Adding to my Bucket List…
I ran across this article from The Scout today, and it immediately peaked my interest. The setting is so remarkable and fascinating. I almost can’t believe it is real. People actually live in such a place?!
Here is an excerpt from the article over at The Scout:
We’re a long way from New York City. In fact, we’re a long way from just about everywhere.
After a tumultuous flight from Santiago to Punta Arenas and six hours in a van with our new best friends, we arrive at our magnificent base camp—Explora’s Hotel Salto Chico in Chilean Patagonia. The glowing light from the windows is a welcoming site of hospitality here at the edge of the world.
Magellan named Patagonia “land of giants”, and the rugged scale of the landscape can’t be ignored. It’s big and it’s challenging, both to the body and mind. The boundary between sky and earth is elusive—they are constantly intertwined in a dance between jagged mountain peaks and massive roving clouds. The wind cuts harshly across the Pampas, bringing an unpredictable mix of icy rain and warming rays. Every aspect of nature is amplified from the color of the water and glaciers to the heartiness of the wildlife. Yet the challenge of the terrain is inviting and encouraged at Explora.
Once inside the hotel’s warm walls, the real journey is set to begin. Smiling faces greet us, our gear is whisked away to a cozy room, and we are invited to plan our adventures for the days to come. The delicious Chilean wine begins to flow freely. Suddenly there is a friendliness and ease of conversation with our fellow travelers. Panoramic views unfold from nearly every room in the hotel, allowing a seamless experience between shelter and nature. Its clean, architectural lines nestle harmoniously into the landscape, from the dining room perched over a glowing blue waterfall to the sunrise mountain vista that awakens us each morning.
