Torres del Paine 3

After yesterday's walk, we were pleased to have chosen a gentler itinerary today.  First up, we had a ride with a gaucho through the beech forest on an estancia on the edge of the national park.  As we were the only two guests on this outing, we were able to go at our own pace and enjoy the views and spotting the wildlife in the woodland.  The horses are very steady and sure-footed up the slopes and through the streams.  Both of us thoroughly enjoyed the ride. On the way there, we saw a crested cara-cara sitting on a fence-post and, on the way back, some black headed ibis.

After lunch, we went on a short walk to a viewpoint called the Mirador Cuernos, the viewpoint looking over a lake at the towers.  It was not a taxing walk, but the wind got up, which meant that it seemed several degrees cooler and, notwithstanding the lack of sun, led to some windburn in spite of the sun block.  On the way back, we visited a waterfall that provides the exit of water from one lake to another. Some years ago, melt water from the glaciers washed away the bridge that carried the lakeside footpath.  Again, the scale of devastion caused by the 2011 fire was evident.

Sunset on the plateau (which we walked the length of on the first morning)

We now know that we are nearing the end of our trip as we have booked in for our next flight - Punta Arenas to Santiago.