On top of the Cave of the Milodon.
It was a winter day during the end of covid regulations in Puerto Natales. A good friend of mine asked me if I wanted to go hike the Benitez Hill, on top of the Cave of the Milodon, to which I absolutely jumped in. I had not done that hike in years and I really wanted to see condors, since that place is known for the best condor sightings in the Magellan region.
Where we started the hike.
We had lunch, put on our hiking boots, dressed warmly and in layers, took the car and headed to the Sofia Lagoon, where we started the hike. The way up which is about two hours, and even families can do it, since the difficulty is not high. By the time we arrived, it was already quite cold already, everything was cloaked in snow, but we warmed up on the way up, and we were already spotting some condors at the distance.
Like a child on Christmas with a new toy.
By the time we arrived to the top, we had a magnificent view not only to the mirror-like Sofia Lagoon, but also to a 360-degree panoramic view with the Patagonian Andes covering most of the landscape around us. However, little did I expect that we would not only have condors flying above us, but also on our same level and below. And it was not just a few of them, but it was dozens of them! Like a child on Christmas with a new toy, I took my camera and started shooting like crazy out of pure joy.
I wanted to stay one last minute to make one last shot… which I did.
My love and passion for nature allowed me to transition to another type of expedition cruise that ventures into frontiers I had never even dreamt of: Antarctica, the Falkland Islands and South Georgia; a privilege of a lifetime. Since then, I have been expanding my horizons in all directions: The Caribbean, the Pacific coast of the Americas, Alaska, the Canadian Arctic and Greenland, learning from some of the best professionals in the world about tourism, hospitality and the world of luxury travel in the most remote and astounding places on Earth.
I knew I had just had the best encounter with condors of my lifetime.
When I got back home, I knew I had just had the best encounter with condors of my lifetime, and I was so happy that I had brought my camera with me! Furthermore, as the future founder of Across Patagonia, I realized that by the time I did start my business, I would provide my clients with the same type of experience, and facilitate the same kind of emotions that I had during such unforgettable excursion day.
