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Cuernos del Paine, Parque Nacional Torres del Paine

Bienvenidos a Chile! We’re officially halfway through our semester and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. We’ve trekked across stunning landscapes, learned about the ecology of native Nothofagus populations, seen the climatic influence on glaciers firsthand, and experienced the conservation efforts of our backyard, that being Parque Nacional Torres del Paine, and so much more.

The SFS Chile center is located in Puerto Natales, which is a port city located on a fjord! The city borders Parque Nacional Torres del Paine to the north. The city is filled with cafes, restaurants, and shops with beautiful waterside walkways (my favorite place to go for a run!) The location allows for lots of transport to the various field locations, which also allows us to have so many! (27 days in the field just for classes!)

Pingo Salvaje

We take five classes during the semester: Patagonian Ecology, Political and Social Dimensions of Conservation, Earth Systems and Climate Science, Language, Culture, and Society of Chile, and Directed Research! I’ve learned so much in my time here and can’t wait to see what else is in store.

Let’s talk about some of my favorite moments so far! During the first few weeks of the semester, we got to visit Pingo Salvaje, an estancia located near Lago Sofia. We hiked around all day in a beautiful landscape while learning about the glacial landscape and the first Patagonians.

Cerro Castillo                                                                       

Then we got to walk on the shores of the lake and spend the night camping! The day was so special and made such an impact on me, both academically and personally. Truly one of my favorites! Another great time was when we took a week-long trip to Tierra del Fuego, located way at the bottom of the continent! We got to travel over the Strait of Magellan into the field where we camped at Karukinka (a private conservation site) and got to explore the land! We also got to see King Penguins at the Pinguino Rey Conservation site and see a volcanic landscape at Parque Nacional   

Grey Glacier, Torres del Paine

Pali Aike! It was such an incredible experience!

We’ve also gotten to see two glaciers so far! We saw Perito Moreno Glacier in Parque Nacional Los Glaciares in Argentina and Glacier Grey in Torres del Paine! Those are only a few of the many experiences we’ve had so far!

I’ve absolutely loved my SFS Chile experience so far! I’ve made so many great friends, traveled across Patagonia, and learned boatloads with the best professors and staff. It’s been the adventure of a lifetime and I cannot wait to see what the rest of the semester brings!

Written by Erin O’Donovan, College of the Holy Cross

SFS Chile Spring 2024, Parque Nacional Torres del Paine

Glacier Grey, Torres del Paine

Karukinka, Tierra del Fuego

King Penguins, Parque Pinguino Rey

Interested in the SFS Center for Climate Studies? Click here to understand why the Center is located there, explore ongoing research, and discover our collaboration with the community of Puerto Natales.