The wild beauty of nature makes an impression in Pumalín Park, a refuge of centenarian forests of Patagonia cypress (Fitzroya cupressoides), lenga beeches (Nothofagus pumilio) and cypresses (Cupressus sempervivens), which seem to be the guardians of a space of disturbing beauty, with glaciers, fiords, hidden lakes and silent waterfalls.

Nature has resorted to all of its magic on the 317000 hs of Pumalín, the most important private park in Chile, to create places that move travellers hiking along the zigzagging trails of this protected area due to its delicate loveliness. It is located in the 10th Region of the Lakes, on continental Chiloé, one of the less populated zones in the country.

The origins of the Park go back to 1991 when Douglas Tompkins, a wealthy North American philanthropist, bought the Reñihué Ranch, located in a zone hard to access with pastures for cattle and 7000 hs of native trees.

Some time later, the Conservation Land Trust Foundation, led by Tompkins, would buy 300000 hs of land, including the neighbouring area of Reñihué called Pumalín, a true outflow of native forests, frozen summits, clear rivers and amazing fiords.
The imposing nature of Pumalín nourished the idea of creating a private protected zone as a means of securing the conservation of a fragile ecosystem created by glaciations, in a process that generated or gave life to superb cliffs highly unstable, impressive lakes and restless rivers that form deltas and moisture abrupt valleys.

The Park would open to the public in 1994 after arduous research work, recuperation of degraded soils and the building of a tourist infrastructure (camping areas, trails and cabins amongst other facilities). Now, the process for granting it the category of Natural Sanctuary is on its last stages.

The protection of the forest

Pumalín is a significant eco-tourist project undertaken by private capitals in the Communes of Hualaihué and Chaitén (Province of Palena), and a small part of the Commune of Cachamó (Province of Llanquihue). The aim of its promoters is to preserve the fragile ecosystem of the forests, the lake and marine zones, as well as the fauna to which it is related.

The protection plan involves, as well, the settlers of communities such as Cholgo, Vodudahue and Liptepu, amongst other populations dispersed along the fiords, canals and isles.

This is done with the aim of having conservation as well as an economically viable activity for the population, instilling in them the need to protect the environment and the biodiversity.