[Monday, Dec. 18] We left Houston on United 1032 at 9:35 am and arrived in Panama City, Panama at 2:35 pm local time. We changed to Copa Airlines and departed about 3:45 pm Panama time. The difference in the quality of the two airlines was stark. Copa was great! United was poor. The Economy class on Copa was better than the Premium Economy class on United.

We arrived in Santiago at 12:05 am on Tuesday morning and were met at the exit of customs by our driver to take us to Hotel Plaza San Francisco for our stay.

[Tuesday] Today after breakfast in our hotel, we walked outside to look around the area. Right outside our hotel was the Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco, the oldest surviving building in Santiago. The church was built in 1618. The bell tower was rebuilt in 1857, after it was destroyed in an earthquake. The church has survived 2 major earthquakes.

Afterwards we walked a few blocks to the Plaza de Armas. As we made our way down the pedestrian walk to the plaza, we saw more people on the streets than we have seen almost anywhere we have gone. It was very hot and sunny. We saw many interesting shops and buildings along the streets. Surrounding the plaza were several interesting buildings, including the Catedral Metropolitana, to which we made a brief visit.

After walking around the plaza, we returned to the hotel.

< < Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco.

< < Catedral Metropolitana.

Click on the small photos to enlarge them.

At 3:00pm we met our guide in the lobby for our Private Santiago City Half Day Tour that we had booked beforehand on viator.com. We finished the tour about 6:30pm. Here is a summary of what we did from their website.

Your tour starts with hotel pickup for the drive to your first stop, Club Hipico de Santiago, followed by a drive through one of the city's old, wealthy neighborhoods where you can admire the architecture and hear about some of the people who live here. Then head toward the city's civic center to see sights such as the parade ground, Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, La Moneda Palace, and the post office. Next, depending on your option selected when booking, head up to Santa Lucia Hill or San Cristobal Hill for photo ops, and then check out a traditional craft shop. Your last stop is Mercado Central (Central Market), where you can look around and have lunch, if you wish. Your tour then ends with return to your pickup point. Read more at: Viator Santiago City Half Day Tour.

< < < Views from Lucia Hill and San Cristobal Hill.

< Presidential Palace.

[Wednesday] Today we took the Full Day Tour of Valparaiso and Vina del Mar from 8:15 am to 6:15 pm. We went with a small group and a mini-van westward from Santiago to the cities on the Pacific Ocean. Here is a summary.

Your day begins with a pickup from your Santiago hotel at around 8:30am. Greet your driver-guide, settle in to the minivan, and hit the road to discover the central coast of Chile.

Read more at: Tour of Valparaiso & Vina del Mar

< <

< < < < < < Scenes from Valparaiso & Vina del Mar.

After we returned from our day trip and ate supper, we attended a Christmas Concert at Metropolitan Cathedral from 8:30 to 10:30 pm. The concert featured Con el Maestro Roberto Bravo on the piano. It was an excellent concert in a beautiful church.

< Concierto de Navidad.

[Thursday] This morning we walked south of the hotel to Basilica de los Sacramentinos and back to the hotel. The sun was hot and we cooled in our room.

< < Basilica de los Sacramentinos.

< < Lots of food for sale on the street.

At 3:00 pm we took the Small Group Tour of the Santiago Open Sky Street Art and a Chilean traditional meal. We rode the subway and stopped at the San Miguel neighborhood to see how they have painted the old apartments that were built for factory workers in the past. We ate a lite meal at a house with a couple of ladies that prepared the meal for us there in their home. Then rode the subway back to near the hotel.

Your tour begins at the Fuente a la Gloria de Bolivar, located in the center of Plaza de Armas, where you'll greet your guide in red. From here, you'll escape the tourist crowds by taking the subway to San Miguel, a formerly neglected district that has been radically transformed by the Open Sky street museum project.

Read more about Open Sky Street Art Museum and Traditional Meal at: Street Art Tour.

