Caleta Gonzalo

Caleta Gonzalo is surrounded by the wild expanse of Pumalin Park, a vast protected area of glaciers, forests, mountains and fjords. As well as being rich in wildlife, the park is an important area for nature conservation, and is home to one of the world’s largest populations of alerce trees, which have stood for thousands of years.

The seven cabanas are luxurious, alpine chalet-style cottages, with tiled roofs, wooden walls and lovely wood-panelled interiors painted an attractive dark green. The comfy beds are decked out with cosy hand-woven blankets to keep those chilly Patagonian evenings at bay, and some also feature loft hideaways accessed by ladder, while the lovely bathrooms come with vintage fixtures and fittings. Two of the cottages also have wood stove kitchens, so you can self-cater if you wish.

There are no TVs, and Wi-Fi is only available in the restaurant - which can only be a good thing when it comes to immersing yourself in the outside world. If you’re feeling really adventurous, you can also pitch a tent in the campground to sleep under the stars.

The café is an appropriately rustic space, with whitewashed wood-panelled walls, pine furniture, and dried grasses and flowers hanging from the ceiling beams. This is where you’ll start each day with a hearty breakfast spread of fruit, bread, cold cuts and preserves, accompanied by lovely fresh fruit juices, including pear, peach, plum, melon and more, depending on the season. At lunch and dinner, enjoy Patagonian country cuisine, featuring grilled meat and fish and fresh mountain vegetables.

At the informative visitor centre, you can get clued up on the local area and its activities, and there are also boutiques selling handicrafts and food.

The vast expanse of Pumalin Park is criss-crossed with hiking trails, one of which - the Cascadas Trail - begins right outside the café. This three-hour hike takes you through thick rainforest, via a spectacular viewpoint over the Huequi Peninsula, to a magnificent waterfall. Other activities include sea kayaking with dolphins on the Comao Fjord, gentle cycling trips, and, for the really intrepid, hiking on the park’s glaciers. Staff at the information centre will happily help you plan your adventures in the park.