Pumalin Park

Pumalín Park is a unique project of Douglas Tomkins from the United States. In an agreement with the Chilean government, he has purchased a large part of northern Patagonia with the purpose of creating a protected nature reserve. His intention is to eventually return it to the Chileans as a national park. At the time of purchase, several international companies were bidding for the land in order to extract valuable virgin forest resources. It is now a private reserve open to the public. In the northern sector there are a few cabins and a restaurant available to tourists. Throughout the park there are campgrounds that provide running water and covered spaces for tents. Rainfall in Pumalín reaches 12-18 feet in some years. The lush forest contains a huge variety of small and large species of plant growth. I joined a group of tourists for a visit to the park on a rainy day. It lies just a few miles north of Chaitén where I was staying for a few days.

Pumalín Park contains many hiking trails that have been carefully maintained. In a land where rain is almost a daily event, these wooden walkways through swampy land are sturdy and (usually) above water.



There are enough species per square meter to keep a biologist happy for a month.

Young Canelo, sacred tree of the Mapuche people.

Happy hiker

Ancient Alerce tree (fitzroya cupressoides) that resembles the California Redwood, especially the similar bark and their ability to live 3-4,000 years.

At the foot of Chaitén Volcano. Steam is escaping from vents and the caldera. Note the return of life in the trees and the abundant ferns on the ground. The volcano erupted May 2, 2008, after 9,000 years of dormancy.



One of hundreds of waterfalls in the park.



Tiny ferns grow at the base of this cliff, then larger species are found at higher levels. At the top of the cliff are small and large trees.

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