Traveling to Patagonia has always been a dream for Jenny Taladua, Director of OAT’s Product Calendar. Having been with the company for nearly two decades, she’s seen a lot of the world—and has brought her trusty camera along with her to document her journeys. However, it wasn’t until recently that she was able to explore the region at the top of her must-see list on our Chile & Argentina: The Andes to Patagonia adventure.
And as Jenny reports, Patagonia was definitely worth waiting for. From the vibrant and colorful homes in Buenos Aires’ celebrated La Boca district to the soaring granite peaks of Torres del Paine National Park, Jenny and her camera were never short of amazing subjects. Here, Jenny shares three of her favorite moments from the trip …
“Patagonia was so mystical and unpredictable,” Jenny says. “There were times when we experienced all four seasons in a single day.” On one hike in Torres del Paine, “Our Trip Leader had our group sit in silence at the base of the mountain. It was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop. Suddenly, we heard a loud rumbling and saw ‘smoke’ appear on the mountain peak—it was a cloud of snow kicked up by an avalanche.”
Another highlight was witnessing Argentina’s Perito Moreno Glacier, which towers nearly 200 feet above Lake Argentino in Los Glacieres National Park. “I’ll never forget the deep blue hues of the ice,” Jenny says, “or the unmistakable sounds of icebergs calving.”
Jenny also enjoyed spending time with a local family on Chiloe Island. “Our group made a traditional stew called curanto from scratch, where we heated the lava rocks in a pit; added clams, mussels, chorizo, chicken, potatoes, and smoked pork; and covered the entire mixture with nalca leaves, hemp, and finally, dirt. It was truly one of the best meals I’ve ever eaten—and it was wonderful to partake in this Chiloean tradition.”
Experience the remote, pristine beauty of the "Land of Fire" on our Chile & Argentina: The Andes to Patagonia adventure.