Arriving in Pucon on the Chilean side of the border was almost another culture shock – this is where everyone owning a Ford F-150 V8 takes their vacation. Andrenalin rush with riverrafting, climbing, parachuting, thermo pools and vulcano edge walking.
Well that is if rangers do not close the surrounding National Parks due to the extensive wildfires in this region.
So I almost got to hike to the top of the local Villarrica vulcano – the most active vulcano in Chile and daily sending up smoke from the lava – but just 8 hours before the tour was to start, rangers closed this one as well. And in the same area was another trek in wild undisturbed forest leading to the large thermo area (18 pools with nice hot water).
Even if the weather was near perfect and no signs in Pucon of smoke from the wildfires, I decided to move further north and take a few days along the Pacific Ocean again.
The drive was a pretty boring 540km mostly on the Ruta 5 Norte (Panamericana Norte if you can remember my first days) but already 40km from Pucon the wildfires was very obvious and smoke started to clutter the sky. Along the highway fires was still active and dense smoke sometimes required slow speed and covering of mouth and nose – yes, that was a bit scarry but authorities know how to handle this and what roads can be used and kept open.
Arriving in Pelluhue the temperature dropped from mid-30’ies to much more comfortable 20 degr, and air quality also improved. As seen above you could though still see and feel the smoke from the fires. On a wednesday late afternoon the locals did enjoy the Pacific Ocean – and so did I.
Besides relaxing and reading in the nice B&B in the hamocs, I took a short drive along the coastline to take a few of the local sites and views.
The next days getting closer to the end – driving up to Pichilemu and Santa Cruz before having the last days in the best place (as far as I know) in Valparaiso. Wednesday 15th the bike will be packed in the container and will be shipped back to Denmark within 6-7 weeks.
