Queulat National Park

Patagonia North

Including part of the Lakes Region and Aisen (tenth and eleventh regions), from Puerto Montt up to Campo de Hielo Sur, perhaps this area's most attractive feature is its unexplored and unmapped character.

The road that traverses this region for more than a thousand kilometers represents one of the greatest man-made attempts at control in such a place. The "Carretera Austral" (southern road), starts in Puerto Montt, and within its first few kilometers contains the national parks of Alerce Andino and Hornopirén. Further to the south, we find the Pumalín, a contentious foreign-owned private park aimed at maintaining and protecting biological variety.

Huemul

From Chaitén, where you can stock up on anything you need, you can choose between a refreshing hot bath at Termas del Amarillo, or Yelcho Lake, an excellent place for fishing.

A side road leads to Futaleufu, a brilliant place to go to go kayaking and rafting. The river, bearing the same name as the town, has world-class rapids, a challenge for even the most adventurous. Going on to the south, we come to the magnificent Queulat National Park, with a spectacular hanging snowcap visible from the road.

Puyuhuapi Hot Springs

From Puyuhuapi town, near the limits of Queulat, and accessible only by sea or air, is the hot springs resort of Termas de Puyuhuapi, a true paradise. A detour leads to Puerto Cisnes, and another leads to Coyhaique, the capital city of Aisén, a few kilometres away from the ski center El Fraile.

From this city, and among parks and national reservations, Puerto Aisén and Puerto Chacabuco are a step to the west. From here, you can travel along channels and fiords to an incredibly spectacular place: San Rafael Lagoon, where the San Rafael snowcap, (San Valentín Ice Camp snowdrift), and the sea meet.

Continuing along the road will take you very near to the small and beautiful Elizalde Lake, and also the General Carrera Lake. In this lake, the biggest of the country, nature has created a wonderful and impressive phenomenon, the marble cathedral.

Baker river, located to the north of Cochrane, is a paradise for fly-fishing lovers. At the end of a thousand-kilometer journey, the Austral road ends in Villa O' Higgins, a step away from the Campo de Hielo Sur.

Hotels in / Hotéis em / Hoteles en Coyhaique

Coyhaique Hosteria - Magallanes 131
STANDARD - Book / Reserve
SGL US$ 86.00 - DBL US$ 110.00 - TPL US$ 125.00 (Feb 01'08 / Mar 31'08)

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