(Video available in 3K and 4K (1440p and 2160p) as well here: http://youtu.be/TlB-MIRYqRo)
If you ever thought about travelling to "the end of the world", this article may give you an impression, how I saw this terrific part of South America through my eyes (ok, to be more precise: through the Sony A7R with some lenses mentioned at the end). On this journey from Punta Arenas, the southernmost city on the South American mainland we crossed Patagonian snow capped mountains "Torres Del Paine", volcanos, fjords, exotic flora and fauna, chilled on Chiloe and roamed the narrow alleys of the Unesco world heritage Valparaiso.
For a better orientation about the locations shown here, you may use this interactive map:
Chile, the 4300 km long (but on average only 180 km wide) country covers nearly all climate zones from the Atacama desert to the antarctic boarder. Bounded between the coast on the west and the Andes on the east you can count about 2000 volcanos from which about 100 are currently active. The first station Punta Arenas at the Strait of Magellan is the starting point for trips to Tierra del Fuego and the Antarctica as well as to the Torres del Paine National Park.
View to Strait of Magallanes and Tierra Del Fuego, Punta Arenas
Palacio Sara Braun, Punta Arenas, Magallanes y Antartica Chilena
Magellanic Penguins near Punta Arenas
Face to face with a Magellanic Penguin
About a three hours drive north of Punta Arenas you find the major attraction Torres del Paine National Park:
Guanakos at Rio Paine, Torres Del Paine
Rio Paine, Torres del Paine
Lago Pehoe, Torres Del Paine
Glacier Grey, Lago Grey, Torres Del Paine
Flame cut, Torres Del Paine
Lago Pehoe, Torres Del Paine
On a two hours flight to Puerto Montt you can enjoy a great aerial view over the lakes and Andes:
30000 ft above Patagonian Andes, Chile/Argentina
On Chiloe Island, about one hour drive from Puerto Montt, you find lots of wooden churches, Palafitos and fresh Seafood. Chiloe has a lot of rain days but if you are fortunate with the weather, you can enjoy this picturesque island in rich colors:
Iglesia San Francisco De Castro, Chiloe
Palafitos, Chiloe Island
Dalcahue, Chiloe Island
Algas
Iglesia de Chonchi, Queilen, Chiloe
Ostra
North of Puerto Montt starts a wonderful area dominated by large lakes and volcanos, starting with volcano Osorno:
Lago Todos Los Santos, Vulcano Osorno
View from volcano Osorno
Sunset illuminating snow cap of Volcano Osorno - View from Puerto Varas
Travelling further towards north, Valdivia may be worth a visit as well:
Tango Dancers, Valdivia
Reserva Biológica Huilo Huilo provides some magnificent views to several waterfalls and magical hotels:
Saltos Del Huilo-Huilo, Región de Los Ríos, Neltume
Montaña Mágica Lodge, Reserva Biológica Huilo Huilo
Nothafagus (ex Baobab) Hotel, Reserva Biológica Huilo Huilo
Another impressive - still acive - volcano is Villarica, located close to Pucon:
Villarica Volcano, View from Pucon
Sunset at Pucon
Crossing the Casablanca wine valley brings you to the cultural capital of Chile, Valparaiso, a Unesco world heritage site with many eye-candy view points, street and cable art:
Cerro Concepción, Valparaiso
Street art, Valparaiso
Street & cable art, Valparaiso
Ascensor, Valparaiso
Ascensor operator, Valparaiso
A collection of some eye catching doors of Valparaiso:
Doors of Valparaiso (8652x12960 px)
You can click on the images to see higher resolutions. If you are interested on further images, please visit and comment the video slideshow at the beginning of the this article and and this Flickr album http://www.flickr.com/photos/hhackbarth/sets/72157639475644074
For those who are interested in the equipment used on this journey:
- Sony A7R
- Leica Tri Elmar 16-18-21mm f/4 ASPH ("WATE")
- Zeiss FE 2.8/35
- Zeiss FE 1.8/55
- Voigtlander Nokton 21/1.8 ASPH
- Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85/1.8 G (2012 model)
Most of the time I carried only the A7r with the Leica WATE, the Zeiss FE 2.8/35 and the FE 1.8/55, a lightweight and compact set with the best image quality I've seen so far.