I visited Chile for 3 months after graduating university in December 2015. After travelling down Argentina with my Mum, I bussed across to the south of Chile and kicked off my visit hiking the TDP route. Here I met some great people. I ended up renting a flat in Punta Arenas, with 2 guys I met on the trail.

I spoke no Spanish – really nothing – but Colin one of my new friends was fluent, having just spent a year teaching Spanish in Santiago. He gave me the confidence to start hitching, I always put him in the front deat! But I soon realised it was such a friendly country people would help you out even if you couldn’t talk to them.

I left my new pals after the New Year and flew up to the Atacama. Everyone had been recommending it to me, so I though I been check it out. Having done no research I didn’t realise I was now 2,400m above sea level and oxygen levels were a little lower.

(Please excuse the poor panorama)

Day 1 – I hired a bike and rode out to Valle de la luna, it was probably only a 30km round trip, but I was exhausted. Luckily, I had no schedule to keep and just kept pulling over and taking naps.

Whether it was the altitude or the crowds, although I liked San Pedro I didn’t love it and I hoped on a plane down south again. Worth noting if you are flying in Chile, a return flight is often cheaper than a single, so check the price of a return even if you have no intention of returning.

I spent the next month exploring the Lake district of Chile. I got to Puerto Varas, arriving with no where to stay and the information office had just closed. While I was most likely looking lost and wondering how I would find a hostel in the town, this Ukrainian woman approached me with some tourist fliers. We got chatting and she invited me to crash at her place during my stay. It was brilliant. She took me around the town, even got me in the club! But most importantly made me the best Borscht I think I’ve ever had.

After a few days, I caught the bus towards Cochamo Valley. I had a couple of buses to get and I ended up hitch hiking. Well to be honest, I was just walking along the road to were I thought the other bus stop was, when a car pulled over and asked if I wanted a lift (opening the conversion in English, I was not blending in). The guy already had to hitch hikers in the back. Not only did he give us a lift and save me waiting for my bus. He took us to his house and zoomed us over to Cochamo on his boat! This was the first time hitch hiking on a boat and I hoped it wouldn’t be the last.

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After the eventful journey, the other hitchers and I got a taxi to the start of the route. I spent 4 days up in the Valley, I wasn’t climbing as I didn’t have any gear with me. I just walked around, swam in the water pools. I could have lived there. An absolutely must visit destination.

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Once I ran out of food, I was forced to head back to civilisation. I was now getting comfortable hitching and I had learnt ‘A donde vas?’, where are you going? I jumped in the back of a pick up truck and completed my first solo hitch hike of the trip the short trip back to Cochamo.

A little later I ended up in Chiloe, I did a two day remote beach hike out of Cucao to little bay called Cole Cole. It was great to be back in my tent and the views where stunning. The bugs however, where bitey and I was pleased there was no one around to see now mad they made me.

I had complete forgot to check my food bag before setting off. Although I had enough calories in the bag, nothing worked as a meal. I ended up mostly eating peanut butter out the jar. On the bright side this brought me to try cheese and peanut butter sandwiches with my last roll – and I’ll tell you now I have eaten it again since!

On my way back I wanted to visit Muelle De Las Almas – it was getting late in the day and I was thinking of skipping it. But I got a lift quickly and decided to go for it. It was a nice little walk particularly as it was late and there were very few people about.

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I the only family I did see not only offered me a lift out of there, but they offered to let me stay with them in their holiday lodge for the night. The parents spoke no English but the kids (teenagers) were easily proficient and where excited to practice. It was this car journey when I found out Alan Rickman had died and we all bonded over the shock. It was a brilliant night, with a big feast and even though we didn’t all speak the same language, I feel like it was a night filled with talking and chatter.

Chile was such a welcoming friendly country to visit. I never felt threatened and people constantly went out of there way to improve my day. The hiking was stunning, the water didn’t need filtering and no animals tried to kill me. All in all a great few months.