How to Plan a Seamless Adventure Trip to Patagonia

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By: Tom Damon, Southwind President & Adventure Travel Specialist

I recently re-visited the Chilean and Argentinean sides of Patagonia to review top level accommodations and test out excursions. The first decision to make in planning a successful Patagonia trip is to be realistic with what you could do with your time allotted. Here’s my advice: Continue reading

Top 12 Reasons to Visit Chile’s Atacama Desert, the DRIEST Place on Earth!

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by: Dana Johnson & Luis Felipa

Having such an otherworldly appearance, the majestic Atacama Desert of Northern Chile has been compared to the surface of Mars. So similar to our neighboring planet, NASA has even tested instruments designed for their Mars missions in this region. The Atacama Desert sees an average of less than .004 inches of rain per year and some areas have not had rainfall for over 400 years. As one of the rising travel destinations in South America, why should you visit Atacama? Below are the top reasons to explore this unique and magical place. It can be reached by a 2 hour flight from Santiago to Calama, followed by 1.5 hour scenic drive to San Pedro de Atacama (elev 7,898 ft), the base for our adventures. Continue reading