Estancia Cerro Guido is a working ranch spectacularly situated on the border of the Torres del Paine national park in Chile. From there you can ride out to an Indian grave, a heaped stone cairn at what feels like the top of the world, snow topped mountains all around and always with the “torres” and “cuernos” in view - the granite towers and horns of the 12 million year old Torres del Paine massif. When I was there condors circled above, close enough to hear the wind in their feathers, and 30 more tore at a dead sheep as we rode past on our descent, listening to the eerie shriek of a guanaco. In the evening picture windows let us prolong our enjoyment of the view, while our lamb bbq dinner in the luxurious estancia only heightened the contrast to the wild and remote location.
www.cerroguido.cl/english/home.html
+5661 360635
Google map: bit.ly/sY7FPo
Prepare for (or recover from) trekking around Torres del Paine with hearty - but delicious - vegetarian food at El Living in the centre of Puerto Natales. There is a good range of hot dishes, salads and sandwiches - supplemented by daily specials - including veg moussaka or thai noodles and fantastic cakes such as dark chocolate and peanut butter. Drinks include homemade lemonade, pisco sours and a selection of wine.
La Plaza - Puerto Natales - Patagonia
www.el-living.com
A great laid back vegetarian and local food cafe, relaxing, comfy sofas, teas, decent espresso, juices, pastries, great cake, soups, and light meals. Good place to read the paper, plan your excursions or wind down after hiking. In fact there are lots of good cafes and eating places in this up and coming frontier tourist town.
Arturo Prat - opposite the church and facing the Plaza de Armas
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