Puerto Chacabuco, Chile
Puerto Chacabuco is located at the tip of the dramatic Aisén Fjord at the foot of the soaring Andes peaks. It is a tiny Patagonian enclave and getaway into the spellbinding beauty of the rugged wilderness.
Tendering ashore (no place to dock a large ship), we were struck by the pristine beauty surrounding us. Because of its remoteness, the area's first settlers only arrived in 1929. Today, Puerto Chacabuco's population is just 1,000 residents.
We journeyed inland through rolling pasture lands with snow capped peaks of the Andes set as the backdrop. When the first settlers arrived in 1929, they set massive fires to clear the land for farming. The fires burned out of control for more than 20 years destroying much of the region's lush forests . During the last decade, reserves have been established to restore some of the area's original beauty. We stopped at the Rio Simpson Nature Reserve and enjoyed a scenic walk viewing the majestic scenery.
Photo op time! The Simpson River today is filled with rainbow and brown trout making it a fly fisherman's paradise.
Several of the nature reserve's maintenance staff offered us smiles as we passed by. Their limited English and our limited Spanish kept the conversation to "Buenos dias!"
Reforestation is making progress on the steep slopes.
Continuing, we crossed through a high mountain pass which provided a spectacular panoramic view. Small farms, usually raising sheep, dotted the landscape.
The town's "farmers market" consisted of a handful of street vendors.
Rising to an altitude of 4,000 feet, Cerro McKay provides a spectacular backdrop to Coyhaique.
Returning to the ship we passed the Cascada La Virgin waterfall. Nearby was a shrine to the Virgin Mary.
Late afternoon, the Viking Sun was a welcome sight waiting for us in the Aisén fjord.
Our next port of call was Puerto Montt. That stop was cancelled due to high seas so we are on to Santiago, Chile for a 3-day visit and resupply. The stop will also exchange 700 passengers and 100 crew members.
Tendering ashore (no place to dock a large ship), we were struck by the pristine beauty surrounding us. Because of its remoteness, the area's first settlers only arrived in 1929. Today, Puerto Chacabuco's population is just 1,000 residents.
We journeyed inland through rolling pasture lands with snow capped peaks of the Andes set as the backdrop. When the first settlers arrived in 1929, they set massive fires to clear the land for farming. The fires burned out of control for more than 20 years destroying much of the region's lush forests . During the last decade, reserves have been established to restore some of the area's original beauty. We stopped at the Rio Simpson Nature Reserve and enjoyed a scenic walk viewing the majestic scenery.
Photo op time! The Simpson River today is filled with rainbow and brown trout making it a fly fisherman's paradise.
Several of the nature reserve's maintenance staff offered us smiles as we passed by. Their limited English and our limited Spanish kept the conversation to "Buenos dias!"
Reforestation is making progress on the steep slopes.
Continuing, we crossed through a high mountain pass which provided a spectacular panoramic view. Small farms, usually raising sheep, dotted the landscape.
Descending into a valley, we arrived at the isolated town of Coyhaique, elevation 1,476 feet. With a population of 27,000, it serves as the regional capital. Walking along its main street felt like walking through a 1940s era movie set.
The town's "farmers market" consisted of a handful of street vendors.
Rising to an altitude of 4,000 feet, Cerro McKay provides a spectacular backdrop to Coyhaique.
Returning to the ship we passed the Cascada La Virgin waterfall. Nearby was a shrine to the Virgin Mary.
Late afternoon, the Viking Sun was a welcome sight waiting for us in the Aisén fjord.
Our next port of call was Puerto Montt. That stop was cancelled due to high seas so we are on to Santiago, Chile for a 3-day visit and resupply. The stop will also exchange 700 passengers and 100 crew members.
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