Balance isn't something you find, it's something you create.
With the winter in full swing here in Santiago, I’ve found myself day dreaming about the warm, tropical beaches of Rio de Janeiro. It’s been a couple of months since we took on this crazy city, but the memories are still fresh. Continue reading “First Timer’s Guide to Rio de Janiero”
After nearly a year of enjoying the spoils of living within hours of many of the world’s best wine valleys, it was time for a Chilean wine weekend. Though we had previously spent a long weekend exploring Argentinian wine country in Mendoza, we were excited to tour some of Chile’s iconic vineyards. We set our sights on Santa Cruz, located about 2.5 hours south of Santiago in the heart of the Colchagua wine valley. Continue reading “Wine Weekend in Chile’s Colchagua Valley”
After over a year of living in Santiago, much of the newness and novelty has worn off. Sure, there are still the intermittent reminders that we’re “not in Kansas anymore”, but overall, Santiago has really started to feel like home. So, during two recent visits from my parents and my friend Jenn, it was refreshing to get to experience so many of the places and things that have become routine to us through fresh eyes. Continue reading “Fresh Eyes: Sharing Chile with Friends and Family”
The W hike in Torres del Paine National Park is truly indescribable. You have to experience it for yourself to understand the true beauty of this pristine, remote slice of earth. While some may find stories of extreme winds and volatile weather to be intimidating, others will likely be equally overwhelmed by the task of packing all the necessities for a 4-5 night trip in a single backpack. This packing list is here to help.
Continue reading “5-Day Packing List for the W Trek in Torres del Paine (Chilean Patagonia)”
From the moment we signed our contract to move to Chile, Torres del Paine National Park was on our minds. This park is at or near the top of many adventure travelers’ lists, and the iconic “W” hike is considered by many as one of the best all around multi-day hikes in the world.
Continue reading “Hiking the “W” in Torres del Paine (Chilean Patagonia)”
The highlight of our recent 9 day road trip to the Patagonian Lakes District was a 4 day stay in San Carlos de Bariloche. This small Argentine town is set in one of the most picturesque landscapes I’ve seen, surrounded by mountains and a network of long, beautiful finger lakes. Our stay near the Llao Llao Peninsula was nothing short of enchanting.
Continue reading “Falling for San Carlos de Bariloche”
After 9 months living in and exploring Chile, we finally ventured south. When we found out we were moving to Santiago, one of the places we were most excited to explore was Patagonia. This extremely remote area in the southern tip of South America is considered one of the most naturally beautiful places on earth. Continue reading “Road Trip! Santiago to the Patagonian Lake District”
Just over 1000 miles north of Santiago, you will find San Pedro de Atacama a small desert town surrounded by some of the most otherworldly landscapes I have ever seen. From town you can easily visit salt flats, volcanos, geysers, alpine lakes and desert valleys that will make you question whether you have somehow been transported to another planet. Continue reading “3 days in San Pedro Atacama”
Despite the fact that Valparaiso is one of the top day trip destinations for visitors to Santiago, after nearly 7 months of living here, we still hadn’t made the trip. If we had been visiting Santiago for a week, we no doubt would have made the excursion right away, but living here made it seem less urgent. Instead, we opted to spend our weekends exploring the city, hiking in the Andes and taking various weekend trips to destinations further outside the city limits.
With spring on the horizon, though, we decided we needed it was time to move this trip up the priority list. Continue reading “6 Hours in Valparaiso + a Chilean Rodeo”
Easter Island is somewhere that has always intrigued me. With it’s natural beauty and mysterious history, it was a place I dreamed of visiting, but in reality wasn’t sure I would ever get to see with my own eyes. It’s one of the most remote islands in the world, and not easy to get to from most places. But, lucky for us, one of the few direct flights available to the island is from Santiago, so adding it to our list of travel destinations during our time here was a no brainer. Continue reading “Easter Island (Isla de Pasqua) in 5 days”