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The fisher village Cochamo is situated 120kms (65m) east of Puerto Montt. Jesuits came at about
1740 from Chiloe to this area to join their mission on Lago Nahuel Huapi
in Argentina (this avoided them to cross the dangerous Lago Todos los
Santos).
Another route known as the Cochamo road, was developed at the beginning
of the 20th century to give farmers in Argentina an access to the sea.
This old cattle track was also used by Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid.
Today this old "Cochamo road" still survives as a horse trail. The
isolation of the valley Cochamo has allowed it to survive until today.
Read more about protection of this historical track in our adventure
Gaucho Trail description.
Before 1986, locals of Cochamo could reach Puerto Montt only by ship, on
some days it took them up to 14 hours.
Today you arrive to Cochamo on a 20kms (12m) gravel road along the fjord
Reloncavi, built in 1986.
The area of Cochamo and Puelo has 700.000ha (1.575.000ac) extension and
only 46kms (28m) gravel road, 7000 horses and 14 registered cars.
Of the 4.800 inhabitants, 4000 live in the villages Cochamo and Puelo,
the rest lives spread in the mountains.
Only 8,5 percent of the land is explored and about 1,5 percent of the
area is used for agriculture. The rest is untouched, pure wilderness. |
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