As someone who loves warm weather and sun beating on my face, its astonishing that I’ve spent so much time in the past two years in cold weather climates. From Paris in the dead of winter and Estonia and Lithuania in the cool and damp spring to Canada’s Arctic to hang with polar bears, and then Iceland for five weeks this year, I suddenly found myself in Chile’s Patagonia this fall doing more than one glacier hike – snowy icy glacier hikes that is.
I was invited down to the annual travel EXPO in southern Chile, an annual event where tour operators, vendors, resort owners, adventure guides and others in the travel industry come to share ideas, cross pollinate and promote the best of what they have to offer. Chile has no shortage of places to explore — winter or summer — and its glaciers are a wonder to see, whether on foot or viewing them from a ship on Chile’s cool waters.
We took small Zodiac boats from our ship (set sail in Punta Arenas and disembarked in Puerto Natales) to land where we hiked to Bernal Glacier.
When we arrived, there were flags planted in the ground perched up on a small mound just in case any of its visitors forgot what continent they were on or whose rightful land they were hiking across.
Up close, the ice is pristine in every way you’d expect the natural surroundings of Patagonia to be: Blue. Crystal. Clear. Cold.
Imagine glaciers amidst turquoise water surrounded by silt and sand-like sediment of the lakebed with not a soul around.
Hiking out to the glacier itself and experiencing its grandeur wasn’t the only icing on the cake, pun most definitely intended. Along the way, the fauna, the neon green moss, the abundance of lichen and the vibrant colors interwoven into the rocks along the unbeaten paths were all part of the wondrous taking. It was hard not to feel gratitude every step of the way the beauty and serenity was so breathtaking.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a soft spot for rocks, especially colored odd shaped ones. I could marvel at and play with them for hours. If you’re a rock lover, Patagonia is an ever so sweet playground!
Crystal green waters surrounds the glacier’s and rock’s edge.
Up close, you were reminded that you’re not in Kansas anymore and even if you grew up with snow and ice, there is something so pure about Chile’s glaciers that I allowed myself silence with it and it alone before making my way back to the boat.
And, I always (always) recommend seeing a site from upside down, regardless of how hard it is to accomplish such a task. Lying directly on the soil of the place that so moves you does wonders for your spirit and gives you a different perspective on the place, especially if you give “it” time and listen to “its” energy.
Have a listen to what our guide had to say about the area during our hike:
Renee Blodgett is the Founder and Managing Editor of We Blog the World, a global travel, culture and lifestyle publication exploring the world through the lens of meaningful experiences, human connection and cultural depth. Having lived in 10 countries and traveled to 95, Renee has spent much of her life immersed in the people, traditions, landscapes and ideas that shape how we experience the world.
Since launching We Blog the World in 2007, she has written and produced extensive editorial coverage spanning boutique and luxury travel, culinary experiences, arts and culture, wellness, adventure, technology, spiritual traditions and transformative travel. Her work is rooted in the belief that travel is about more than where we go—it is also about what a place, culture or encounter awakens within us.
Renee brings more than three decades of experience across journalism, photography, media, brand strategy, technology, wellness and global storytelling. She has worked with companies and organizations around the world on brand positioning, communications, product launches, media strategy, speaker positioning and storytelling. Through Blue Soul Media, she works with authors, entrepreneurs, thought leaders and purpose-driven brands to clarify their message and expand their impact, which includes speaker coaching/training for high-profile stages such as TED and bringing authors’ work to market while retaining authors rights.
She is also the co-founder of Blue Soul Earth, an educational platform exploring consciousness, ancient wisdom, spirituality, healing and the intersection between science and the nature of reality. Renee is the producer and host of the award-winning Blue Soul CHATS, a conversational series bringing together leading voices in science, technology, consciousness, wellness and spirituality.
Her growing body of work also includes Blue Soul Living, which extends her interest in consciousness and well-being into the spaces we inhabit, exploring how intentional design, energy and environment can support greater harmony and connection.
Renee is the award-winning co-author of the bestselling Magdalene’s Journey and founder of the Magdalene Collection, inspired by women’s voices, stories and wisdom across cultures and generations.
A longtime photographer and storyteller, Renee has documented people, places and cultures around the world and produced photographic collections focused on destinations including the Galápagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome and Ecuador. She also co-founded Traveling Geeks, an international initiative that brought entrepreneurs, journalists, creators and technology leaders together with their counterparts in other countries to exchange ideas and explore innovation across cultures.
Renee’s work has been recognized by Forbes, the United Nations and others for her influence in media and social storytelling. Across her work in travel, media, consciousness and culture, a common thread remains: curiosity about the world, the stories that connect us and the ways meaningful experiences can change how we see ourselves and one another.
