Tuesday 7 February 2012

Leaving Chiloe

By the time we were back in the hotel after our curanto, the mist and rain had returned, Wales had beaten Ireland at Lansdowne Road and we spent the evening watching the Superbowl with a bottle of Carmenere and a new-found friend from San Francisco.

Early start to get to the pinguinera in time for the first boat trip - more dirt roads and this time we were grateful for our four-wheel drive. As the tide was out, we saw a good selection of waders on the way - including a couple of Black-faced Ibis.

Met a very friendly guide and boat driver and enjoyed a trip around the Islotes de Punihuil where there are three penguin colonies – mostly Magellanic Penguins but a few Humboldt's as well. We were also entertained by a Sea Otter who surfaced alongside our boat and lay on his back while breakfasting on a spiny crab and by a variety of cormorants.


Then it was back on the road heading north for PuertoVaras and the start of the lakes. Decided to skip the town and continue along the lakeshore until we reached Ensenada which lays at the corner of lake Llaniquehue in the shadow of the Osorno Volcano – which we had seen from the plane on our flight south and which dominates almost everything in the area. Found a comfortable cabin on the lakeside for a few days and settled into enjoy the sunshine


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