Torre Del Clavero, Salamanca

Advantages: Stunning scenery
Disadvantages: Long flights

...Trekked around the Torres Del Paine National park as part of "Trek Patagonia" a charity trek organised by Mencap. I had always wanted to visit Chile and was able to combine raising over £3,000 for Mencap with seeing one of the most beautiful areas of Southern Chile. The park is a few hours drive from Punta Arenas which is one of the last stops before polar expeditions and the local wildlife includes penguins.The park is well organised with several camp areas and provision huts. We had local trek leaders with each group and all fitness levels were catered for. The trek to the 3 peaks was hampered by cloud, but the best part for me was a trek to the Grey Glacier. We sat and ate lunch facing the glacier watching chunks of ice thousands of years old dropping into the water- Magical.Glacial lakes and condors provided some of the views as we... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: An out of this world experience.
Disadvantages: It's a bit far but most certainly worth it.

...The Torres del Paine National Park lies to the extreme south of Chile, in the Chilean Patagonia. To be precise, in the XII Región of Magellan and Chilean Antarctica (Chile is divided into 12 regions). The province is known as "Ultima Esperanza" (Last Hope). Hope is not a word I would use. Reality is more like it. Hopeful Reality. Or perhaps Realistic Hope. I am afraid Patagonia has stolen my senses, and senses I did not have a lot. So do forgive me if I seem to lose my mind. I left it somewhere there, wandering the Patagonian plains, lakes, forests and mountains. It is an area roughly 242,242 hectares large and was officially declared a National Park in 1975, and from this date to today, has been administrated by the National Forestry Service of Chile (Conaf). On the 28th of April 1978, the United Nations recognised... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: university, nightlife, history, culture...
Disadvantages: not many people speak english

...have been asking around and I should recommend these hotels: Salamanca Plaza del Mercado Hotel (Mercado Square, four stars), Microtel Placentinos (Placentinos 9, it's close to the English department and it looks very nice), Parador de Salamanca (Teso de la Feria, 2.) These can be expensive but if you are looking for cheaper accommodation there are many cheap nice hotels and hostels, especially around La Rua (remember that name!) As for the restaurants, there are hundreds of them. I should say that those situated in Plaza Mayor are slightly more expensive than the rest but if you visit the city for the first time it is worthy to spend that extra money. I should recommend restaurant Cervantes, there you can enjoy a delicious meal while watching Plaza Mayor from their windows, it is cheap and food is very good. Also El Patio Chico... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful