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Queulat National Park, next to Puyuhuapi Lodge hotel and spa |
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This beautiful and mostly unexplored 154,000-hectare park is next to the Puyuhuapi Lodge & SPA This is an extraordinary expanse of virgin forest, fjords, canals, glaciers, and ice fields. Its rocky slopes, deep, steep valleys, impressive snow-capped mountains, and glaciers show the signs of glaciations that occurred thousands of years ago. The climate is humid and has abundant precipitation throughout the year, reaching 3,500mm to 4,000mm annually, and the average temperature in the different sectors of the park is approximately 10° C. |
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Queulat, Ventisquero, Bordali and other riversMany rivers flow through the park, such as the Quelat and the Ventisquero, which begins as a glacier and ends at the Puyuhuapi Canal, as well as the Bordali, Guillermo, Cisnes and Pedregoso rivers. In addition to the beautiful El Acantilado Brook and the Rosada Pond, the park is also the site of the Tempanos Lagoon at the base of an impressive waterfall of melting glacial ice. An abundance of minerals suspended in the water turns it a milky green color and impedes the existence of animal life. The lagoon receives its name from the ‘Tempanos,’ or icebergs, that until recently regularly broke loose from the glacier and floated freely in its waters. The main waterfall begins high above and drops to a mound of debris deposited over the years by avalanches and thaws. It is exciting to watch as large chunks of the glacier break free and come crashing down, but the thundering roar that follows is even more amazing. Flora and fauna in QueulatThe forest flora and fauna are very rich. Vegetation in its evergreen forest includes coigües, tepas, lumas, arranayanes (myrtles), tineos, mañíos, canelos (cinnamon trees), ciruelillos, and a forest floor that is lush with ferns, coicopihues, flowers, vines, quilas, chilcos and enormous nalcas. Numerous species of birds constitute the local fauna such as the Magellan woodpecker, chucao, hummingbird, Chilean dove, avutarda, black throated huet-huet, great bustard, cachaña (austral parakeet), ringed kingfisher, and a variety of ducks. This is also the native home of the pudús, the deer smallest in the world, the culpeo fox, puma, and guiña (wildcat). The waters of the Queulat Fjord and the Puyuhuapi Bay host dolphins and sea lions, as well as a great variety of sea birds such as the heron and the beautiful black-necked swan.
Trails for hiking in Queulat National ParkHike the trails through the forest for an amazing experience; the sights are spectacular and you will be accompanied by the constant sound of singing birds and falling water. The most beautiful trails include the Hanging Glacier Overlook; the Témpanos Lagoon, where you can cross the Ventisquero River on a suspension bridge; Morrena del Glacier; Padre García Falls; Enchanted Forest; and the Caesars’ Glacier, where you enter the forest through a seemingly magical and mysterious place. Following the Cascadas River you’ll come to the beautiful Lagoon of the Gnomes, which originates at the glacier. Heartier hikers will continue on to the more challenging Guillermo River Trail. In addition to the numerous glaciers, other very attractive natural settings are the Condor Falls and the Portezuelo Queulat, the highest point along the Austral Road. |
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SANTIAGO: Fidel Oteiza 1921 Of. 1006, Providencia, Santiago
- Chile Tel. (56-2) 225 64 89 |
