Off The Deep End

Hostel Patanuk is right on the waterfront with a great pebble beach, large common area and kitchen, wifi, friendly staff and great company. The key to this place is location, location, location. The lake front site is key, with grand views of the lake and surrounding mountains. The rooms are mostly dorm style bunk beds and are comfortable and clean. The guests tend toward the traveler set and not the party until all hours crowd.

This little pub quickly became my favorite bar in town. Good beer, great atmosphere and killer happy hour deals make this the place to be in downtown Bariloche. They serve up some local Bariloche brews in Pale Ale and Stout flavors. This beer is only available in Bariloche so take advantage.

The day we arrived in Bariloche we had not made any plans for a hostel so we wandered around aimless looking for a place. We were approached at the square by a girl clutching a Lonely Planet guide book who asked us if we were looking for a hostel because she knew of a good place. After we had started following her we started to suspect some shady business.

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After the increasingly unpleasant atmosphere at our previous hostel we went in search for another place to book for after we visited Torres del Paine. After checking a couple places we ended up at Hostal Bulnes on the main street in Puerto Natales of the same name. The owner Patty was very sweet and helpful letting us leave tons of stuff behind while we went backpacking for 4 days. Whe even took my laptop and put it in her room for safe keeping.

In search of good seafood we were directed to El Maritimo by of hostel owner. This modest seafood restaurant features fresh caught fish cooked to order. They also offer ceviche, mussels, calamari and other delicacies of the deep.
While not the best knock your socks off food, this place serves up huge portions for cheap prices. The clientele is a good mix of locals and tourists for a more authentic feel. Everything main dish is less than 6,000 Pesos which is a fantastic deal at less than $10 US!

For our first two nights in Puerto Natales we stayed in Hostel Mirffo which is owned and operated by Hostel Lili-Patagonicos. At first this was a very chill place to stay. There was a great group of people there our first night. The owner seemed nice at first but became less so quickly. Other guests reported trouble with him from the point of registration onward.

Tiramisu boasts the best pizza in Santiago and they delivered. Fresh mozzarella, crushed tomatoes and fresh basil made for a killer Pizza Margharetta. The selection of pizzas will keep you coming back for more. In addition to pizza they offer items such as fresh grilled trout perfectly cooked, tuna steaks, salads and more. Prices for a pizza run around 5,000 Pesos and are about the same for the main dishes.
This place has become insanely popular lately and even if you arrive early you may have to wait. There are plenty of tables so wait times are generally low and it is more than worth it.

La Regata Pub has quickly become one of our favorite places in Algarrobo. They are located right on the main drag at the intersection of Av. Algarrobo and Av. Carlos Alessandri. We singled them out because they have the best french fries, papas fritas, in town and at great prices. Their staff is friendly and helpful and the drinks are very good and very strong.

If you find yourself needing a place to stay in Algarrobo check out the Algarrobo Cabins. Located on the corner of Municipalidad and Pentilla this place features very nice rooms for a reasonable price. Not the cheapest hostel, but cheaper than the hotels. Rooms run around 10,000 to 15,000 Pesos per person per night.

Medio Mundo is a hotel and restaurant that offers upscale traditional Chilean cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere. They have menus in English and Spanish and the staff is friendly and helpful. Their menu is simple and consists of seafood and several pasta dishes as well as several well balanced main courses. They have two varieties of ceviche, the traditional Latin American dish of fish cured in lemon juice and spices. Make sure to save room for deserts like the chocolate ravioli. Sweet pasta filled with chocolate, almonds and then fried and served with mint and a caramel sauce.