Verdant and pristine, this 2889-sq-km park encompasses vast extensions of temperate rainforest, clear rivers, seascapes and farmland. A remarkable forest-conservation effort, stretching from near Hornopirén to south of Chaitén, Parque Pumalín attracts international visitors in great numbers. Created by American Doug Tompkins, it's Chile's largest private park and one of the largest private parks in the world.
Alongside forest preservation, there's been experimentation with agricultural uses such as bee keeping, organic farming and animal husbandry in an innovative park model. For Chile it's a flagship conservation project, with well-maintained roads and trails, extensive infrastructure and minimal impact.
After the 2008 eruption of Volcán Chaitén, the park closed for several years. It reopened in 2011, adding a spectacular trail to the new volcano.
Since the ferry usually requires advance reservations, many people access the park from Chaitén in the south. Caleta Gonzalo, the ferry landing, features cabins and a cafe. A new visitor center is being implemented in the current guardaparques (ranger) station 20km south of Chaitén. Fires are prohibited in the park.
