Dense woods and hot springs - Excursion to Antillanca Volcano and Puyehue National Park (full day from Puerto Varas)
Full day excursion to National Park Puyehue. At 2.000 m, the Volcano Antillanca towers above the entire park which offers dozens of walking trails through native rainforest with many indigenous trees unique to this area such as the Coigue (pronounced co-ee-goo-ay) and Arrayanes (aura-yanis). The wet winters here draw a thick vegetation of lichens, moss and huge native rhubarb called Nalca. Nalca is much coarser than our rhubarb and interestingly, the Chilean natives enjoy it salted, not sweetened. This part of Chile is still active volcanically and as a result there are many natural hot springs here to relax and soak in after a walk. The “Termas de Aguas Calientes“ (hot springs) bubble out of the earth with a temperature of 42°C (107°F) and invite you to soak in and relax. After a good rewarding soak we shall return to Puerto Varas.
