Time to finally bid farewell to Chiloe! Unfortunately, catching the ferry that crosses from Quellon to Chaiten was a logistical nightmare. Long story short…we purchased tickets in advance, but the ferry never arrived! Luckily, we ran into an angel named Roberto who helped us sort it all out and we all caught the ferry the next day! Side note – if you look on the Google Map found below, it incorrectly shows us taking the land route between those two towns because the ferry service isn’t running right now due to the pandemic.
Our first national park in Chile was Pumalin. We were thrilled when we showed up and they told us camping was free! Normally it costs $16 a day, but they had run out of receipt books and it is illegal for them to charge if they don’t provide you with a receipt. See! Sometimes ridiculous bureaucracy can work in your favor! The weather was beautiful when we arrived but went downhill quickly from there. Coincidentally, this is when we discovered the rainfly for our tent wasn’t working anymore. Fortunately, we also carry a 12 sq ft tarp that we have been using since then to keep our tent dry. Sadly, Sharon’s sprained ankle kept her from going on any of the hikes. My favorite hike was to the remnants of a large volcanic eruption. The only problem is that when I arrived it was completely fogged in, but by patiently waiting thirty minutes in the cold fog, the sun finally came out and the view was gorgeous.
From here we drove to Futaleufu National Park. We were extremely fortunate in our timing because they were having a two-day rodeo! This was especially great for Sharon because it was something she could do in her injured state. The main event at the rodeo was a new one for both of us – two riders attempt to guide a calf along the corral wall, and at a specific point turn the calf completely around, using only their horses to do so. It looked really difficult. Below there are three pictures showing one pair of riders who were able to complete this difficult task. The people and the atmosphere were fun, and it was definitely not a tourist event. In fact, we were the only foreigners present. I was also able to do a long hike, by myself, up to an amazing scenic viewpoint. At our campground we met a fellow rider, Javier, who was able to fix his bike by borrowing my ‘trusty’ Leatherman multi-tool (I would seriously cry if I lost it).
Our last national park in this update is called Queulat. It has one absolutely breathtaking sight – a HANGING glacier set above a gorgeous lake. Sharon opted to take the boat tour, for obvious reasons, and I did the four-hour hike. Both offered great views of the glacier and we both saw lots of small wildlife. The weather wasn’t great, but the panoramic setting more than made up for it!
Chris & Sharon
Still loving to see “my Strunas” in Chile!!!! And Omg is imposible not to love my beautiful country!!!
Also I love the “Nalcas” those biiiiig leaves!
A big hug for both!!! As a Nalca size 😉
You are SO right Cata! It is impossible not to love your beautiful country! The only thing more beautiful than the natural wonders are the people!!! We love and miss you! Sending a hug as big as the vistas to you!
Thanks again for sharing these beautiful pictures!
Our pleasure Carol! How wonderful to know that you are still following us. We are glad!
I love reading about your adventures! The water is such a turquoise color, do you know why? The pictures are fabulous. Not sure I would have picked up that long horn bug! Safe travels.
We are so glad that you have joined us on our adventure Karen! In regards to the water color…we were told it was caused by glacial silt. I assume it is similar to some hot springs, where a large amount of minerals are present. Sharon can’t help herself with the bugs, unless they are cockroaches. Hope you and your family are well and staying safe.
wow, as always, does not disappoint! so miss you guys:)
Thanks Cindy! We wouldn’t want to disappoint one of our top fans :)! Love and miss you too.
Your photos are stunning. You could easily publish a photo expose of your journeys. Do you use your phone or a camera? I feel like I should know the answer, but I’ve probably just been too enthralled to notice. If you do use a camera, what make and model do you use? If you use a phone, what kind? Sharon, so sorry to hear about your ankle. Sending love and prayers.
So great to hear from you again Tanya! For 99% of our photos we use our ‘bridge’ camera, it is between an SLR and a point-and-shoot. It is a Panasonic Lumix FZ300. We love it! Thank you os much for your love and prayers, we feel them! We hope you are well. How are you doing? Staying healthy? Love, Sharon and Chris