Getting high in the Andes, until it got complicated

We depart just after 11am. It turns out we haven't used up all of our July credit, even after drinks, ski hire etc are added to our bill. So they refund the balance in USD cash.

Very reputable operators and I would highly recommend this place to anyone, skier, foodie, or even just someone who likes the stunning sense of place this location offers.

The situation regarding the road pass: It has just opened from the Chile side, so we expect to see the huge backlog of freight trucks making their way UP as we are heading down.

Thankfully, it hasn't yet opened from the Argentina side, so the traffic in our direction (towards Santiago) should be light.

We soon spot the conga line of trucks grinding their way up the hill. Many of these drivers would have been waiting for several days in a staging area.c2 - 47.jpeg

No traffic at all heading in our direction, so we make good time. But the line of trucks going the other way is continuous for over 100km. I have never seen anything like it.

Lower down the valley, the driver stops and points out the mighty Aconcagua. At about 7000m, it is the highest mountain in the world outside the Himalaya region.

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Side note, for the summer months, they have a sister hotel, Refugia Chiloe.

This is on an island just off the coast of northern Patagonia.
chiloe.jpg

Operating from October to April, this hotel is focused on relaxation, nature, local farm to table dining, and a few outdoor activities like hiking, photography and horse riding. There's also extensive wildlife spotting opportunities and a bunch of UNESCO cultural sites.

It looks fantastic. Added to our list!


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I have no words. Stunning. So green with jealousy! Definitely adding to bucket list - but who knows what next ski season will bring?
 
Side note, for the summer months, they have a sister hotel, Refugia Chiloe.

This is on an island just off the coast of northern Patagonia.
View attachment 526966

Operating from October to April, this hotel is focused on relaxation, nature, local farm to table dining, and a few outdoor activities like hiking, photography and horse riding. There's also extensive wildlife spotting opportunities and a bunch of UNESCO cultural sites.

It looks fantastic. Added to our list!

We’ll be in Chiloe in a few weeks time. Alas, we’re not staying there…
 
I have no words. Stunning. So green with jealousy! Definitely adding to bucket list - but who knows what next ski season will bring?

My feeling is if there is an El Niño or a neutral pattern, then it will be fantastic.

La Niña years would be the time to avoid.
 
In breaking news

3 killed at the Inca Lake yesterday.

Apparently an ill advised mountaineering expedition gone wrong. A large group of Chlean day trippers decided it would be a good idea to go mountaineering above the lake and got wiped out by an avalanche.

Hotel staff tried to stop them to no avail.

Sadly it does sound like Darwin Award material.




Statement from the resort operators

 
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Next day is the side quest to Buenos Aires.

We managed to get reward flights there and back to SCL using QF points, but I made a bit of a rookie error here.

As first timers to Argentina, I booked flights to EZE. This is more geared at long haul, and is a very long way out from the city.

Tip for next time, book the other airport AEP, which is way closer to downtown and has relatively frequent short haul flights from places like SCL.

The SCL to EZE flight was on a KLM wide body, which struck me as odd for such a short route. Apparently it flies a fifth freedom route, Amsterdam to EZE to SCL and then the reverse.

It is delayed by 4 hours. Not ideal since we only have 2 nights in Buenos Aires


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The cause was the inbound aircraft from AMS to EZE got diverted all the way back to Sao Paolo

Reason unknown at this point.

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The plane eventually makes its way on to EZE, and finally it gets to SCL for us to board.

Enroute the pilots get on the PA to apologise for the delays. The cause was heavy fog in EZE early in the morning.
 
Arrival into EZE is pretty smooth. The airport is quiet and the immigration line is brief.

We get an Uber for the (long) trip downtown.

It's early Sunday evening in early spring and it's been a nice sunny afternoon here. There are parks that follow both sides of the road, and they are absolutely chockers with local families having picnics and bbq's, kicking footies, riding bikes etc.

This goes on for miles.

There are many billboards - Messi is on every second one. Also many pictures of Maradona.

Eventually we arrive at the BA Marriott

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I had booked this primarily for location, being our first visit to BA.

Have to say though, other than location it wasn't great. Fairly pricey for what it was, and the rooms were looking very tired. Nice foyer though.
 
Next morning we decide to find a local cafe for breakfast as opposed to the hotel.

We find a tiny family run place, Café Arevik, which serves pastries, coffee, empanadas and so on.

Very nice, and good value.

We then do a bit of walking to a few sights
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Plaza de Mayo
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