CARRETERA AUSTRAL
Day Four - Hornopirén to Pumalin Park
Posted on 22nd Feb 2016
An early morning start and short drive 4 blocks to catch the Naviera Austral car ferry for our journey from Hornoriren to Caleta Gonzales.
The first ferry was about 3 hours in duration followed by 10km on a gravel road across an uninhabited peninsular, then 30 minutes on the second ferry to the entrance of the Pumalin Park. While on the ferry, we were approached by a couple of hitch-hikers who were looking for a ride to the town of Chaiten. We advised them that we were taking the slow scenic tour but they were happy to come along with us.
After letting all the tourists in their 4x4 overtake us, we leisurely headed south on the well graded gravel road stopping off to walk the Alerces and Cascada Escondidas trails. By early evening we arrived at the beautiful El Volcán campsite with stunning views over the steaming Chaitén volcano and the lower glacier of the Michinmahuida volcano whose summit was covered by cloud. We set up camp and had an early night as there was no electricity so went to bed when it got dark.