If you were a caveman 10,000 years ago, winter would be a pretty tough time. Migration would be a requirement for survival, as food sources would desert you, sunlight would desert you, warmth would desert you, and your wife would desert you too if you were unable to provide for her. It only took, 9,900 years, but finally mankind has solved the problem of reducing the challenge of migration. The ease with which we are able to get around the world today has revolutionized our existence as humans. Even though the headaches of the airport and customs can put a damper on any winter getaway trip, imagine if you had to walk, and suddenly that line doesn't feel so long.
So you love to travel, but you dislike the inconveniences of traveling. You love the water, but you dislike the cold. You love the outdoors, but you're not a fan of roughing it (or maybe you are). You really are a unique individual (and we all are). Whatever the specifics may be, there is always something for you in the world of tourism.
Here are some great affordable winter getaway ideas that may catch your interest:
Take the family or business group on a remote, challenging, yet mostly safe, float across Chile in the class III-IV whitewater of Patagonia's Figueroa River. The best way to view pure untouched nature is by the natural roadways of the ancient Araucanian civilization, by rafting the rivers. Here you can explore forests without trails, penetrate deep into wilderness without roads, and enjoy the sounds of nature without the distant noise pollution of mankind, pure nature. You can get all this and still enjoy a soak in the wood burning hot tub or natural thermal spa at the end of the day while sampling the fine wines of Chile.
Or if you thrive on the adrenaline, and you don't truly feel alive unless you're looking death in the eye, you may prefer tackling the daunting Futaleufu River. Your group will really come together on this trip...the challenges of the river will build your team, tearing down emotional, prejudicial or political barriers...the fear of impending death has that affect. If the whole world could run this river there would be no more need for politicians and lawyers and soldiers could focus on humanitarian assistance rather than war.
Maybe you love to fish, but you're sick of pulling the same two fish out of the fish tank with your fly rod. Rather than continuing to "challenge" yourself with the fish you are on a first name basis with, increase your range a bit by heading to the limits of the world. The glacial melt waters of the Patagonian streams and rivers are ideal for Sea Run Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Salmon, and more. The cool waters make for a refreshing day of fishing, while the Hot Spring Resorts with 5 star accommodations make for a relaxing and rewarding evening. It will be tough to leave, but easy to come back to the next time.
Love to explore? Me too. Thousands of unexplored lakes, mountains, volcanoes, glaciers, ice caves, waterfalls, and islands are calling. Expeditions by boat, sea kayak, foot, horseback, float plane, and helicopter are just a few of the options for reaching some of the most pristine untouched beauty of the world. This is no canned package, your passion, curiosity, and inspiration is the only limit.
Southern Chile boasts some of the most magnificent scenery and outdoors activity in the world, but, unfortunately, there's always a catch. The power needs of the city have been increasing at an alarming rate and the multi-billion dollar power companies of the world are eagerly waiting for the Chilean government to give in to the demand. Surveys have been done, plans drafted, and horrible schemes devised. Rather than investing in environmentally friendly means of generating power, the simple cost effective $3 billion proposal is to draw energy from the rivers of the far south, building mega-dams that will submerge many thousands of acres and eliminate entire rivers, and then blaze high tension power lines 3000 kilometers north cutting the world's largest clear-cut area through a Yosemite-like landscape, sacrificing the beauty which inspires life, all for some more watts. Maybe some money should be invested in improving power efficiency, developing less environmentally devastating ways of generating power, or even improving upon some of those that are already developed.
Alright, so we've solved some of the world's problems, and simplified our travels, but everything convenient seems to come at a significant cost. The power demands of the world continue to grow, and the pristine destinations of the world continue to diminish. We still have a long way to go, but if we didn't have some progress to make, there wouldn't be a reason for toiling. Its a fact of life that we need something to toil over to feel good when we take a break. Keep chipping away at the world's problems, mankind, don't get lazy now. Maybe we just need to have an "International Caveman Day" where people around the world "turn off" the lights for a day, or maybe even once a month. Imagine what could be accomplished with the money saved...
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