Getting There

Things ran a muck and we had to re-buy all 3 flights to Puerto Natales, Chile; FACEPALM! This is why you should always ‘save (money) for a rainy day!’ As we made our dessent, the amount of turbulence we hit was terrifying. Now, it’s safe to say that I fly a lot and I was even a bit shooketh, but when I looked at the flight attendants, they looked fine so I knew it was normal. If they look nervous, that’s when you can start to panic.

The flight attendants on our SKY airline flight put on winter coats, because we flew from the top of Chile all the way down to the bottom.

Wen we landed, my sister and her husband carried me to my wheelchair in the front, but the airline did have a crew that would have. They were the ones who carried me in my wheelchair down the stairs.

Once we got inside the airport, we were welcomed by our two eCocamp guides 2 females.

Using a Joelette

I specifically chose eCocamp because Wheel the World did a trek in their Joelette chair.

eCocamp

You book through Cascada Experiences through eCocamp Contact Us button.

I wish I was told I would be given 2 female guides and 6 guys or porters pushing me, because I did not bring enough money for tips. So we stopped at an ATM in Puerto Natales because they didn't have one at camp.

The van, which was not accessible, drove downtown to a restaurant, sorry I don't remember the name. FACEPALM!

Fast forward two hours, and we got back in the van, still not accessible, and we drove to Torres Del Paine National Park. A lot of the roads are dirt and rocks, this made for very bumpy rides. It was getting me sick, so I had to ride wearing an eye mask.

When I booked it, I booked a 6 day safari tour. I don’t want to give away all of the secrets but everything that I saw was gorgeous, especially the teal blue lakes! SPOILER ALERT there was a family of flamingos there!

My Dome

When we got to camp, we went to our domes. Me and my sister were in the accessible dome. Our dome was absolutely beautiful. The dome had a queen bed with two chairs and a bench. They also had a wood stove (loved).

When you choose eCocamp you choose luxury glamping, and the fact that they thought to build a dome that is accessible is HUGE. At eCocamp they believe EVERYBODY should be allowed to be one with nature! And I couldn't agree more!

There was one thing I was not prepared for and ABSOLUTELY HATED…composting toilets!!! I really never got over this. I know it’s good for the environment but I was ready to gag. I would have lost it if I had to use the community toilets.

The shower was not completely a roll-in. A power chair wouldn't get in. And, there was no shower chair. Well they did have a wooden bench not for the shower, so I used that. But, the doors just closed. It was really tight.

There was only one pull down bar next to the toilet. They had a bureau with a porcelain sink on top, but it wasn’t a roll under so I had to brush my teeth with the two cup method. But ya know what? It could always be worse!

Sustainability

They had a class about how eCocamp was truly self sustainable. Absolutely no greenwashing! As I travel more and worry about climate change and the world we’re leaving our future families, I’m interested in covering places that are trying to do the right thing, and leaving this earth in better shape than we found it!

Dinner

Everybody that worked at eCocamp whether they were a guide or an office clerk or a cook, they were incredibly friendly. They treated you like family, I felt very welcome and that they were genuinely happy I was there!

It was dinner time and we made our way to the main dome where they had two big domes where everyone sat, plenty of comfy seating, a bar, a cosy reading/game room and all heated by three wood burning stoves. I wish I had brought my marshmallows. Next time!

Your table had your name on a chalkboard. The food was out of this world! It was MICHELIN Star food while camping. They had fancy, healthy, filling and delicious appetizers and many fresh alcoholic/non drinks.

At lunch, the previous day they would give you a list of a 3 course dinner, the foods were vegan, vegetarian and meat based; and you could mix and match foods - a meat based appetizer, vegetarian main dish and a vegan dessert. They also had a lot of Maqui berries, which are native to Chile (I put them on my oatmeal).

Early mornings

We would meet our guides at breakfast at 7 am. In the morning the clouds looked like they were on fire, I would've loved to see the sunrise!

Breakfast was the perfect start to early, snowy, dark mornings. Every morning was amazing, they had a circular table with fruits galore, dried and fresh, Maqui berry jam, jellies, every type of oatmeal topping - nuts, seeds, coconut, granola, I don’t think they had yogurt, but they had every single type of milk. Then they would have scrambled eggs, pancakes,and sausage. They also had coffee and tea every morning. They also had apple juice. One day I got it, but it was really different from ours. It was a little thick, and the sweetness was a little off.

At dinner, you would drop off your dirty tupperware from lunch. At breakfast you’d get clean tupperware you’d fill with a buffet of bread, deli meats and cheeses, or a salad with every topping imaginable!

Puma

One day we went on a puma search, but we didn't find any, we even had help from an actual puma tracker. But, we ended up getting special permission to go see a bunch of guanacos in the fields, no one is supposed to walk on them but we got special permission to go because of the wheelchair.

At one point we stopped at the park's main visitor center. I found it interesting that they had a wheelchair ramp to get in, but they had no wheelchair bathroom. FACEPALM. But I had to go, so my sister and brother in law had to help me between the very narrow stalls.

Looking back on it I would have liked to spend one day at eco camp with no plans! They did have a lot of trails on their property. They also had horses. I do Reiki on horses! I think spending a lazy day with nature sounds pretty ideal!

Time to say goodbye, or see ya soon

On our last morning we had a breakfast that I will miss!

When we got out of the park we stopped at Cafeteria El Ovejero Patagónico. The only store around, just a stones throw from the Argentina border. They had trinkets, food, pillows, shirts and a resident Bernese Mountain dog! In the back they had a wheelchair bathroom. But the ramp to get in was too short and steep to go up on my own, but I don't know if they have disability laws.

Then we went to the airport.In the ever non accessible van. It was 8:30 am, and it was crazy busy. There were only two TSA workers, and they let me go through with a water bottle that was already open!