“We came back with such gratitude—for the landscapes, the people, and the privilege of being able to witness such a wild and grand part of the world.”
If Patagonia has ever whispered to you through a National Geographic cover, you’re not alone. My recent Mixtape Travels podcast guest, Carolyn Shimek, spent two months answering that call with her husband—overlanding in a truck camper across the wilds of Argentina and Chile. What she came back with: stories of ziplining over rivers, sipping mate with gauchos, weaving with an indigenous artisan, and discovering just how grand, unpredictable, and humbling this world can be.
Carolyn came back with thousands of photos and a heart full of gratitude. “What hit us over and over again is just how grand and diverse our world is. It’s such a privilege to witness it,” she said. And while Patagonia pushed her physically and mentally, she also discovered her own resilience in ways only travel can teach.
🎧 Click on the above link to listen to the interview or listen on “Mixtape Travels” on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Here are the highlights from our conversation:
📍 The Itinerary: Two Months, Countless Landscapes
Route: Starting in Punta Arenas and heading north to follow summer, Carolyn explored Patagonia’s raw terrain, plus detours to Chiloé Island, Tierra del Fuego, and the Atacama Desert.
Transportation: A rugged truck camper gave them freedom (and flexibility when ferry schedules and diesel shortages threw curveballs).
Planning Help: A custom itinerary by Kristin from Echo Experience Patagonia, found via Ruta de los Parques, connected them to lesser-known treks and private estancia.
🏕 Life on the Road
Campground Strategy: They used the iOverlander app to find everything from remote wild camping spots to municipal parking lots with electrical hookups.
Laundry Realness: Self-serve laundromats? Not a thing. Laundry involved texting local women via WhatsApp and hoping your socks survived the 24-hour turnaround.
Fuel FOMO: In Argentina, they sometimes had to adjust plans due to diesel shortages—but always found a way (with a little anxiety).
🌎 Chile vs. Argentina: Same Region, Different Vibes
Argentina: Wide open spaces, laid-back energy, lots of estancias (ranches), Route 40, and wild wind. Oh, and those mysterious bus-stop-like shelters? They’re for wind-blown cyclists.
Chile: More infrastructure, more seafood, and a longer coastline. They stayed in Torres del Paine National Park for a week and spent a day just hunkered down in the camper because of gale-force winds.
🧗♀️ Treks, Glaciers & Ziplining (No, Really)
Carolyn hiked across private lands and glaciers, sometimes not seeing another soul for days.
One trek ended in an unexpected scramble after discovering the glacier had receded and their planned route vanished.
She zip-lined over rivers—out of necessity, not for thrills—and credits great guides (and her own courage) for keeping things safe and spectacular.
🧶 Culture, Cuisine & Connection
On Chiloé Island: She spent two days with an indigenous weaver learning new loom techniques and dyeing fiber with native plants—a true cross-cultural exchange.
“I learned how to weave with an indigenous artisan on Chiloé Island using local plant dyes. It was the most beautiful kind of cultural exchange.”
In Tierra del Fuego: She wishes they had stayed longer—coastal hikes and hidden peaks made it feel like the end of the Earth in the best way.
Atacama Desert: High-elevation landscapes, geothermal wonders, flamingos, and stargazing. “Like no other place on Earth,” Carolyn said.
Food: Empanadas were everywhere, pizza surprisingly common, and seafood divine (especially mussels and oysters). Her favorite drink? A Calafate berry pisco sour. Bonus: antioxidants.
Mate Culture: The ritual and etiquette around Argentina’s favorite caffeinated brew made a lasting impression. “Nothing happens until mate has been served.”
🧳 Gear to Pack (Trust Carolyn on This)
Waterproof boots and shell layers = lifesavers.
Wool base layers = her new religion.
“Wool base layers changed my life. You can wear them for days. They don’t stink. I’m a total convert.”
A pair of shorts? “Totally useless—except for two days in the desert.”
Starlink was more common than expected, but she still recommends building in buffer days. Between ferry delays, wild winds, and unexpected roadblocks, flexibility is essential.
What’s Next for Carolyn?
She’s already planning a 45-day adventure across Central Asia, exploring the Silk Road through Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and beyond. Don’t worry—we’ll have her back on the podcast when she returns!
Meet Carolyn Shimek
An avid traveler, novice weaver, and generally happy camper, Carolyn spends her summers as a park ranger, leading cliff dwelling tours at Mesa Verde National Park. The rest of the year, she and her husband travel the globe, drawn to remote landscapes and rich cultural traditions. Their adventures include trekking ancient trade routes in Bhutan, rafting the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, camping in Botswana and Patagonia, and sleeping atop a fire watchtower in Colorado. They’ve shared tea with EMTs in Jordan, danced with gauchos in Argentina, and woven alongside artisans in Morocco and Chile. Wherever they go, Carolyn brings curiosity, joy, and a deep appreciation for place.
Originally from the Chicago area, Carolyn spent over 40 years on California’s central coast, working in environmental education, public health, transportation planning, and communications. Four years ago, she and her husband made the move to southwest Colorado—a long-held dream. When not on the road or ranger-ing, Carolyn is immersed in fiber arts, learning traditional weaving and dyeing techniques and spinning local Churro wool. Whether planning their next trip to the Silk Road or hiking the mesas and mountains near home, Carolyn is always chasing beauty, connection, and adventure.
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With much gratitude,
