading goes without saying!! I loved the Hilux!!! I believe it was a 2017--- with none of the electronic junk in the vehicles here in N. America-- much like my 98' 4R!
It's too bad Toyota didn't import these trucks to N. America, but I suspect Toyota didn't want to go through the difficulty of getting the Turbo diesel through our emission standards. It appears their market research believes the N. American market demands larger displacements and larger vehicles..??
Rafting, Kayaking and fishing--- all possible! Off-roading goes without saying!! I loved the Hilux!!! I believe it was a 2017--- with none of the electronic junk in the vehicles here in N. America-- much like my 98' 4R!
It's too bad Toyota didn't import these trucks to N. America, but I suspect Toyota didn't want to go through the difficulty of getting the Turbo diesel through our emission standards. It appears their market research believes the N. American market demands larger displacements and larger vehicles..??
poleclimber63
Member
another stop.. Iguazu Falls
... After Salta Argentina, we flew into Puerto Iguazu to take in the largest Falls in the world Iguazu Falls (or if you're in Brazil, Iguacu)
In this pic, we are standing in Argentina, Brazil is to the top right and Paraguay is to the left....
We stayed on the Argentinian side for a few days and then took a taxi across to the Brazilian side and stayed a few more days... now from the Brazilian side...
... After Salta Argentina, we flew into Puerto Iguazu to take in the largest Falls in the world Iguazu Falls (or if you're in Brazil, Iguacu)
In this pic, we are standing in Argentina, Brazil is to the top right and Paraguay is to the left....
We stayed on the Argentinian side for a few days and then took a taxi across to the Brazilian side and stayed a few more days... now from the Brazilian side...
poleclimber63
Member
update...
I'll dig up some pics of Rio, our last stop, last Fall... I sincerely hope I don't cause anyone to suffer travel withdrawal.... we were hoping to travel to the Middle East about now, but the COVID catastrophe has certainly put paid to any hope, in this respect... hopefully till this time next year, but probably 2022.
I'll dig up some pics of Rio, our last stop, last Fall... I sincerely hope I don't cause anyone to suffer travel withdrawal.... we were hoping to travel to the Middle East about now, but the COVID catastrophe has certainly put paid to any hope, in this respect... hopefully till this time next year, but probably 2022.
AgentKooper
New member
You absolutely aggravated my travel withdrawal! Awesome pics and awesome trip. Yeah, those Hiluxes are great. I drove one for 10 days down in Nicaragua a few years ago and loved it.
Here's to hoping we can travel again soon. We had to postpone a long-planned trip to East Africa in 2020 and are still hoping we can do it in 2021.
poleclimber63
Member
Sorry about aggravating your travel withdrawal! My Wife is getting increasingly hard to live with without the ability to travel!! Now that there may be light at the end of the tunnel, she's looking at Greece AND the Middle East.... 2021...2022... who knows!? She threatened to jump on a plane and head to the UK (she's British) to get vaccinated, as the UK just approved it!!
East Africa sounds great, a former co-worker spent 2 weeks in Tanzania at the same time we were in South America and they had an awesome time!
We spent 3.5 weeks in Nicaragua in 2017 and it was really great! I really feel for their ordeal with the Hurricane that just swept onto the coast there, as we spent time on the East Coast... If you liked Nicaragua, you would love South America---Chile was incredible, Brazil spectacular but we fell in love with Argentina...
