Ciao Chile

Valparaiso: Chilean port and playground - and the last stop on our trip. We hired a boat to take us around the harbour, in which we were treated to some close encounters with sea lions basking in the sunshine on the large buoys. They seemed to find the visit rather tedious (presumably having to put up with it all day); we were so close to one particular monster that he could easily have slid in to the boat had he so wished. Fortunately he seemed rather disdainful of our presence. 

Valparaiso's hills, colonial history and tradition meant for stunning views and photos. Houses are brightly painted and are at their best in the mornings and evenings - the hilly topography enables them to catch the late sun as it sets over the Pacific.

Having travelled from the Argentinian Atlantic to the Chilean Pacific, via the eden-like rainforest and waterfalls of Iguazu, to the wine capital of Andean Mendoza, the desolate desert and breathtaking scale of the Chilean Atacama - and finally Valparaiso, the cultural capital of Chile and arguably the whole region. 14 days - volcanoes, waterfalls, salt lakes, deserts, butterflies, condors, lizards, flamingos, sea lions; 14 steaks, 4 flights, 6 hotels, 2 capital cities - and the occasional glass of wine and the odd beer along the way.