Enjoying the Culture 187Flora
There are thousands of unique plant species in Chile. The copihue,
which is found in southern Chile, is the national flower. It is a vine
from the lily family that produces a red, white or pink bell-shaped
flower. The alerce tree, a slow-growing tree found in the south,
is noted for its longevity. Some alerces are over 4,000 years old.
Because the wood is water resistant, many homes in the region
are made from these trees and sadly many forests have been
depleted. The government is trying to preserve what is left for
future generations. Another beautiful tree seen throughout the
central and south central regions is the large and stately araucaria
tree, called a monkey puzzle tree in English. At times you may
hear indigenous groups referred to as Araucanos, a term derived
from the tree native to their homeland.Todos los Santos located in the Vicente Peréz Rosales National
Park. Boats take you on an afternoon cruise to a hotel on the
other side and you have the option of eating lunch before
returning, staying the night, or continuing on to Argentina
through a series of bus and boat rides.
Puerto Montt is the largest city in the Lake District. It
sits on the Reloncaví Inlet. This modern city serves as the
beginning of the Carretera Austral, the gateway to the island
of Chiloé and the port for cruises to the Laguna San Rafael.
The Carretera Austral (Southern Highway) is primarily a gravel
road that takes you south to Coyhaique and beyond. The road
is long and difficult but provides spectacular views. This area
is extremely isolated and if you are brave enough to attempt
the drive, make sure you have stockpiles of gasoline and food
because you will not find many supplies along the route.
The San Rafael Lagoon is a lake at the tip of a fjord which
boasts a magnificent glacier. When you arrive, the lake is
dotted with small boats, full of tourists drinking whiskey ‘on
the rocks’, i.e., poured over million-year-old pieces of ice from
the glacier. The cruises range from barebones to the luxurious
and depending upon the itinerary, may take as little as two
days to reach the Laguna. The more expensive cruises make a
number of stops at picturesque fishing towns and hot springs
along the way, stretching out the experience.