Day 20 Puerto Natales to Santiago en route to Aticama

It was very clear and sunny when we woke up and we could see mountains all around us.  It was still very windy with the forecast saying speeds of 50mph.

After breakfast we had 2 hours to kill so I went for a walk along the water front while Paul stayed in the room.  It was a very cold wind and was difficult to stand upright at times.  The Black Necked Swans were still in the same place and didnt seem bothered by the wind.  In this area there are a lot of wild lupins growing in the hedgerow.  We saw them while driving to the Osorno Volcano a few days previously and I noticed some on the road up to the hotel.  On my way back some sheep had appeared in a field next to the hotel grounds.  They looked very big with a thick layer of wool.

 
Black Necked Swans

 
Wild Lupins

 
Very woolly sheep

 
Sheep in field next to hotel

We were picked up at 11.00am for our flight back to Santiago.  The flight made a scheduled stop at Puerta Monte before continuing to Santiago.  On the approach to Puerta Monte Airport we had great views of the Osorno and surrounding volcanos.

 
Osorno and Calbuco Volcanos

 
Osorno and Tronador Volcanos

When we arrived at Santiago, we walked to the Holiday Inn hotel at Santiago Airport as tomorrow we have a very early flight to Calama, in the very north of Chile,  to start our visit to the Atacama Desert.  I have repacked my case and put the cold weather clothes at the bottom as they wont be needed any more.  I went for a swim in the hotel pool and then we had a meal and an early night ready for the final phase of our holiday.


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