Tiny town with a big secret: pioneering in Puyuhuapi

It’s funny. While planning our journey to Patagonia, we didn’t even know this place existed. True that we were not focusing too much time in the area but still – would you not expect it to pop up on a map? Puyuhuapi is the tiny treasure of its citizens. Imagine it to be like your hometown’s favourite restaurant. You mention it to your family, maybe to close friends but then you keep the discovery to yourself. Sometimes a couple of tourists can happen to find it and that’s when information start to leak but that aside: the secret is safe.

This is Puyuhuapi. A place where a lot of travellers go but often – unwillingly or not – forget to mention. So what’s about this town that makes it so unique?

View from the mirador of the glacier

Queulat Hanging Glacier

Ahhhh, secret unveiled. Believe or not, this is one of the most beautiful places we’ve seen on our uninterrupted (soon) 15 months of travelling. I mean, read the title again. A HANGING GLACIER, how many times in your life your ever happen to turn around and be like “Oh wow, that’s a lovely hanging glacier there in my yard”. There are few spots in the world where you can see this and interestingly enough, Puyuhuapi list among them. The Queulat National Park, home of the glacier, also feature seven nature trails, a small museum and a nice lagoon where to take boat trips to the bottom of the glacier.

Transport: To get to Queulat National Park (30min away) you need to book a spot on one of the two private shuttle companies in town. Experiencia Austral (adventure shop in front of where the bus stops) offer transport to & back for the price of 8’000CLP/pp and Entre Verdes (small bus company at the end of town) offer the same thing but charge you 30’000CLP/pp for the whole 7-seater van. TIP: If you can find at least three more people that want to visit Queulat with you, it’s cheaper going with Entre Verdes.

Entrance gate to the park

Prices & entrance fees: Entering the National Park has a cost of 5’000CLP for each foreign adult (kids pay 3’000CLP) wishing to visit. Separately, once at the lagoon you can also buy a boat ride to the bottom of the glacier for 6’000CLP/pp.

Town center

Essential Info

Other things to do: Around town there are two spa-like hot springs where you can soak all day long. The Termas el Ventisquero are just 5km outside town and charge you 17’000CLP/pp for the day and even if it might sound pricey, wait to hear the other ones! Secluded on the other side of the lake, owned by a 5-start lodge, are the amazing Termas Puyuhuapi Lodge. Entrance fee, you wonder? A fricking salty 200’000CLP/pp.

Accomodation: Like other tourist destination you can find plenty of Hospedaje, Hostels and Cabañas at different prices. Usually a bed would range from 10’000CLP to 15’000CLP but if you’re traveling in a group (or find one on the bus) then renting a fully equipped cabaña for 40-50’000CLP is the best option. You can find several cabañas, especially on the main road but if you’re looking for a real treat definitely head straight to the Cabaña Turin. We loved that place so much!

Food & Eating out: Cooking your own meals is the way to go to save a lot of money. The few restaurants in Puyuhuapi are pretty expensive and a main doesn’t get lower than 10-15$! On the other hand, at the supermarket you can find plenty to make yourself some amazing meals!

Transport in & out: If you’re heading North to Chaiten, Terraustral run a 6am bus on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; otherwise, if you’re heading South to Coyhaique the same company have buses running all week (one bus leaving town between 6-9am, ask there).

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