We leave Tierra del Fuego and Argentina to go to Magallanes, Chili.
To our surprise, there is also a colony of King penguins here. It is strange to not see these animals in the snow-covered environment, which is on TV. From the ranger we hear that there are also chicks. We have a slightly different idea with the word chick. They are actually adult sized penguins with exploded hair (feathers).
From Porvenir we drive via Punto Arenas to Puerto Natales. This place is located near Torres del Paine NP. When you google photos of Patagonia, you probably see this granite rock formation. We make a few nice walks and the environment realy nice. One day we have luck, wind silent and 24 degrees. The other days there is a strong wind. Although El Calafate is very touristy, it has a nice atmosphere. Terraces and restaurants abound, the sun gives a real holiday feeling.
El Calafate is so touristy because everyone from here visits the glacier 'Perito Moreno'. The swirling ice wall of about 60 meters high makes ominous sounds. Regularly large pieces of ice break off the glacier and fall into the lake.
After El Calafate we head for El Chaltén. This village is located in the northernmost part of Los Glaciares National Park. The main peak is Mount Fitz-Roy. Just like in Torres del Paine we make nice walks here and the weather is just as changeable. One day the weather is blowing enormously and the other day awful. Although you have little "big" game here, only the puma and the huemel deer, we see a lot of birds. Like black neck swans, Condors and Magelanic woodpeckers. Because we are not allowed with Cateautje in the National Park, we are looking for a nice wild camping spot outside the park. When is a place beautiful? No mess, quiet and especially important in Patagonia sheltered from the wind. The road ends at Lago del Desierto. This lake forms the border with Chile. The southernmost point of the Carretera Austral lies on the other side of the valley, at about 60km. From here there is no road so we have to drive about 1000km.