Chile’s Whitewater Wilderness - Bring Your Camera

Bring Your Camera

The Lake District of Southern Chile is the country’s adventure sport capital. The area offers an array of year-round opportunities such as hiking, rock climbing, trekking, canoeing, white-water rafting, sailing, boating, downhill and mountain biking, and a truly spectacular Andean lake crossing.

Lilliam really enjoyed horseback riding through beautiful mountain valleys near the lodge while I trolled by the in-water salmon hatchery on Lake Llanquihue in front of the volcano (and caught a 4-pound escapee). On another day, I fly fished small streams while she took one of the lodge’s kayaks for a 3-hour paddle between the lodge and the majestic Osorno Volcano.

We also tried zip-lining via a secure wire through the tall forest canopy on the side of the volcano, gliding over two deep canyons, huge trees reaching 100 feet and ravines – all exhilarating and fun. We also ventured by car to the Osorno Welcome Center, where a 15-minute chair lift quietly transported us up the mountain to where snow skiers were boarding another lift to the peak. Hikers also huffed the mountain trails, and a zip-line strung along the treeless upper valley provided a majestic view of the lake below and Petrohue Valley to the east with its rivers, streams and lakes. It’s simply an awe-inspiring view every direction you look.

Bio Larry Larsen, an inductee into the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, has traveled to over 50 countries. He’s written 21 books and over 2,000 magazine articles for numerous outdoors and travel publications. Larsen’s media memberships include the Society of American Travel Writers, the Florida Outdoor Writers Association and the Outdoor Writers Association of America.