Being born and raised in this place is the best thing that ever happened to me. A hidden land, tucked away in the valleys of the river Puelo, where very few people have visited, either because they do not know it exists or because it is not easy to get to. It takes patience and a love for nature to venture into these lands.

I know every corner of this area, the wildlife, the scenery that surrounds me at different times of the day and from different angles. Every moment highlights a different aspect of the landscape, depending on the light, the seasons, the weather. Here, boundaries do not exist, the separation between Chile and Argentina is the lake that contains an imaginary line.

I have so many memories of this place that I would like to have preserved intact. Sometimes I get a selfish feeling of not wanting anyone else to discover this place, because I don’t want them to harm it in any way, I don’t want them to damage its beautiful nature. After all, it’s the only thing we can leave our children and we want them to have the chance to enjoy the purity of the lakes and the fresh air as I do and my ancestors did.

As inhabitants of the area, we are determined to protect and conserve it for our families. It is a matter of extreme importance to us. So we try to convey our love for this land to tourists and encourage them to help us preserve this beautiful corner of Patagonia.

BY CRISTIÁN FERNÁNDEZ