A 25,000 kms drive around South America - Oct/Nov 2001

Starting and finishing on Copacapana Beach, Rio de Janeiro. Driving 25,000 kms through six countries: Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Chile and Uruguay. One hundred cars: fifty classics and fifty 4x4's.

Day 27 - Santiago to Marbella

It is a hard choice between staying at the Hotel Carrera in Santiago and going to Marbella on the coast with the Inca Trail!

We had to return to the Rally, so chose to drive the 2 hours to Marbella to catch up with everyone. It was a pleasant resort but there was a sea mist/fog which made it rather cool. The hotel was overbooked and some people were very cross. We, thankfully, did have a room. We drove to Cachagua to see the bird sanctuary - penguins, at last!

There were penguins on this island, though the photo doesn't show them!

 
We also saw pelicans, cormorants and fish eagles. It was a lovely beach with expensive houses and there were a lot of horse-riders. We then walked downhill to another local beach and, by the time we had walked back uphill, we were finally warm. We had dinner at the Blue Unicorn by the beach with 7 others, including Colin, the Robinsons and Inca Vic and Pam (Quayle). The fish was very good. We took the shuttle bus back to the hotel and went to the bar with Greg, Chris etc. I had a long talk with Ines from South Africa. She and her husband, Rolf from Germany, are very nice.

Distance driven today 121 miles.