Thermal springs country

Trip Start Jul 27, 2008
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Trip End Mar 05, 2009


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Where I stayed
Hebe´s Hostel
(Caviahue hotels)

Flag of Argentina  , Patagonia,
Monday, December 8, 2008

Someone suggested that I get off the tourist trail and  go this remote part which in winter is a skiing centre. The girl at Puma Hostel made the necessary inquiries about the buses to take and the hostel to stay and was on my way. Couple of bus changes and I arrived in Caviahue (ka-v-ar-way). It was on the shores of a  lake which had very few nutrients and there was nothing living in it except some microscopic things. Reason was the volcanic activity nearby. About 500 people lived there which went up considerably in winter. I was the only tourist in this very cold place.

All around were mountains with the last bits of snow. Further down were forests of monkey puzzle trees which date back 1500 years. In time I was able to tell the difference between male and female trees. There were several rivers around over the rocky terrain and I took a hike along the rock bank of one of there. I passed 7 waterfalls of various sizes before walking go too difficult and returned to the town. A different walk took me to a different and much bigger waterfall which still had a huge lump of unmelted snow at the bottom through which the water flowed. This was the first time that I actually got to touch snow in this country.Previously it was always too high up.

As I was the only one staying there the couple who ran the hostel cooked one meal with which we had beer or wine. On the last night I made curry with some spices they had from a previous trip to India. I did not have all the ingredients but it came out fairly well. In return I was treated to a meal of mash potato balls with cheese which were boiled in a pan. My description does not do it justice because it was very tasty. I think it was Italian in origin.

I did not get to the thermal springs in the next town because there was no bus service and to take a taxi would have been quite expensive.

If there are any hardy souls out there take a trip to this area, its well worth it.                                         
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