pumalin park

We booked a night in the expensive cabañas in this park and they are certainly worth the money for beauty and proximity to the park, the food in the cafe was excellent too. The problem was with the hikes in the park. After our night in the cabaña and a hearty breakfast we asked the manager if we could buy a packed lunch as we planned a day of hiking in the trails in the park. We asked for a map, an excellent well marked map, but what the manager neglected to tell us was that all but 2 of the smaller trails were closed for maintenance. We came a long way to get there and it was November so in season, it is disappointing and it is not as if I will be back there.

We travelled through the Careterra Austral in April 2013 and loved the wilderness, the quaint towns and cozy accommodation.

As we don't travel with our own car, and as public transport is close to inexistent (even in high season), we decided to visit Parque Pumalin on a day trip with Chaitur. They have their office in Chaiten and are mostly the only open and helpful tourist information when backpackers arrive and everything else is closed..They offer day trips to Pumalin for 10000 per Person (from 5 persons onwards), almost daily. Our tour started a 11h and ended at around 19h. It was led by Nicolas (owner of the agency) who speaks fluent Spanish and English. Even if Nicolas might seem to be a bit chaotic in the beginning, you will soon notice the he is simply very laid back and that he has immense knowledge on the area, flora and fauna. The tour includes the transport to three different senderos (Sendero los Alerces, 45min, easy; Sendero Cascadas Escondidas, 2h, steep; Small part of Sendero el Volcan, 30min) and a stop at Playa Sta. Barbara.All in all a nice and very informative tour. Therefore, recomendable!

This is my third expedition with Alsur operated by master guide and environmentalist Gerardo Niklitschek. What began as a brief conversation and a handshake at a cafe in Puerto Varas led to three amazing journeys through Southern Chile and Argentina. Year 1 I needed help setting up a wilderness study abroad program for young urban Photographers from NYC. Gerardo expertly guided me through Pumalin Fiords and beyond.The following two years have been spent with a group of 12 students traveling to some of the most remote locations in Patagonia. Highly recommended. Absolutely the most knowledgeable guide in the region.

This review is overdue - we went for a one week kayak / camping trip to the Pumalin Park through the Chilean fjords a few months ago. This has to be one of the most spectacular sceneries we ever encountered on our travels...The whole trip was perfectly planned and executed by Altue Sea Kayak. Francisco and Thomas are highly professional guides - thanks for un unfogettable experience !

Wonderful 6 day paddling trip in a small group with Yak Expediciones, Juanfe is an excellent guide who really cares about his clients - laid back but detail oriented, knowledgeable about the sea, and full of interesting stories about the areas we paddled through. The scenery was spectacular, the hot springs we visited were a pleasure, and the kayaking was fun (a good work out but leaving plenty of time to enjoy the landscape). We had meals prepared by local families ( in their houses) along the route, which was very special and of course delicious. I have never had better lamb in my life than the last night's BBQ. Good for solo travelers like myself as well as couples, friends etc. Highly recommended - Juanfe is one of a kind!

Truly special experience with Juanfe of Yak Expediciones into the Patagonia fjords last Christmas. WE were very secure with his guidance and preparation and particularly enjoyed the interaction with local people on the way. Hard work each day followed by relaxing in glorious nature. Highly recommended.

I highly recommend this tour. The scenery, food, equipment, and knowledge of the guide were all first-rate, a definite highlight of my travels in Patagonia.

Last week I did a kayak trip with YAK EXPEDICIONES. We went to the Fjords of Pumalin (Northern Patagonia), starting and ending in Puerto Varas and passing through places like Hornopiren, Cholgo, Cahuelmo, Quintepeu, etc. Im not that big fan of kayaking but let me tell you that it wasnt a problem, having the oportunity to visit places so beautiful and peaceful like the south of Chile in a small paddling boat that doesnt make any noise is one of the best experiencies I can now say I've lived. We had the oportunity to see beatiful landscapes, calm waters, sea lions, chilean dolphins, cascades and even go to thermal natural waters, all these while paddling through the sea coast. The other part, which is also interesting, is the challenge the trip is, having to wake up really early sometimes to start kayaking, being wet sometimes and managing to make the tents while rainning were some parts that remind you that youre not going in a vacation, its a journey of experience and self/group motivation. You would think food is limited but no, the guide Juanfe makes great plates and keeps feeding you with chocolates, soup, bread, cookies, juice, etc! so dont worry about being hungry. It was a great trip which I had the luck of doing with a uncle and cousins, it is a great experience to remeber and if you have doubts check their pictures in fb and their webpage. Cheers.Stefano, Chilean.

