In an uncertain world you can never be too prepared.and that goes double for international travel. Will your health insurance cover you overseas? In an emergency how will foriegn officials know who to contact and how?
In addition to your passport you really need to cary an additional emergency ID card.
That’s why The Intentional Travelers recommended carrying an Emergency ID Card. They are probably your most inexpensive piece of extra travel assurance.
For years we sold thousandsof these cards as downloads as well as printed versions online. Some years ago we gave it up as it was too difficult to manage and travel too. So, today we’ve decided to make the downloads available for free.
Download our free Emergency Travel ID Card in a pdf file that can be filled out, printed and carried with you. Each sheet will produce four 2-sided fold-over cards.
It’s Often Those Small Ports That Make Cruising Special
Cruising has become increasingly popular for a number of obvious reasons, but one advantage that offers real appeal for us is often neglected by many cruise fans. It’s those small out of the way ports. In selecting a cruise there are dozens of ports of call that many people wouldn’t really make a plan to visit on their own. From the Falklands, to remote ports in Norway, Brunei to Taiwan, or perhaps Moorea or Samoa in the South Pacific or perhaps a stop in Guatemala, they can all be found in cruise itineraries if you look.
Such is the case of todays destination. Any ideas on “Where In The World” these photographs are from?Just a few years back this destination wasn’t on any cruise itineraries and today we’re glad we got the opportunity…
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Planning A Cruise? Start With The Intentional Travelers Port Guides
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People, places and captured moments selected from The Intentional Travelers photo collection. Marksburg Castle on the Rhine River Marksburg Castle, a majestic fortress located above the town of Braubach in Rhineland, Germany. This castle holds the unique distinction of being the only hilltop fortress on the Rhine that has never been captured or destroyed. Originally…
The History Behind The Celebration Of Easter Without question the holiest site in all of Christendom is located in the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem. It represents the location where Jesus was crucified and where his body was laid to rest. Today there is a high level of certainty that the location has been actually identified.…
with From Cartagena, Columbia to Ushuaia, Argentina the South American continent is an amazing land of natural wonders and human accomplishments. Explore the islands of the Galapagos or hike around Iguazu Falls, climb up to Machu Picchu or cruise through the Panama Canal. You can even cast off for a trip to Antarctica or walk…
It seems so other worldly, like Mars or the Moon but it’s right here on Earth. It’s so alien that the NASA space program uses it to test rovers and other equipment. Find the answer HERE. Here Are A Few Of Our More Recent Postings You might Find Interesting…
While traveling through Patagonia these massive birds are difficult to ignore. Usually in groups of three to five they seem to glide effortlessly through the sky barely moving their wings.
Csondors have massive wingspans, and the South American Andean condor boasts a wingspan of 10 to 12 feet, making them the largest flying birds in the world. This wingspan enables them to soar effortlessly for long distances and are a common sight in these skies.
While the Andean condor can be spotted throughout Chile, they are particularly common in the southern regions, especially around areas like Cerro Palomares near Punta Arenas, which hosts the largest condor roost in Chilean Patagonia, hosting near seventy-five birds.
The Intentional Travelers Guide to over 150 cruise ports of call
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Street art and graffiti are becoming more and more common the world over but in Chile at least, street art is becoming a recognized art form to be celebrated. In Valparaiso there are entire neighborhoods just filled with buildings dedicated to it.
The district of Cerro Alegre
Valparaíso today is a renowned “open-air art museum” of street art, with its most famous, colorful, and dense murals concentrated in the hilly, districts of Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepción. These neighborhoods, along with Cerro Bellavista and Barrio Puerto, feature stunning, often politically-charged, and vibrant murals that cover nearly every surface.
A street artist works on a wall in Cerro Concepción
It’s true that Chile does still suffer from the modern curse of graffiti, but it is significantly outnumbered by street art from Santiago, to Puerto Natale to Valparaíso.
Street art in Puerto Natalie…
Planning A Cruise? Start With The Intentional Travelers Port Guides
If you were thinking about going to the ends of the Earth, this might actually be very near there. In its defense it happens to be the gateway to Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park with some of the world’s most spectacular scenery. Puerto Natales shares its isolated tip of South America with two other cities; Punta Arenas, Chile on the southeast side of the park and Ushuaia that’s several hundred miles to the southeast in Argentina.
