Isla Grande de Chile.

 Puerto Montt to Quillion - Isla Grande de Chile - 16th Feb

We have hired a car and this morning will drive to Pargua and catch a ferry (1/2 hr voyage) Chacao and drive to as far as the Road ends at Quillon. We will then have to back track back to Puerto Montt.

Walked to car hire depot and had a bit of a confused conversation with the car hire guy. It was a small car hire place but well organized. About $80NZ a day all up so not too bad. Being a small outfit, they were very thorough, but all worked out OK. Driving on the right-hand side bit of a challenge but google maps a big help. Also toll gates with toll operators that didn’t speak the English (our fault) a bit stressful. The route took us down the Isla Grande de Chile. The ferry crossing was entertaining and interesting bit of a wait many ferries going back and forward. They are building a bridge a major undertaking that will take many years. Found a nice place for a coffee with the first of many churches. (Points of interest) Winging a bit with accommodation and stopped at about 5pm to look for an air bnb and booked in with Camila in an old hotel by the seashore. Got a recommendation for dinner and Maree had octopus. Everyone very friendly. The town is a bit sad with many buildings that are run down. Lots of salmon and mussel farms in the bays. These farms however are having a negative impact on the local environment with over farming, overuse of anti-biotics fed to the salmon and of course rubbish getting into the ocean.  Our B&B host told me that it had got to the point where the seabed was beyond repair.

The food here is ok, they do love their sweet treats and elaborate cakes cut into large slices for sale everywhere.  Lots of bread and savory pastries like pasties. Ice cream seems popular too.  A variety of fruit and vegetables are available, and the corn cobs would be 3 or 4 times the size of what we grow. 

Fishing boat with Quillon in the background

Stop along the road one of the many old churches in the background

Bus loading on to one of the many ferries crossing over to the island

Bridge construction in the back ground

Anhour monument at the end of the highway at Quellon

Fishing boat at Quellon

Castro to Ensenada 17th and 18th Feb

Had breakfast at the hotel many apologies about the power that had gone on a go slow so couldn’t use the appliances. 

Drove around the bays looking at the local sites churches and an anchor monument that is the end or the start of the Pan Americana highway. More salmon farms and mussel farms. Countryside very nice much like NZ. Highways very good with tolls, secondary highways mostly gravel and rough. A bit tough on our little rental car. Stopped at a little park and went for a walk. We think it was a private park with walking tracks and viewing platforms but hard to tell, we met the guy in charge but limited coms because of language barrier. There is supposed to be a little native deer, but none seen. Maree a bit nervous on the viewing platforms and swing bridges. They were certainly things of amazement very home built. 

Carried on and winging it with accommodation again using Airbnb booked about 4pm.

Stayed in Castro, the  main point of interest a town square and you guessed it a church painted yellow made out of corrugated iron. Pretty rough job!

Stayed in a house in Castro with Mario.

Heading back up the Isla Grande de Chile in the morning18th Feb. Stopped in a nice little town called Quemchi. Once again driving around nice little bays. Back over on the ferry - straight on without waiting, but cost a bit more. We found out why, as it  took us further up the bay a bit worried for a moment in case we were going god knows where and boarded the ferry to the wrong destination. All worked out well and headed back to a place called Puerto Varas which is by a freshwater lake. Very scenic many people swimming. Found a hostel through Airbnb in a small place nearby called Ensenada run by Ricardo. Very nice. Went for a walk and checked out the lake and found a new friend a (mutty) little white dog that followed us for ages

Another one of the old wooden churches 

Lots of mussel farms as we drive through many of the bays 

Loading trucks in the evening us have been a distant relative.

Maree at the water front at Quemchi a small town along the way

Mucking around in the small park we stopped at