Leah Slaten

It will take a drive and a ferry to get here, but once you do you’ll want to rent a bike to explore the island in earnest. You’ll have time to cycle around the whole island, with side trips to beaches, frontier houses, and picnic spots or small cafes. To get to Washington Island, drive north on Highway 42 until reaching the top of the Door Peninsula. It’s easy to follow the signs for the ferry,...

This hike is accessible only from the Los Perros campsite within Torres del Paine national park, a part of the O circuit. It can be accessed only with a park ranger or licensed guide. The easiest (and cheapest) way to complete this hike is by spending a night at the nearby campground. Coming from Refugio Dickson, it takes about 4 hours to reach Los Perros. Arrive early in the day and register a...

Begin this hike from the ranger station in El Chalten. You will need to register (they will send out search and rescue if you do not return within 48 hours of the anticipated date) and show the park ranger your mandatory gear (more details in packing list). If you do not have these items already, all the gear can easily be rented from any of the outdoors shops in town. The hike is typically com...

The most common way to access the Refugio is via the trail from Villa Catedral (there are other paths, as well as a multi-day backpacking route in the park). The town and recreation area of Villa Catedral can be reached from Bariloche by a bus that leaves from the center every  hour and takes about 45 minutes. Get off at the last stop, and follow the sign in the parking lot to “FREY.” The sign ...

Start this hike from the ranger station in El Chalten. Over the first 3 miles of the hike, you will gradually ascend 1000 feet. The terrain is mostly fields. After about 2 hours of walking, you will reach a field with cows in it. You will reach a fork. Follow the path on the right towards the mirador (viewpoint). Now the trail will get steeper, and you will ascend 1200 more feet in 2 miles. At ...

Bariloche is a beautiful town loaded with European architecture, chocolate, and beer. But no trip to Bariloche would be complete without some time cycling through the mountains and around the lakes.  The Circuito Chico bike ride begins at km 18.3 of the main road in Bariloche. You can take the bus from downtown, which leaves regularly throughout the day. There is a bike rental shop right at the...