Message Stick

From Puerto Madyrn we headed straight for El Chalten in the heart of Argentinean Patagonia. Winter down here is most definitely off-season but thankfully we found an awesome alpine-lodge style hostel to stay at complete with under floor heating. We took a trip out to the Perito Moreno glacier and though the weather was pretty chilly when the sun came out it was glorious. The glacier is truly massive, dwarfing those we saw in New Zealand. The scale is difficult to appreciate in the photos because there is little to compare it to and though initially sceptical about the trip we were both blown away. On the return journey we got the driver to drop us off at the frozen lake to join in with the local’s fun and proving our round-the-world shoes also make pretty cool ice skates!

After thawing out from the glacier tour we spent a couple of days in El Chalten. At three hours away by bus it’s practically round the corner by Patagonian standards. This is prime trekking country in the summer but had turned into a winter wonderland when we arrived. Many of the walks were closed off because they are covered in snow and ice but we managed to get out on a few of them just in time for the clouds to part and show us the impressive ranges hiding in the distance.