< < < Street Art in Santiago.

< Traditional meal.

[Friday] We got up at 5:15 am this morning and ate a fast breakfast at the hotel and took our taxi to the airport. We took Sky Airlines flight 001 to Puerto Montt, located in the Lake District. The area was settled by German immigrants back in the late 1840's, and their influence is widely seen in the construction of the homes using shingled siding.

We were an hour late taking off and arrived in Puerto Montt at 11:30, where our driver met us and took us to The Gran Pacifico Hotel.

At 3:30 pm we took the Private Puerto Montt Sightseeing Tour which included a drive north to Puerto Varas, where we visited Iglesia Parroquial Del Sagrado Corazon, or Parish Church of the Sacred Heart, along with many other scenic spots, as outlined below.

On this private city tour, see the residential area on the way to the Costanera Avenue which runs along the seashore. On arrival at the area of Pelluco with its beaches and yacht club, appreciate the views from here before continuing to Chinquihue and the craft village of Angelmo which also has a picturesque fishing port. Taste some local delicacies based on the regions seafood and enjoy a wander round the craft shops selling knitwear and woolen goods.

Read more about Private Tour: Puerto Montt Sightseeing at: Puerto Montt Sightseeing.

< View of the bay in Puerto Montt. < Overlooking Puerto Montt.

< < < Seafood and vegetable market.

< The seals are waiting to be fed fish scraps from the filets.

< Fishing boats.

< < Iglesia Parroquial Del Sagrado Corazon.

< Old house that shows the German influence of shingled siding.

[Saturday] Today the weather was nice but very cool - warm coats. We went south of Puerto Montt onto a very large island - Chiloe Island. We had to take a ferry to get there and back. We visited 3 picturesque villages along the shore - Chacao, Ancud, Castro and Dalcahue. We visited Museo Regional de Ancud, the ruins of an old Chilean fort, Fuerte San Antonio and Iglesia San Antonio de Chacao on the city square in Chacao.

In Dalcahue we walked through the seaside street and saw the fishing boats. We visited the Church of Dalcahue. We ate a large lunch of local seafood at a rustic private restaurant on top of a hill overlooking Dalcahue.

In Castro we took a boat ride to see the colorful houses built on stilts along the shore.

It was a 12-hour day of travel and site-seeing. We got a good view of the local volcanoes as we returned to Puerto Montt. Below is information from the website.

Departing from Puerto Montt and after crossing the Chacao Channel we'll be arriving at Chacao Village where a typical square is one of the attractions among others.

Read more about Day Trip to Ancud and Chiloe from Puerto Montt 2018 at: Ancud & Chiloe.

< < Iglesia San Antonio de Chacao

< More of the German immigrant homes. < San Antonio Fortress.

< Dalcahue street scene with the stray dog.

< Overlooking Dalcahue from our lunch restaurant.

< < Yum, yum.

< < < Taking a boat ride in Castro.

< View of Puerto Montt from our hotel with Mt. Calbuco in the upper left.

[Sunday] Today we took a day trip and went to the north from Puerto Montt to the Petrohue Waterfalls, which are in the Vicente Perez Rosales National Park. The weather turned against us with overcast, wind and light mist all day. The waterfalls were at their peak now at the end of their spring season so they were very impressive.

We returned to Puerto Varas and ate lunch at Cassis Restaurant. On the way back, we stopped at Laguna Verde, an intensely green lagoon surrounded by lava rock and emerald forest.

We then went to the town of Frutlllar and saw some more of the German immigrant influence in the home construction in the area.

The area we visited today is near two active volcanoes. Mt. Osorno, which resembles Mt. Fuji in Japan, and Mt. Calbuco which erupted 2 years ago with ash covering the National Park where we were today and some of the surrounding towns. The clouds prevented us from seeing the mountains today.

