Our Patagonian journey continued at Parque Nacional Torres del Paine, Chilean Patagonia’s ‘Towers of Blue.’ Staying at Hotel Las Torres inside the park, we enjoyed an all-inclusive package covering meals, beverages, and activities, allowing us to focus on the breathtaking surroundings.

Our excursions included a hike to the base of the towers - not for the faint-hearted! The 8km trail follows a valley before a gruelling final 4km climb over boulders and rocky paths. At the top, the reward was a stunning close-up of the three towers and their glacial lagoon.

Other activities included horse riding with gauchos, hiking glaciers, crossing glacial lakes by boat and searching for the elusive pumas with nearly 300 now inhabiting the protected park. To truly experience this remote, inspiring landscape, I’d recommend at least five days.

Next, we travelled to Puerto Varas, a town on the shores of a lake surrounded by some of Chile’s 2000 volcanoes. A day trip took us to Chiloe Island, the last place to join the Chilean Republic. Here, life is simple - farms, colourful villages, fresh seafood at tiny fishing ports and craft markets selling local Artesanias.

Puerto Varas is renowned for fly fishing, home to the world’s largest King Salmon, reaching up to 30kg. Our guide led us on a hike along a river to a lake under a volcano, where one of Chile’s oldest trees, a 3000-year-old Patagonian Cypress, still stands.

From here, we took the Cruce Andino, the old trading route between Chile and Argentina. Crossing the Andes via three lakes, each linked by a short bus ride, we travelled beneath towering peaks, glaciers and crystal-clear waters. After a long day and two border crossings, we arrived in San Carlos de Bariloche.

This surprising town of nearly 200,000 people was shaped by German pioneers to resemble an Alpine village. The western side features the renowned Llao Llao Hotel and chalet-style homes along the shores of Lago Nahuel Huapi.

Bariloche, surrounded by lakes and mountains is situated in north-western Patagonia, and is both a summer and winter destination. Summer activities include yachting, rafting, kayaking, hiking, horse riding and, of course, eating. The area is famous for its many chocolate shops and breweries.

In winter, Bariloche has South America’s largest ski resort, attracting visitors from all over the continent. The quaint town is a tourist mecca, not only because of its outdoor activities but for the uniqueness of its location, history and culture.

It was sad to leave Patagonia after nearly a month of adventure and discovery. Its stunning beauty and breathtaking landscapes will always be vivid memories to relive over a glass or two of Malbec.

If you’d like to share your travel story, simply reach out to the Travel Focus Group team when you return. We’d love to feature your experiences!