Lakeside Huechulafquen

We’ve been hanging out and literally watching the snow melt.  It’s nice and warm both day and night, but the lake is pretty chilly.

Since we had luck snorkeling in the crystal clear rivers around here, we figured we could spot some trout in the lake too. But, we all decided it was a bit too cold for anything but a quick dip.  In the morning, the trucha literally jump out of the water, so we can watch them while we drink our jo.

Although we are inside National Park land, most of the area is private property – all belonging to the local Mapuche who the Argentinean government swiped the land from in the first place.  At least they allowed them to keep living here, which a bit more generous than how other countries (my own, especially) treat(ed) the indigenous people that were there first.  Since it’s now more or less government owned, there is a booth at the entrance where you have to pay something like $20 USD to enter. That booth seems to be the only infrastructure in the ‘park’.

For camping, we have to deal with the locals, which is fine by us.  Our spot is absolutely incredible, and again, we have it all to ourselves.  It even comes with an outhouse.  In the evening, a local Mapuche guy comes down to collect a fee for using his land.  I’ve got no problem putting cash in this guy’s hand, but the park ‘ranger’ back at the toll booth – I’m not really sure where that money is going.  I think the best plan is to only enter the park one time and then stay for a while. After your government entrance fee, everything in the park is involves dealing directly with the locals.

Lago Huechulafquen