Our guide today is the reigning Miss Chile/World. Her father is American and her mother is Chilean. She attends a university in Portland, Oregon, and is working as a tour guide to help finance her education. She hopes to start her own tour company in the Punta Arenas area. She was a beautiful young lady and an excellent guide. See information from the website below.

After pickup port or hotel, you will head to Frutillar. Walk alongside Lake Llanquihue, the largest lake in Chile, with the view of Volcano Osorno in the background. Here, you shall enjoy seeing the majestic German houses with beautiful gardens full of fragrant roses, and the begonias.

Read more about Frutillar, Puerto Varas and Petrohue Waterfalls Excursion at: Frutillar, Puerto Varas & Petrohue Waterfalls.

< < Petrohue Falls in Vicente Perez Rosales National Park.

< Laguna Verde

< < Buildings in Frutillar with German influence.

< Our guide for the day was the reigning Miss Chile/World.

[Monday, Dec 25] Today was Christmas Day and we flew from Puerto Montt to Punta Arenas and then rode a bus to Puerto Natales. We traveled all day. We arranged a taxi from Hotel Gran Pacifico to the airport at 9:00 am and caught a taxi at the Punta Arenas airport to the Bus-Sur terminal. Once in Puerto Natales we took a taxi to Hotel Costaustralis.

The only way to get from Puerto Montt to Punta Arenas is by ship on the Pacific Ocean, via car driven through Argentina or by airplane. There are no commercial flights between Puerto Montt and Puerto Natales, hense our multi-mode of travel. Everything worked out as planned and it was a nice day, albeit a little different from your traditional Christmas Day.

< Our Sky Airlines A320. < Flying south.

< < On road from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales via Bus-Sur.

[Tuesday] Today we took a tour of Torres del Paine National Park. We were picked up at the hotel at 8:30 am and we were returned at 6:30 pm. The weather was very good for that part of the world - we were very fortunate. But, lets just say that the wind was VERY STRONG at some of the stops, to the point of it being hard to stand up straight. It was a wonderful day trip into the most beautiful mountains that you could find in the world. Below is the summary from the Viator website. We actually did the Park first and the Milodon Cave last.

Depart from your hotel in Puerto Natales in a comfortable, air-conditioned minivan with your experienced guide. Sink back into your seat and watch the spectacular scenery begin to unravel as you journey north to the mountain of Cerro Benitez. Arrive at the Milodon Cave Natural Monument and delve into the darkened depths to encounter life-size replicas of a prehistoric giant sloth. Gain fascinating insight in the 19th century discovery of the extinct creatures as you stroll past stalactite-studded crevices and arrive at a legendary landmark known as the Devil's Chair. Return to the vehicle and venture further north to enjoy a revitalizing coffee break at the impressive villa in Castle Hill. Feel your excitement heighten as you approach the entrance of the phenomenal park, which sprawls over 447,000 acres.

Read more about Torres del Paine National Park in One Day from Puerto Natales at: Torres del Paine National Park.

< On the road to the park.

< First stop and the mountains are looking good.

< Guanaco at our next stop.

< <

< < Really impressive mountains now, and the weather is near perfect.

< Salto Grande Waterfall. < Going toward the Waterfall.

< < On the trail to Grey Glacier.

< Grey Glacier in the background. < Looking across Lake Del Toro.

< < <

< Milodon Cave Natural Monument.

[Wednesday] This was a free day for us. We didn't plan any specific activity. In the morning we walked to the downtown area and found a bank with ATMs, and replenished our Pesos. We stopped at a pharmacy for some Sunscreen and a supermarket to buy some Kleenex and some snacks.

We came back to the hotel and in mid-afternoon we went back to the downtown and ate a late lunch and then had a desert and coffee at a chocolate cafe.

< View of the mountains from in front of our hotel in Puerto Natales.

< Looking inside a restaurant window.

< Wildflowers of the area and a unique garbage can.

< Some of the animals in the area.

< A restaurant housed in shipping containers.

