The next stop on our South American adventure was Iguazu Falls. Named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, it is the world’s largest waterfall system with 275 cascades spanning the Brazil and Argentinian borders. Eleanor Roosevelt apparently exclaimed “Poor Niagara!” upon seeing it, and I can heartily attest that Niagara doesn’t come close.

When my boyfriend Dave and I were brainstorming February vacation destinations, one of the primary requirements was "somewhere warm”. While I have enjoyed my share of snowy getaways over the years, escaping the polar vortex Toronto was experiencing seemed like a brilliant idea. And where better to get warm than South America?

One of the highlights of my adventures in Patagonia was an ever-so-brief jaunt to Argentina. While the majority of my time in South America was spent in Chile, I couldn’t help but take a bit of a detour into Argentina, inspired by photos of epic, jagged peaks and turquoise lakes. Now I could have hopped a bus from Puerto Natales, Chile, to take me across the border, which certainly would’ve been logistically simpler, not to mention monetarily preferable, but I’m a sucker for a good road trip.

Until last year, I had never been much of a hiker, unless you count traipsing across urban landscapes. After tackling a few modest day hikes, including the Cares Trail in Spain and Schiehallion in Scotland, I wanted to challenge myself to a multi-day hike and also witness a few spectacular vistas along the way. Enter: Torres del Paine.