CASA LUDWIG
Bed & Breakfast
Puyuhuapi
- Patagonia - Chile
NATURE AND POPULATION
Climate
The climate in the area of Puyuhuapi is humid temperate, with approximately 3,500 mm of precipitation per year. The rainiest months are June and July, so the best time to visit is between November and March.
Come prepared for sun and rain, heat and cold,
because you will probably encounter a variety of weather conditions here. Because
the microclimates that develop over the fjords and the interior are varied,
it is difficult to make predictions. In Patagonia we often say, "If you don't like the
weather, just wait 5 minutes!"
Flora
The humid temperate forest of this region
is made up of southern beech (coigüe) and other endemic
species, including canelo, the sacred tree of the Mapuches; luma,
a hardwood used to make police truncheons; and many
other trees. The
dense strip of bamboo that rings the forest, the tree ferns and
other giant ferns growing on the hillsides, the enormous leaves
of the nalca plant (a kind of wild rhubarb) and the wild fuschia bushes that grow along the edges of the road
impress visitors. Think
twice, however, before trying the delicious calafate berry that
ripens in February! Legend has it that anyone who eats calafate
must return to Patagonia!
Fauna
The Patagonian forest is the natural habitat of pudúes (the world's smallest deer) and pumas. It stands silent, except for its birds, including the tuetue, who announces your arrival in the forest, and the curious chucao who tags along on your hike. The waters are full of wildlife, too: otters, beavers and blackneck swans inhabit the rivers and lakes, while toninas, seals and penguins swim in the sea.
Patagonia has no poisonous insects; in fact, there is hardly even a mosquito. Wild rodents carry hantavirus, but little threat is posed to those who follow basic safety precautions and avoid these animals.
The staff at Casa Ludwig is very knowledgeable about the area. We are more than happy to provide you with all the information you need for a very pleasant Patagonian experience.
Population
Although it covers 100.000 km2, the Aisén Region has only 100,000 inhabitants, more than half of whom live in Coyhaique and Puerto Aisén. As you can imagine, Nature rules the rest of the territory.
The Puyuhuapi Bay area was long a resting place for the Chonos, seafaring nomads who once travelled along the fjords in their canoes, leaving behind growing heaps of shells. During colonial times, they were attracted to the missions, and over the past few centuries, they have slowly moved north toward Chiloé.
German settlers came in 1935 and hired farmworkers from Chiloé,
most of whom were Huilliche Indians, the southern branch of the
Mapuche people. They came with their families, and today, along
with later migrants from the region between Puerto Montt and
Temuco, they make up the majority of the village's population.
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At dawn in the Puyuhuapi Bay
A rather silent jungle
Lost between the enormous
leaves of the nalca plant
The pudú, world's smallest
deer
From canoe indian to boatswain