Pumalin Park is not easy to get to, as has only one facility for indoor sleeping, but it is well worth the effort. From glaciers to rainforest to cascades to cavorting dolphins, it has it all. Highly recommended if wilderness walks are your thing and you are willing to face a not-always-friendly climate

Two million acres of dense thick Patagonian jungle with a thin rough dirt road that takes you past smoking volcanoes, hanging glaciers, raging rivers and flat calm lakes. Untouched areas that five feet from the road you could be the first human to walk upon that spot, ever. Well designed camp grounds with shelters from the rain, running water and cold if you are brave, showers. This is a special place spend more then a few days and you will want to stay.

Hello active travellers and adventurers, I was lucky to pick one of my best vacation destinations towards the fjords of Northern Patagonia, Chile, Parque Pumalin for 6 days sea kayaking in a self-sustaining trip with the team of YAK Expeditions, led by Zuazo Juanfe guide.We left on February 15 from Puerto Varas and thoroughly enjoyed this trip with my girlfriend, looking beauties of nature as volcanoes, huge waterfalls, fauna indigenous to the region as a maximum degree of freedom, thermal water rivers surrounded by forest and vegetation. The rest I leave to you to experience it because apart from this, we got fond memories of the warmth and friendliness of the Chilean southern people, some hermits and the camaraderie of the expedition teammates.Previously, I recommend to coordinate with YAK Expeditions the gear list of the trip,where Juanfe Zuazo (the leader of the expedition) will help you in everything concerning with the trip and delivering his knowledge with the support required for the traveler to enjoy the surroundings . The 6-day trip is totally feasible for novice paddlers without experience. Enjoy and take care of our enviroment for the future generations.

Lots of wildlife and very little foot traffic - I would try and spend at least week here.

I had the fortune of getting this trip as a gift from my wife. It starts in Puerto Varas, a city with a strong German influence in the south of Chile. After one day of a little trekking and driving we setup our first camp at the house of local people (former colonists) who served us delicious preparations of their own seafood and harvest.On the second day a little kayak trip to thermal waters serves as a training day for those who haven't paddled before. As I had paddle before the guide gave me specific advice about my paddling technique which I could practice on the way to the thermal waters. Food from the colonists again and good night (beware: the amount of food goes beyond what we consider normal but food = love is part of the culture at this latitude) The third and fouth days are more intense in terms of paddling and you get to see different animals and birds. Lots native vegetation and if the weather allows you to see the mountains/volcanoes at the background you might get quite a picture. For my fourth day we had a bad weather forecast (strong wind in the morning) so we got into the water during the night, letting our eyes accomodate for the obscurity and paddling with an absolute silence around us. This was the best moment for me, it was sublime. Finally we drove back to Puerto Varas where I took the bus back home.I fully recommend this trip. Juan (the guide) had a lot of expertise plus good equipment (radio, knowing the locals, etc) which is VERY important when going around places like this, where help might take long should an emergency arises (believe me, I am Chilean). If you have never paddled before I suggest you take a shorter trip before this one and check whether you like to be on a kayak and paddling for some hours. If you have done it before then that's all you need, there's no need to be an expert just follow the guide.

We took a wonderful 4 day trip with Juanfe Zuazo of Yak Expediciones to Pumalin Park. It included spending time with a local family, important training on how to handle a kayak in case of trouble, and of course, incredible scenery. Juanfe is professional, kind and funny. He goes out of his way to make sure you have an enjoyable trip. He also was gracious enough to put up with my traveling companion, which is no easy task. The scenery is incredible and the campground was one of the more spectacular one's I have stayed in. The trip was safe, beautiful, fun and enlightening.