The city of El Calafate, tucked away into the southwestern pocket of Argentina’s Santa Cruz Province, overlooks the wonderfully-blue “Lago Argentino,” or “Argentine Lake.” The quaint tourist town is a gateway to beautiful glaciers, endless Patagonian steppes, and stunning Andean mountain peaks.
Argentina’s Santa Cruz Province sits farther south than both
Australia and New Zealand. It isn’t quite the “End of the World,” as the
bordering “Tierra del Fuego” Province officially holds that title, but it’s
close enough. During a recent trip to Argentina, I jumped at the opportunity to
take a day trip to neighboring Chile. The destination was Torres del Paine
National Park, a short three-plus hours from my home base in El Calafate.
I love maps. Thank goodness they had a "You Are Here" sign at Argentine customs.
This is facing Argentina.
At Argentine
customs – the hill in the distance is Chilean territory. Before that? No man’s
land. I’m sure there are specific GPS coordinates with the exact line of where
Argentina’s territory ends and Chile’s begins, but it is about a 5 minute drive
*that way* to Chilean immigration.
We made it -- Chile!
Our first stop in the Torres del Paine National Park. The "Torres" (towers) are
in the background.
I thought it was interesting to see "Pare" in Chile. In Mexico, "Stop" is written "Alto."
I apologize for the false advertising: I've never been to the Philippines,
so I can't say if it is actually more fun there. Probably warmer, though.
Back home: my hostel had some of the best views in El Calafate.
Thanks for reading!
