We left the cruise ship in the Galapagos at 1000 on 14 Feb 09 and arrived at Torres del Paine in Patagonia at 1800 15 Feb 09. Subtract the 3 hours for time zone differences and the total travel time was 29 Hours.

They got us off the ship early so that they could clean it all for the next group that would be arriving at 1300. So we waited at the airport - few walls, about 35C and 95% humidity for about two hours before the plane departure. Uneventful flight in an old Boeing 727-100 to Guayacil ( wait 1 hour for refuelling and other stuff at South American pace) then to Quito. Transfer to International terminal, check in and then go to VIP Lounge (thanks to Qantas Club Gold membership) - It is now 1900 and departure is due at 2145. Waiting, waiting - it is now 2245 and we board the plane for Santiago Chile - departing about 90 minutes late. But first we have to go back to Guayacil to get more fuel because the altitude in Quito is 2800 metres and we cannot take off with a full fuel load. Plane fills with passengers including a soccer team. Jill and I are really looking forward to a red-eye flight with the soccer players.

The flight was about 4 hours and 30 minutes. With the time zone difference we arrived in Santiago at 0715. Our next flight was at 0900. However, we arrived on an International flight so we had to do the customs and immigration thing with travel visa payments. We were then told that we had to pick up our luggage and check in again for the next flight even though we had boarding passes and the luggage had been checked through. A REALLY big queue for bag drop - Would we get the baggage checked in in time for the flight?, Would the baggage make it?. We made the flight with about 3 minutes to spare - but what about the luggage?

Arrived safely in Punta Arenas at 1230 and met by Explora Lodge people - and the luggage arrived - Hooray!! Now we had a 5 hour drive to the Torres del Paine ( Pie-Nay) National park and the Explora lodge ( see www.explora.com). On the way we saw sheep, flamingos, Yandoo ( a lesser Rhea - emu-like bird) and big sheep stations called Estancias. After two and a half hours we stopped for lunch and then on to the lodge. The first 250 km of the trip were on a concrete road - the last 200 km were on corrugated and pot-holed gravel. Glad to get to the lodge by 1800. Low cloud and rain covered the mountains. Hot shower, elegant dinner, couple of beers and some wine then sleep. Bliss!!

We left Galapagos - sunny 35C - arrived in Patagonia - cloudy and rain and 15C.