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Destination guides, industry analysis and opinion on luxury travel in South America.

Crossing from Torres del Paine to El Calafate

DestinationsSep 25, 20262 min read

Crossing from Torres del Paine to El Calafate

Five to six hours, two border posts seven kilometres apart, and a set of rules that only bite in one direction. Most of what goes wrong here is avoidable.

How many nights in Atacama, and how to handle the altitude

DestinationsSep 25, 20262 min read

How many nights in Atacama, and how to handle the altitude

Four nights is the floor, and the first one is spent low. Three nights leaves two useful days, because arrival day can't include altitude.

How to get to San Pedro de Atacama

DestinationsSep 25, 20261 min read

How to get to San Pedro de Atacama

San Pedro has no airport. The route is Santiago to Calama, two hours in the air, then about an hour and a quarter across the desert.

How to get to Torres del Paine from Santiago

DestinationsSep 25, 20262 min read

How to get to Torres del Paine from Santiago

A flight of about four hours, a van of about one hour forty-five, and one detail that decides the whole day: the time the lodge collects guests.

When to go to San Pedro de Atacama, and when to avoid it

DestinationsSep 25, 20261 min read

When to go to San Pedro de Atacama, and when to avoid it

The desert works almost all year. Two windows deserve care, and for opposite reasons: February and early March bring rain that closes roads, and December fills up.

How many nights to stay in Torres del Paine

DestinationsSep 22, 20262 min read

How many nights to stay in Torres del Paine

Four nights is the floor, because the weather gets a vote. Five or six is where most trips should land.

Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas: which airport for Torres del Paine

DestinationsSep 22, 20263 min read

Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas: which airport for Torres del Paine

Most travelers land in Punta Arenas because it has more flights. It costs them a full day in a van.

When to go to Torres del Paine, and how far ahead to book

DestinationsSep 22, 20263 min read

When to go to Torres del Paine, and how far ahead to book

The season barely changes your transfer times, but it decides what you can still book and how many hours of light your traveler gets.