Puerto Natales - Getting the most out of waiting
Arriving in Puerto Natales we had four full days to spend before starting the O-Circuit on the 6th of December. The O-Circuit is the only thing on this month-long adventure that we have booked in advance. There’s limited capacity on the route so the spots fill up months in advance. Waiting around isn’t really our thing so after a day and a half at a nice campsite in Puerto Natales we decided that it was time to leave the city. At least for one night.
Tuesday at noon, we hopped on a small local bus to Villa Serrano. The village consists of a few fancy hotels and a handful of horse and sheep ranches. From Villa Serrano there should be a footpath leading up into the mountains and to the side of a small lake. It looked outstanding on the satellite images, and the reality didn’t disappoint. We had the most spectacular view of Torres del Paine National Park. A view filled to the brim with beautiful mountains. The small lake was incredibly peaceful and the water was crystal clear - a stark contrast to last week's water quality.
Finding a suitable spot for our tent proved tricky. Flat ground is a scarce commodity on a mountainside, and this time was no exception. After a half-hour search, we found a semi-flat patch of grass - just about level enough for one night. Sleeping on a slope means frequent readjustments of sleeping bags and mats throughout the night, but that's part of the adventure.
What never ceases to amaze me when we move from the city to camping in the wild is the difference in noise. You only truly appreciate the cacophony of city life when you experience true silence. No accelerating cars, no impatient drivers honking, no dogs barking, no music playing in the distance. Just silence.
Walking back down, we enjoyed a nearly uninterrupted view of Torres del Paine: the incredible Grey Glacier, the spectacular Cerro Paine Grande and the three iconic towers which are at the centre of every postcard and adventure photo from this area.
To top it off, a majestic condor soared past, just a few meters away. Circling the mountain side, enjoying the upwards streaming air produced by the morning sun hitting the ground below us. What a spectacular view - a flying condor against the backdrop of Torres del Paine. They couldn’t fake it in a tv-commercial. Pure magic!
