Kyle Hepp

February 10, 2011

Going to cry now. I just had the longest post written and internet closed on me, and for some reason WordPress had never saved it as a draft.

What I was saying was that yesterday we left off with an eternal bike ride to nowhere. So after that and our wedding business in Patagonia was done, we decided to head off to the Carretera Austral. All of the tour agencies and even the tourist information lady in the plaza of Coyhaique, presumably sponsored by the government, told us that we were much better off paying for an organized tour because it would be cheaper in the long run and because it was “the only way.” We were told that it would take us 100,000 pesos in gas to get to Puerto Tranquilo (it cost us 37,000) and we were also told that Puerto Tranquilo didn’t have very much lodging so we couldn’t just show up and expect to be able to find a place to sleep.

In the end, yes, it was expensive. We paid 120,000 to rent a truck for two days (which could’ve been 100,000 if we had actually planned in advance, but Seba had to wander the streets of Coyhaique trying to figure out where we could get a vehicle because they were all sold out everywhere). We spent 37,000 more in gas, 20,000 for a night in a cabin, 20,000 on food, 35,000 for the boat to Capillas de Marmol and 6,000 for the entrance fee to the glacier park.

The organized tours were quoting us between 200,000 and 350,000 per person for a two day tour to see the exact same things we saw — Capillas de Marmol, Cerro Castillo and Glaciar Exploradores.

You do the math. We came out ahead.

Not to mention we had the total freedom to go where we wanted to go in our little truck and stop where we wanted to stop. A drive that should’ve taken us 4 hours took us 6.5 hours because we spent so much time getting out and walking around and taking pictures. And not to mention that on a vacation, I’d rather talk to nobody. All I do for a living is talk, talk, talk. When I’m resting, I want to rest, not make small talk with other tourists and a guide. Seba and I had a great time talk, talk, talking the whole time in the truck — we basically planned out our future — but talking to him is easy, not work. The introvert in me really needed a break from people. Seba doesn’t count. He’s not a people, he’s a husband.

And even though we spent a ton of money, we were really, really happy that we took this trip. It was an amazing adventure. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

Look at this scenery and tell me it’s not worth it. I dare you.

Yoga?

When you start out on the Carretera Austral out of Coyhaique, it’s paved.

At this point we were trying to walk up to those rocks. I told Seba it would take five minutes. I lied. Needless to say, we didn’t make it.

Yes, I’m wearing jeans.

Yes, I felt so uncomfortable that I changed out of them a half an hour into the trip. Do. Not. Like. Pants.

These little bur things got on us every time we got out of the car and they were impossible to get off!

Look! We even brought a tripod so that we could get pictures of us together on our Patagonian Adventure!

I want to live here.

This is the famous “Cerro Castillo.” It’s a rock formation that looks like a castle.

Here’s a closer look. No, we didn’t ever get any closer in our vehicle. I just put on a longer lens.

I was actually surprised at how populated Patagonia is! Lots of people living out in the middle of nowhere!

I thought Laguna Verde was one of the most beautiful things we saw on the trip. The water was such a cool aqua color. I think that’s because it comes from melting glaciers, but I could be wrong.

A couple hours outside Coyhaique, the pavement turns into a dirt road. But it’s really compacted dirt, so the drive isn’t all that bad.

My man.

Here we are almost in Puerto Tranquilo. Capillas de Marmol and glacier viewing to come!

PS. Someone mentioned in the comments yesterday that I should watermark pictures and offer them as desktop backgrounds. Would anyone want that? I’m happy to do so if people are interested. Place your vote for what photo you want if you like the idea.