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Chile and Easter Island

The mountains of Torres del Paine - jagged granite ridges and spires capped with shale - have long held significance for the region's native inhabitants. According to local myth, an evil serpent called Cai Cai caused a massive flood to kill the warrior tribe that lived in Torres del Paine. When the flood waters receded, Cai Cai took the bodies of the two largest warriors and turned them to stone - thereby creating the twin horns that crown the mountaintop of Cuernos del Paine.

Now you can see the size of the calving in the distance with the small zodiacs in the foreground going back to the ship.

This was clever for sure.

Stopping or falling could prove a real problem. A mouth full of dirt.

The Rainbow Valley is an other worldly landscape of rock formations sculpted by centuries of wind.

The minerals make it look like it may have just snowed.

Navigating the Calvo Fjord, a glacier filled alley of bobbing ice.

More than 40 mammals make their home in the park, including the guanaco, puma, and Patagonian gray fox. Some of the world's rarest bird species - the Andean condor, crested cara cara, and black vulture among them - are also found in Torres.

We were very fortunate to have a home hosted dinner in Valparaiso overlooking the city below from high up in the hills.

The Rainbow Valley continually has the wind blowing.

The layered rock is sculptured by the centuries of wind blowing.

The colors are a kaleidoscopic palette of vibrant reds, purples, and yellows formed by the mineral deposits.

Our hosts, the mother and the sister also lost their homes to the fire and have just recently returned after re building. This concludes a wonderful trip visiting Chile from the Atacama Desert to the Fjords to the wine country, and to Easter Island. A spectacular 3 weeks of travel. So many wonderful experiences in a country with great hard working and freindly people.

Talk about narrow house on a steep hill.

Not only does Torres del Paine boast several distinct ecosystems; each ecosystem contains a wealth of landscapes, flora, and fauna found nowhere else in world.

The drawings are attributed to the Atacama people that date back as early as 500 AD.

Our guide Marcela in the Atacama and the Petroglifes de Hierbas Buenas explains the location and history of this area.

he petroglyphs served as a place for travellers to document their experiences and contribute to history and culture.

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