Puerto Natales is either a small city or a large town but its economy is clearly based on tourism. Offering a diverse range of accommodations, including both hotels and hostels, catering to a range of budgets and preferences. As of early 2026, there are approximately 370 properties in the area, which encompass a mix of hotels and hostels.
For those seeking budget-friendly options, there are at least 12 hostels in Puerto Natales, with prices starting as low as US$3 for a dorm bed. Popular choices among travelers include Hostal Camino De Santiago and Hostal Boutique Factoria Patagonia, which are highly rated for their amenities and atmosphere.
Because of the amount of tourists visiting, Puerto Natales has a large selection of excellent restaurants to name just a few:
El Brisket 4.5 stars $$$ at 251 Blanco Encalada
La Disqueria Restaurant 4.8 stars $$ at Hermann Eberhard 299
La cocina criolla 4.9 stars $$ at Manuel Bulnes 242
LA GUANACA entre fuegos 4.6 stars $$$ at Magallanes 167
Café Artimaña 4.7 stars $$ at Carlos Bories 349
Restaurante Los Coigues “Jechef” 4.7 stars $$ at 251· Carlos Bories 221
The major draw is Torres del Paine National Park which is about a little over an hours drive away and most tours will include a visit to the prehistoric Milodon cave in route. It is advised that you pre-purchase admission tickets to avoid delays entering, with one option HERE (many tours will help with admission tickets).
Another recommended option is to book an all inclusive tour which will originate at Puerto Natales. Get Your Guide tour options are found HERE.
There are a number of park admission options that cover a range of days and a very popular park adventure is hiking and back packing for several days.
Taking flights into Puerto Natales (PNT) is the most direct way to reach Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia, with flights primarily from Santiago (SCL). While the local Teniente Julio Gallardo Airport (PNT) offers convenience, travelers can also use Punta Arenas (PUQ) as an alternative airport with frequent bus service to Puerto Natales.
Our Recommendations in Puerto Natales
Restaurant El Asador Patagónico Restaurant 4.7 stars $$ at Arturo Prat 158, 6160000 Puerto Natales, Chile. Noted for its grilled lamb with an excellent wine selection it is a small intimate room so dining after 6:00 we’d suggest reservations.
Hotel One popular choice is the Best Western but if you don’t have a car it is about a mile out of town. Our choice was the Hotel Vendaval right in town and only three blocks from the waterfront. Besides the great location it has rooms that are comfortable, showers are hot and breakfast is included. We also enjoyed the hotel bar where you were entitled to a welcome drink and they’d fix you a grilled sandwich.
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While we photographed them from Chile’s high desert to the foothills of Patagonia I was never sure which species each was. Chile is home to four distinct camelid species, comprising both domesticated and wild species. Regardless, they are all adapted to this countries harsh environment. These include the domesticated Llama and Alpaca (many ave returned to the wild), along with their never domesticated ancestors, the Guanaco and the Vicuña, mostly found in northern Chile’s Atacama Dessert and Patagonia.
Condors
The Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) is a massive South American bird with a wingspan of up to 12 feet and weighing up to 33 lbs, making it the world’s largest flying bird. Found along the Andes mountains and the Atacama desert, these birds are critical to the ecosystem by consuming carrion. They are considered near-threatened due to habitat loss.
Flamingos
Several species of flamingos are common in Chile, particularly the Chilean flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis), notable for their striking pale pink plumage and significant size, reaching heights of over four feet. This species is the largest and most prevalent among flamingos in the region, often found in the Atacama Desert in various shallow brackish lakes and lagoonsfeeding on a brine shrimp common in Chile (primarily Artemia franciscana). these brine shrimp thrive hypersaline lagoons and salt pans, such as those in the Atacama Desert. These brine shrimpareextremophile micro-crustaceans that thrive in high-salt environments, serving as a critical food source for flamingos.
The Intentional Travelers Guide to over 150 cruise ports of call
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