Basic ecotouristic information on Hornopirén National Park (Chile) - localization, access, characteristic, fauna and flora, possible activities.
Localization
Southern Chile, Lake District - 107 km south east from Puerto Montt
Access
Easy. From Puerto Montt the city of Hornopirén along the good road by bus. Then there is another 7 km on a bumpy gravel road through private land in order to reach the park entrance. The trip takes about 4 hours.
Characteristic
482 km2; Rugged mountainous area (part of the Andes mountain range) - glacially carved mountains deep valleys and active volcanoes (Yates - 2187 m and Hornopirén - 1572 m). It includes glaciers comprising an area of 30 km². Surrounding Sargazo lagoon there is a circle of 800 year old larches and another of 3000 years near Fría lagoon, in the Correntoso area. Typical ecosystems: unspoilt Valdivian temperate rain forests - about 50% park area, freshwater ecosystems (three large lakes of a glacial origin, 50 medium sized lagoons, six big rivers), alpine biotopes, volcanic biotopes. Water in lakes is characterized by distinctive blue and green hues, due to rock flour suspended in rivers´ water and give them their milky appearance.
Fauna + Flora
Species List - See the Attachment Below
(Species list may not be complete)
Possible activities
Very good conditions for walking, trekking (various difficulty) and camping. There are two official, maintained trails in the park and a net of others.
Fishing, mounaineering, hoseback riding, canoeing.
Note
No turist facilities inside the park excluding camping sites
The Park is normally closed to the general public between July and November for safety concerns because of the heavy accumulation of snow and ice (over one meter thick).