In movies, sequels never seem to live up to the standards
set by first episodes. However in the
case of Parque Nacional Queulat, the second visit definitely surpassed the
first.
It’s hard to describe how impressive the glacier is. In my view if the Queulat glacier were in New Zealand, North America or Norway rather than a fairly inaccessible corner of Chile it would be more famous than Milford Sound, Pulpit Rock or maybe even Niagara Falls. It is without a doubt one of the greatest natural wonders on the planet.
B.t.w park entry is about $10 per adult and the boat trip $13 per person!
Leaving Villa Armengual we had planned to drive about 35km
back to the park and try a walk in the south part of the park up a steep gully
with a dodgy river crossing to a glacier view.
But when we arrived at the trailhead there was a locked gate across the
track and a sign (Spanish AND English) saying “No Entry – don’t risk your lives
and the lives of your rescuers”. So our
morning activities were limited to two 200 meter walks to waterfall viewpoints.
At lunchtime we decided to return to park headquarters and
redo the walk we did last week to the vantage point for the Queulat
glacier. This time the rain and clouds were nowhere
to be seen and the views were simply stunning. From a distance the water falling from the terminal face of the glacier seems to fall
in slow motion due to the immense scale of the glacier and surrounding mountains. |
The view from the vantage point - for an idea of the scale, the waterfall main drop is 300 meters high!
|
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| Water flowing from the glacier lake |
After our walk we went down to the end of the glacier lake
where the lake empties into the Rio Ventesqueros. We
managed to get a ride on the last sightseeing boat of the day - a rubber duck with lifejackets which somehow makes the experience even more thrilling, and at 5pm we set off (12
plus guide) for an amazing half hour trip down the lake to the far end nearest the glacier foot.
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| The far shore of the lake nearest the glacier - just 13 of us on a small boat |
It’s hard to describe how impressive the glacier is. In my view if the Queulat glacier were in New Zealand, North America or Norway rather than a fairly inaccessible corner of Chile it would be more famous than Milford Sound, Pulpit Rock or maybe even Niagara Falls. It is without a doubt one of the greatest natural wonders on the planet.
B.t.w park entry is about $10 per adult and the boat trip $13 per person!
Sounds like fun.What a big drop.It sounds tiring but FUN!
ReplyDeleteKATRINA...