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Parque Pumalin

The Hornopiren to Caleta Gonzalo ferry crossing is a great way to get a scenic fjord cruise for the cost of a commuter ferry.  For nearly 5 hours the ferry takes you south around a break in the Carretera Austral, bypassing a stretch of rugged coastline so far adjudged too difficult to build a road around (or through). 



Located on the northern part of the Carretera Austral just after the ferry terminus at Caleta Gonzalo is Parque Pumalin.  Although we were back on the gravel road it was a small inconvenience traded off against the very pretty forest, rivers and mountains.

We too a few short walks, discovering the hard way that in Chile, the distance of bushwalks (like orienteering courses) appears to be measured as the crow flies. Add in the nearly vertical forest and it's easy to see how a supposed 1.8km return bushwalk (easy moderate rating), took us the best part of 90 minutes. No problem however as the scenery made it all worthwhile.




Moving on to Chaiten we found another impossibly beautiful campsite to set up for the night.

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