Arrayanes Woods
Quetrihué means “where there are arrayanes” in Mapuche. Because of its beauty and originality this is a world-famous forest. It covers a total area of 1000 ha. and it is located at the southeast of Quetrihue Peninsula.
The path starts at the entrance to Los Arrayanes National Park, some metres from Brava Bay’s dock.
The trajectory is of 12 km., going through a forest of coihues, ñires, radales, cypresses and others. During the first 800 m. there’s a very steep slope that demands more effort, then the road is more comfortable and is surrounded by forests.
If you decide to get to Arrayanes Woods on foot or by bike, you have to take a path surrounded by forests. After walking an hour you’ll cross a little brook that come from the Huan-Huan Lagoon -a native tree with a smell similar to the laurel’s one- that you can know only with a guide because you can get confused with the different paths that takes you back to the principal one.
On your way you’ll find open spaces where you can rest while you enjoy the place. In the 9th km. (signposted by National Parks) you’ll find the old entrance to Quetrihué Farm, property of Lynch family. You must go on the path outside the ancient farm’s fence.
In this point the Patagua Lagoon can be distinguished (Patagua is a native tree, typical of swampy places, which bark reduced to powder, is used in popular medicine as a cicatrizer). Various types of ducks and birds live in this lagoon. At the entrance you’ll find the park keeper’s house and different constructions as sheds and outbuildings for the personnel assigned to this place. Up ahead there is a stepped sector of about 600 m. that makes possible the journey through the forest.
Unique species
Located inside Los Arrayanes National Park, it is the only one that already exists in the World since some years ago the one that was in Japan disappeared. Today it is a protected area because of the importance of its species and the variety of autochthonous life.
The Arrayan’s scientific name is Myrceugenella apiculata. These trees, along with those on Victoria Island, are considered to be around 300 years old. The Arrayan is very high, they reach about 18 metres and some specimens reach 25 m. in height.
Its trunk reaches about 50 cm. in diameter and it is highly twisted. The cinnamon bark covered with irregular white spots is always cold but smooth to the touch, it comes off as sheets. The flowers are little and white, similar to orange blossom and its fruits are purple. These were used by natives to prepare maize liquor and jam. In popular medicine, the leaves are used to prepare an infusion to calm muscular pains and intestinal affections.
It is told that Walt Disney inspired himself on Arrayanes Woods to create his film Bambi. One of the woods’ attractions is precisely the “Walt Disney’s little house”, a warm wooden cabin that you will find there.
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Useful data
Walking is reached in about 3 or 4 hours.
Cycling the degree of difficulty and level III is used about 3 hours between the return (4 if you go with a guide).
By the lake. The boats leave from the port of Villa la Angostura or from Brava to the Puerto Bay Arrayanes.
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