< Our Hotel Costaustralis. < Even the residents wear backpacks.

< These beautiful flowers were plentiful here.

< The Chocolateria. < Nothing beats a nice dessert on a cold day.

[Thursday] This morning after breakfast in the hotel, we took a taxi to the Bus-Sur terminal and took the 10:15 am bus back to Punta Arenas. We arrived at 1:00 pm and walked one block to Hotel Tierra Del Fuego.

After checking in, we walked about 5 blocks to the meet point for our Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat from Punta Arenas tomorrow morning at 6:30 am.

We came back to the hotel and ate a late lunch in the hotel restaurant. It began to rain outside and the wind blew very strong.

By the time we finished lunch, the rain had stopped and we walked down to the waterfront and along it for awhile before returning to the hotel for the night.

< Bus-Sur getting ready to depart.

< < Placing our hands into the waters of the Straight of Magellan.

[Friday] We left the hotel at 6:10 am this morning and walked a few blocks to the office of our Magdalena Island Penguin Tour.

Upon arrival at Magdalena Island, we walked up the roped off trail to the Magdalena Island Lighthouse. The wind was blowing pretty fiercely. We saw many penguins and other birds along the way. We spent about an hour on the island and got a really good look at the penguins. The boat ride back to shore was very rough, because of the high wind that caused high waves. We were supposed to go by another island on the way back to shore, but the water was too rough.

After the tour ended, we ate lunch in a nearby restaurant. On the way back to the hotel, we stopped at a tour office and scheduled a Punta Arenas city tour for tomorrow at 3:00 pm.

This afternoon the weather turned bad. The wind blew at 45-55 mph and it rained into the night. Sundown is at 10:12 pm and sunup is at 5:19 am this time of the year here - supposedly Summer.

After eating supper in the hotel, we talked to the hotel receptionist at length about Punta Arenas. He said that in September the wind can be so bad some days that it will blow you down and you can't get up, so nobody goes out of their homes on a day like that. Might just want to scratch Punta Arenas off your potential retirement home listing.

Below is the Viator summary of our day trip. The weather had some impact on our tour.

After pickup from our meeting point in Punta Arenas, ride in your comfortable minivan to the picturesque pier; climb aboard an awaiting powerboat and speed over the sea to the Strait of Magellan. Observe the water for the protruding fins of wild dolphins then arrive at the small and serene Magdalena Island.

Read more about Magdalena Island Penguin Tour by Boat - Punta Arenas at: Magdalena Island Penguin Tour.

< < <

< Some of the 100,000 penquins on the island.

< < At the Magdalena Island Lighthouse.

< Looking out our boat window toward an accompanying boat.

< Back safely at shore.

[Saturday] The weather this morning is very nice by Punta Arenas standards. After breakfast in the hotel, we walked to Palacio Sara Braun and toured two of the old historic homes.

< < Museo Braun Menendez.

< < Palacio Sara Braun.

< < Catedral De Punta Arenas.

In the afternoon we took the city tour that we had booked the day before, which included going to a hill in the city to get a good look at the city and the Straight of Magellan. We visited the city square and the waterfront. We ended up at a historic cemetery where Sara Braun was buried.

< Our shadows cast to the south.

< Overlooking Punta Arenas toward the Magellan Straight.

< Statue of Magellan in Plaza De Armas.

< Monument to the settlers of Punta Arenas.

< Cemetery where Sara Braun is buried.

[Sunday] After breakfast we went by taxi to the airport at 11:00 am. We took Sky Airlines to Santiago. Our driver was waiting for us as we exited the airport, to take us to the Plaza San Francisco Hotel. We ate dinner in the hotel as they were preparing for the big New Years partly later that evening.

We were able to observe the Santiago city fireworks display from our hotel room window. We asked for a free upgrade and were accommodated with a suite with a view of the fireworks.

< Our Sky Airlines plane. < Volcanoes along the way to Santiago.

