Patagonia North, Park Pumalín and Cochamó Valley (La Junta)

We first stop at Santiago, to buy all the gear for hiking and camping.After that, we caught the bus for 11 hours and arrived in Puerto Varas, in Los Lagos region X.This place is beautiful and the surroundings are very exotic. This is January and its summer, but that day was about 7℃ in the morning and my husband, Brent, had the idea to swim in the Llanquihue Lake. He said was cold but totally worth it. The water was blue and crystal clear. Who knows whats the next time we gonna have the opportunity of a shower, when you are backpacking you should learn to enjoy the opportunities when they are there! I didn't swam and i regret it.

After spending the day in Puerto Varas we got a ferry to Chaitén for 11 hours. The ferry is awful if you don't have a bed. the seats are worst then the airplanes so you can get a bus to get there or maybe get a bed in the ferry to enjoy the views in the morning.

Chaitén (/tʃaɪˈtɛn/, chahy-ten) is a Chilean town, commune and former capital of the Palena Province in Los Lagos Region. The town is located north of the mouth of Yelcho River, on the east coast of the Gulf of Corcovado. The town is strategically located close to the northern end of the Carretera Austral where the highway goes inland. (Wikipedia).

Heading to the south entry of park Pumalin we decided to get a bus but its not that easy if you didn't book.we didn't get the bus so we had time to pick up some cheese wine and ingredients to prepare a meal.we got a ride from Chaitén to park Pumalínsouth with a native, he said is very common the rides for backpackers and they are pretty much all friendly. we got at the park Pumalín, and it's incredible.

Pumalín Park (Spanish: Parque Pumalín) is a 3,250 km2 (1,255 sq mi) private nature reserve in the Palena Province of Chile, created by the United States environmental foundation The Conservation Land Trust, which is endowed and led by the American business magnate Douglas Tompkins. Designated a Nature Sanctuary in 2005, Pumalín is Chile's largest private nature reserve and is operated as a public-access park, with an extensive infrastructure of trails, campgrounds, and visitor centers.The park consists of two areas, and there seems to be some interest of the park owners to purchase the intermediate 340km² of the San Ignacio del Huinay Foundation as well. Opposed to this acquisition are mainly the thirty or so [3] inhabitants of the hamlet Huinay, located at the coast of the aimed area. The northern portion of the park borders Hornopirén National Park. (Wikipedia)

Our Adventure its thru Pumalín Park and in the end in Cochamo valley.

Pumalín Park is amazing with all facilities (bathroom, cold showers, water) you pay 2,500 pesos per person per night (about 5$ USD) for camping and use the facilities.All the tracks are well marked and they supply all maps and information you need to have a good time.

Total travel time 3 weeks