This season I started with a OAT group and a program called “Andes to Patagonia”.

My first group of the season and the first one with this company so many things to deal with… specially with a rusty tongue after several months of just spanglish and studies at the university, so until last minute I didn’t realize that I have the group.. the night before I packed everything and read some books… specialty “improvisation”

The first day I contact the bus company, “Buses Fernandez” to arrange the pick up time from the airport, everything was ok, at 10:30 pm I contact the P.D. ( Program Director) of the group. Excellent fella!!! He even have a blog as me. “Chilean Tourism Network”.

The first thing is take the travellers to the Hotel Cabo de Hornos, the front desk staff was very helpful on this. After that wi give an orientation walk to show places for lunch, exchange money & internet.

After lunch.. a delicious “Ave Palta” in Lomits (chicken breast with avocado on a  stone-oven bread  spread with home made mayonesa big as a dinner plate.), we get on the bus again to make a little city tour but actually is more like a hike around town showing differents options to do for themselves.

The next day there is a  drive to Torres del Paine, I think that is a waste of time to stay in Punta Arenas that night. How is a early flight you have enough time to have lunch in Punta Arenas, do some sightseeing and the drive to Puerto Natales, much

nicer town and more practical due to the short drive to the park and adding more time in the park itself, something that most travellers appreciate.

We where quite lucky with the weather the first day in the Park, after leaving luggage in the Hotel we went to Cascada Paine to see the Towers on the sunset light. A strode in the road toward the Refugio Goic and back to the Hotel for dinner.

We have breakfast at 06:40 am to get at 7:30 am to the check in of the Grey II sailing trip to Grey Glaciar, one of the highlights of the park. People admire how close they can get to the glaciar and how much have retreated. It’s sad to see from the times that I was a guide  we enter walking to the glaciar,  now where you have to cross on a zodiac boat to the other side of it.

The rest of the afternoon was the hike to Mirador Los Cuernos that is after the salto grande, very beautiful hike is the closest point from where you can see the massif with out enter the primitive area that is only for trekking.

It’s was a good trip, the learning is always good and necessary. Specially wit groups that are interested to learn about our natural heritage.

Julio Llanos

My name is Julio Llanos and I was born and race in the southern city of Punta Arenas Chile.

The experience that had the greatest influence in my current job is the year that I spent in the suburbs of the windy city of Chicago. This encouraged me to study and become an EFL teacher.  At the same time I developed a deep interest on the culture of my home town and region. It was at that moment that I decided to merge this second language with the passion that I have for the natural beauties of my region and so I began to work in tourism in 1999. As a chip off the old block I took advantage of my father’s 25 year experience guiding tours around the region to learn not only how to transmit facts, but to make people’s holiday in Patagonia a truly unforgettable episode in their lives.

Some of the tours I have carried out are:

City tour: discover the hidden beauty of one of the most important cities in Patagonia. Learn about the unique culture of Chilean Patagonia, the early times, the wealth and the controversial topics that still haunt our memories. This tour includes a visit to the Salesian Museum, the Braun Menendez mansion and the open air museum.

Penguin Colony: enjoy the cuddly Magellan Penguin and their struggle for survival in this southern corner of the world. There are two options: visit the Otway sound colony or the national Monument “The Penguins” located in the middle of the famous Strait of Magellan.

Reserva Forestal Magallanes: if you are interested on hikes as well as learning about the bio diversity of the Patagonian forest this is a place where you can get in touch with nature in a non crowded setting. Located 30 only 30 minutes out of Punta Arenas, this park can help you forget the long flights and bus rides

Faro San Isidro and mount Tarn: walk along the shore line of the strait of Magellan to one of the southern most light houses in the world.

Torres del Paine National Park: the jewel in the crown of all the national parks in Chile. A unique chance to interact with native wild life, witness the power of glacier forces and attest a true geological miracle: the world wide known “Paine Range”.

Mail : thulium2@hotmail.com

Phone: 56-8-8889758