< Street closed prior to fireworks. < New Year 2018 fireworks.

[Monday, Jan 01] After breakfast in the hotel, our taxi took us to the Santiago airport and we departed on time to Panama City on Copa Airlines flight CMP118. We arrived in Panama City, Panama at about 4:30 pm local time. The security for entrance to Panama was the most thorough that we have encountered. They photographed us and took a full set of fingerprints of both hands.

Our driver picked us up as we exited the baggage claim and took us to our hotel, Double Tree by Hilton.

After checking in, we walked down the street to an ATM and got a little more money. Panama uses the US dollar as their currency. We ate supper in the hotel restaurant and went to bed by 10:00 pm.

[Tuesday] After breakfast in the hotel, we arranged a tour of the city for tomorrow at 9:00am.

About 8:30 am, our tour bus arrived to take us to the Panama Canal Partial Transit Tour. We were transported to the office on Flamenco Island, and then, after checking in, they bussed us to Gamboa to meet our boat. We were traveling from toward the Atlantic to the Pacific side of the canal.

We boarded the boat about 11:00 am. We accompanied the Inland Sea container ship and a private catamaran through the locks. The lake portion of the canal is 85 feet above sea level. The two sets of locks facilitate entry and exit from the lake. We went through the Pedro Miguel Locks first, then through the Miraflores Locks. Each of the locks has multiple sets of gates that lowered us from the lake level until we finally reached the Pacific level. It was a fascinating journey. We crossed the continental divide on our cruise. We returned about 4:30 pm to the tour office and then by bus back to our hotel by 5:30 pm. It was a great experience.

Here is the description from the Viator website. We actually did in the reverse direction.

This partial transit cruise through the Miraflores Locks takes you into one of three lock systems used along the Panama Canal - an experience not to be missed! The canal's construction is considered one of the largest and most challenging engineering projects ever undertaken before it was opened in 1914, enabling efficient passage between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

Read more about Panama Canal Partial Transit Sightseeing Cruise at: Panama Canal Partial Transit.

< < <

< < <

< < Our transit through the Panama Canal.

< Bridge of the Americas.

[Wednesday] Today we took a tour of the city that we had scheduled through a lady in the hotel the day before. We were picked up at 9:00 am for our private city tour. First we went to Panama Viejo, the ruins of the first Spanish settlement in the Western Hemisphere. We saw the ruins and climbed a tower for the overlook. Then we toured the museum. Afterwards we went to the old city, where they moved when the original settlement was abandoned. We then drove to the causeway to see some of the best views of the city. A souvenir stop was included. After returning to the hotel, we walked to La Vespa Restaurant and ate our last supper in Panama.

< Overlooking Panama Viejo from the tower. < Photo stop.

< < San Jose Church.

< < San Francisco de Asis Church. < Street in old city.

[Thursday] This morning we took a random walk from the hotel to the seaside. It turned out to be a very fruitful stroll and we got our best up-close view of the city yet. We arrived back at the hotel about 10:30 am and relaxed until our driver picked us up at a little after 12:00 pm for our trip to the airport.

We made it to the airport about 12:45 pm and breezed through the bag drop and the full and complete security screen.

At the gate, before we entered the airplane, we went through another full and complete security screen. That's OK with me. We left on time and arrived in Houston early.

< Most unusual building.

< < Overlooking Panama City.

This draws to a close our vacation to Chile and Panama. We hope you enjoyed the photos and brief descriptions of our activities. God willing, join us again soon for another travel adventure.

Goodbye for now,

Lawson & Kay

Comments on Chile:

When traveling on the Panama Canal, you go northwest to get from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. The Pacific is east of the Atlantic.

This is my Father's world, and to my list'ning ears all nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres. This is my Father's world: I rest me in the thought of rocks and trees, of skies and seas; His hands the wonders wrought. (Hymn: This Is My Father's World, c.1901)