South American adventure: Parque National Huerquehue

Volcan Villarrica

Huge spires jutting out from the surrounding mountains, About two hours later we walked through the area where all the boulders come crashing through the forest shattering huge trees like twigs!

Walking near the top of the tree line on the way back from the thermal springs to the park entrance.

One of the 4 thermal baths, this was the really hot one 90 C

Algae growing in the hot pool

Parque National Huerquehue is situated near to the Argentine border amongst the lower hills of the Andes and is without doubt the most magnificent area of forest and mountains I have ever seen with my own eyes. Not only is it stunningly beautiful but it has very few visitors making it a very tranquil and magical place.

Our first few days we stayed at the National park campsite and were camped next to a lago, that you could swim in, drink fro and fish in, although the fish didn't seem too bothered about eating any of my elaborately created hook set ups or spinners!

We then decided to trek to a thermal spring on the far side of the park, this took us through mile upon mile of the most pristine forest composed of Southern Beech (Nothofagus) and Monkey puzzle (Araucaria araucana) full of woodpeckers, innumerable insects, and Aguilas (Large hawk) as well as puma's which we were not fortunate enough to see, though Sarah swears something growled at her!

After a night wild camping we walked for three hours to the thermal baths for a well deserved beer and sit in the pools and river.