About an hour from Puerto Octay there is a national park, Chile’s oldest, and we have long since known that in National parks across Chile and Argentina dogs aren’t allowed, not even to enter the parks never mind walk the trails. But in this national park which straddles a highway you can leave your dog in the parking lot alongside the highway in your van and go by yourself to check out the waterfalls, famous in Chile yet unknown in the world at large.
It was a very pleasant drive through woods and farmland in what was supposed to be a sunny day and actually was.
A glimpse of the lake.
Easy relaxed driving, what a pleasure.
Volcanic rock and sand is everywhere here.
I think among all travelers I am least interested in selfies. I like showing places as you might see them and I don’t think my face generally improves them and the big thumbs up cliche or the ever popular v sign just make me cringe.
In some countries they call waterfalls “cascadas” but here the common term is “salto” which means leap as I guess the water does leap.
Consensus is growing that Patagonia in Chile starts at Puerto Montt about fifty miles away. But this is what I’ve always thought Patagonia might look like:
Chilean senior citizens get in for free but us foreigners got a reduced rate around five bucks each I think. There is a parks pass but with Rusty in our lives there’s no point in our buying one.
The facilities are comparable to what you would find in the US with formal snack and souvenir shops and none of the informal street vending style we are used to in South America.
They even had speakers along the trail for handicapped visitors.
There was a sign asking visitors not to throw coins for whatever reason into the creek. I looked down from the bridge and predictably…
These waterfalls aren’t tall but they are powerful burst of first amongst the black volcanic rocks under the volcanoes.
We met an elderly couple in wheelchairs being pushed by family members though they didn’t seem very relaxed about the ride. I was impressed by the high standards of the facilities and accessibility in the park.
It was quite lovely and despite the unexpected crowds it never felt crowded oddly enough.
There was room for everyone to pose for selfies.
Not wheelchair accessible:
Time to wake Rusty up and give him his walk just beyond the parking lot.
And on around the lake towards Puerto Varas and Frutillar.
Puerto Varas did not impress so we drove through…
…as fast as we could and ended up camping…
…in a field in Frutillar.
