Rooftop jacuzzi with a view over the lake

Puerto Natales

This small, waterside town is the gateway to the Torres del Paine national Park. 2 km NW of Natales is the old freezer plant at Puerto Bories, constructed in 1913 and the reason for the existence of Puerto Natales, which served as the lodging and supply point for the frigorifico plant. It is now a museum. The tap water is straight from the glaciers and some of the freshest in the world.

A very special day - Charles' 50th birthday!   We travelled down Sorreno River from Lago Grey, first by zodiac boat and then a larger boat, stopping at Sorreno Glacier and then lunch overlooking the lake. We very much enjoyed our stay at the Hotel Indigo especially the relaxing jacuzzi after a very long day.

The Cave of the Milodon

The cave is an impressive 30m (98 ft) high structure, situated on the edge of the Benítez hill north of Puerto Natales. The Milodon is an extinct 12 foot tall giant sloth, this was its home. At the cave entrance there is a figure of the mythical animal encased in fibreglass.

The first indications of the milodon go back to 1896, when Hermann Eberhard found excellently preserved bits of skin and excrement of such an animal, which suggested that it could have existed. This specimen of animal is calculated to have been two times the size of a man, was a mammal, and a herbivore. Inside this area there are also remains of human settlements. They are thought to have used the caves as refuges more than 12 thousand years ago.

En Route to Punta Arenas
We stopped off at an interesting cafe. Note the signage. The owner had a pet condor that he had kept for 22 years. The condor was blind and unable to fly.