The Travel Chica

Live Simple. Consume Less. Experience More.

Hiking at Yerba Loca with My CouchSurfing Host

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When I was living in Buenos Aires, my friends Rease and Ayngelina told me they had great experiences with CouchSurfing.  I finally decided to try it for myself in Santiago.

The thing I loved so much about my time in Buenos Aires was feeling like I knew the city.  Of course, it took me six months living in Buenos Aires to get to that point.

So what to do when you don’t have that much time, but you want a richer travel experience?

I think CouchSurfing is the answer.

Without CouchSurfing, I never would have had the amazing experience of hiking at Yerba Loca.

Yerba Loca

Yerba Loca is a nature sanctuary just a 20-minute drive from the main part of the city.  My CouchSurfing host Nacho (short for Ignacio) is really into hiking, and he likes to find new hikes to do around Santiago.  He got together a group of friends, and I went along.

I figured since it was just a day hike and a fairly easy one, this would be a good way to ease myself back into hiking after my miserable experience at Cabo Froward.

It was a beautiful day.  And a beautiful place.

 

 

 

 

 

In the photo below, you can see the glacier La Paloma in the distance.

I had no clue there were glaciers in this part of the Andes.


Check out more photos from my Yerba Loca Hike!

I was so grateful to Nacho for showing me another side of living in Santiago.

What great experiences have you had CouchSurfing that you would not have had on your own?

Comments

  5. I think it’s so awesome that you’ve started Couchsurfing. Once you start, there’s no way to stop! The people you meet are just incredible and there are things you will never know without spending quality time with someone who’s lived there. Some of my best travel memories were made with Couchsurfers. Hope you will continue doing it!!
    Vanessa recently posted..My ethereal experience in Malta

  6. I just found hilarious the name of the place “Crazy Weed” translated into English. Despite that it seems a nice place, there are a couple of glaciers in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Northern Argentina as well

  9. I’m couchsurfing right now and it’s so valuable for so many reasons. I met a girl whom our journies coincide and we are going to hitch hike from Portland to San Francisco together…and we just met today! I’m able to experience cities from a local’s perspective and it’s just wonderful! Glad you had a good experience!
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  13. That must’ve been one hell of a hike! Those are magnificent shots of Yerba Loca. Indeed couchsurfing is great way to meet new people and it gives you a better chance of knowing more about the city you’re visiting.

  14. I had a terrible first time Couchsurfing but would totally do it again if it meant exposure to a world beyond the tourist grind. That being said, I have stayed plenty of times with locals and was treated to amazing experiences — just now through CS. This hike looks so pretty!

  23. What an amazing hike!
    I haven’t real surfed with anyone, but I did find someone from CS to show me around the Cotswolds, in England, which was a lot of fun. It would have been impossible to see a ruined castle, stop by a cider brewery, find a cute little pub and go to walking on one of the hills if it weren’t for my awesome host!
    Erica recently posted..Okinawa, Where Less is More

  24. I still have not couch surfed although I want to a lot!

    Such beautiful photos. Amazing that such a place is so close to the city.

  25. That’s fantastic. The things you are able to find when you’re with a local are priceless. Good on you for giving it a go… I guess we can expect more couchsurfing stories in the future :)

  26. Great shots/story.

    You know, that’s the one thing I love CouchSurfing for. I never use it to stay in people’s houses as I always prefer my own apartments when I’m on the ground….but the community forums there are a GREAT way to meet locals who like to do things like hiking, backpacking, sports and other events. Absolutely vital tool for cultural immersion in my opinion.

    Anyway, great stuff :)
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  28. Hello! I am studying abroad in Santiago, Chile. This is my first week and I don’t know if you’ll see this comment in time but I thought it would be worth a shot! My friends and I are planning a trip to Yerba Loca, and we were going to set up a tent (base camp) at the national park. Did you set up camp or did you set up along the hike. We couldn’t find any information online about how long the hikes are or if you have to set up a tour. Any help would be wonderful, thanks!

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