I was expecting danger on every curve as I journeyed deep into the Patagonian Rainforest, a region that is still largely unexplored. My young driver picked me up at the Pichol International Airport to take me on my three hour drive through the region, with the last hour of the trek on gravel roads. His English was nonexistent so I was left to my own whirling imagination as to my final destination.
Winding along some of the most beautiful countryside in the world, located near the towering Mocho-Choshuenco volcano we drove through the Valdivian Rainforest, made up of a narrow strip of forest within one the 25 most valued and endangered ecoregions on the planet. The area is recognized as a biodiversity hot spot due to its huge amount of species including the rare Pudu, the world’s smallest deer and the Puma lion.
My destination was the spectacular and certainly one of a kind Montaña Mágica Lodge. Emerging from between the southern Andes, hidden deep in the Medieval like forest, we came upon the towering volcano-shaped lodge with a cascading waterfall from its pinnacle. The fact that this is also a luxury hotel is amazing.
Checking into the hotel is an experience in itself as nobody speaks English. Communication is difficult, but after some utilizing my simple Spanish skills I was able to get my room keys. The inside of the Montaña Mágica is decorated and built in a natural style made completely out of wood and stone. The windows, walls, doors and stairs are all carved out of the local rustic woods giving an impression of a Hobbit meets Flintstones decor. Rooms are small but considering the unique design worked perfectly within the surroundings. Small intimate bar areas are scattered among the rising interior balconies you pass enroute the the room.
Montaña Mágica is part of the Huilo Huilo complex which also includes the Baobab Hotel. Both hotels are interconnected to each other by suspension walkways. Among the neighboring lodges are the Nothufagus Hotel, a 120 foot high structure rising to the top of the trees with the core of the property at the base of an oak tree. The 55 rooms and suites offer spectacular views of the forest and volcano in the horizon and the luxury Nawelpi Lodge with rooms averaging $1,200 per night. The 12 exclusive bungalows are set along the Fuy River and entered silently through elevated walkways within the most tranquil surroundings. This is a place to truly unwind and become part of the nature surrounding you.
I felt far away from civilization in this beautiful Biological Reserve of about 232 miles located in the River Region of Chile. The lodges are each one of a kind in design and offer an abundance of services including relaxing in their amazing hot tubs made out of huge trunks of ancient trees and perched on a deck overlooking the forest. There is also a mini golf course built into the forest with nature providing the obstacles, as well as various outdoor activities including horseback riding, rafting, and hiking.
My visit included an experience at the Lawenko Spa located in the middle of the Cordillera de Los Andes, a small volcanic complex above interconnected thermal rivers, which flow to the surface in different parts of Huilo Huilo. On the northern shore of Lake Pirehueico, the hot springs have been redirected to the Spa center with comfortable baths including an outdoor pool, a heated indoor pool, two Jacuzzis, sauna, steam room and massage treatments The spa can be reached by a short boat ride, or a self-guided three day trek through the forest.
This adventure is not for everyone but certainly provides an amazing out of this world experience far from the maddening crowd. For a location to offer bragging rights and seclusion while providing first class options, Huilo Huilo is worth the trek.
