Chaitén after the Volcanic Eruption

Like many times before, Chilean villages have demonstrated their capacity to survive natural disasters and slowly re-emerge to show off their prodigious delightful natural scenes. This is the case of Chaitén, whose volcano erupted in 2008 and today leaves this piece of news behind to show its usual tourist attractions.

After a long period of abandonment, the northern area of this village has been reconstructed gradually on the Pacific shores following the typical traits of seaside architecture. The new airport is being built on the way to Mount Vilcún, within a protected space.

The local municipality, Banco del Estado and public services have been settled down in that area, away from the wind and volcanic ash. Its beautiful beaches, its native woods with springs and rivers all around will soon provide the natural glow the city has always had.

Three years after the eruption, the denizens of Chaitén have organized a march towards the volcano crater summoning Chilean and foreign tourists to join them. Led by expert guides from the district, they opened up a hiking trail to that mount in order to see its basin.

The good news is that the road towards Pumalin Park is completely open, and so is the path to Termas del Amarillo. The circuit is completed with the 40 paved kilometers going from Chaitén to Lake Yelcho.

Park Pumalín lies between Hornopirén and Chaitén and there are various recreational activities that may be enjoyed in the area. Horseback rides, hiking, fly-casting, kayaking along the river or the sea are but some of them. This is a natural sanctuary where cascades, viewpoints and the hillsides of the Chaitén may be observed. It is an ideal zone to enjoy adventure travel and camping.

To visit Termas del Amarillo, travelers must go about 26 kilometers towards the south starting at Chaitén and enter a woodland area with natural hot spring pools. There are also rustic pools made of cement and some cabins. The baths in this area are generous in sulfur and turn out to be highly healing.

A Bimodal Route with dirt stretches and ferry spans to go from Chaitén to Puerto Montt has been available ever since 2011. The districts of Caleta Gonzalo, Hornopirén and La Arena, to name a few, are crossed throughout this circuit.

Chaitén is reborn from the ashes and gradually shows its majestic geographical features thanks to the effort made by its dwellers and the great amount of attractions in the area. A sign reads: “Chile is yours” offering a thousand reasons to go around this region, which is becoming stronger and stronger.