Day 9 · Friday

Santiago We drop off the truck at Balmaceda and step into the tiny, four-gate airport, already missing the open skies and rugged beauty of Patagonia. The LatAm flight is easy and comfortable—row one, great sandwiches, and good beer—but as we descend into Santiago, the city sprawls out below us, a sharp contrast to the wild landscapes we've left behind. A taxi whisks us downtown to our hotel, and while I love a big city, a part of me already misses Patagonia. A quick check of the map and we’re off for a walk. We only have today in town. It’s an early trip to the airport again in the morning. We walk through downtown, around the government buildings and the shopping district. In person shopping has not slipped here. The art museum Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes is a beautiful portal to the Bellavista neighborhood. It seems to be the hip neighborhood with clubs and murals and leads to the funicular up to the Cerro San Cristóbal. At the top of the peak is a sanctuary and a beautiful 22-meter statue of the virgin Mary. There’s a 360° view of the city that seems to be endless. This town is massive.

The funicular ride up was a lot of fun, but we're taking the gondola back down. On the way, we meet a couple from Texas who are wrapping up their vacation. They've visited Machu Picchu and Easter Island before arriving in Santiago. Easter Island has been on our list for a while, so it was great to chat with someone who's been there. The view from the gondola is even more expansive—we can see the suburbs of Santiago now, and the sheer size of this city is hard to comprehend.

Back on the ground we say goodbye to the Texans and grab a beer before heading back to the hotel. The concierge suggests a restaurant for dinner and we grab a cab across town to Don Carlos. We want to try a meat sampler with the many delicacies from this area. We end up with ribeye and hangar steak and a Chilean salad (tomatoes, lemon juice, oregano, and feta). The steak is delicious, but I’m giving this salad the win. I haven’t found a ton of vegetables, but when I do, they’re fantastic.

We are both stuffed and need a walk. We walk through the Providencia neighborhood and get a car the rest of the way. Back in our hotel, we have a nightcap and some delicious desserts. Tomorrow is a long day of travel, but by the end of it, we’ll be home with our cats and back to real life. Visiting Patagonia has been a dream of mine since middle school, and it was absolutely worth the wait. Valió la pena. I leave with so much gratitude for this experience and a growing list of places to explore next time. Until then, I’ll carry these memories with me—of vast landscapes, incredible people, and the sense of wonder that only Patagonia can inspire.