The beginning of the New Year, which coincides with the opening of the area’s peak tourism season, saw many parts of southern Chile, including the legendary Patagonian region, bracing against a series of large-scale wildfires. The blazes caused severe damage to large extensions of vegetation and to some of the local communities in the area. Fortunately, no human casualties were reported. The unexpected event forced the Chilean authorities to close the highly touristic area for visitation, until the fires were fully extinguished and no hazards would affect voyagers who come to enjoy one of South America’s most beautiful and impressive landscapes, on the extreme south of the continent, an area mostly shared by Chile and Argentina. A few days ago, the authorities informed about the reopening of the southern part of Torres del Paine National Park. This came as greatly welcome news for all tour operators as well as for visitors waiting to be able to reach the magnificent area and its many attractions as well as its top-class facilities and ample host of outdoor activities which the area offers to the voyagers. The Chilean National Forest Corporation presented an updated report which confirmed that the forest fires had been extinguished and were fully controlled. Furthermore, they reassured that there are no longer any risks for the tourists visiting the area. However, a few locations will maintain temporary restrictions for road cleaning and bridge-repairing works. Equally, just as a matter of precaution, CONAF and Chilean armed forces brigades remain in the area to monitor any possible outbreaks of subterranean fires. Meanwhile, the legendary Torres del Paine National Park, with its awesome glaciers and stunning natural surroundings, is slowly regaining normality as the flow of visitors begins to arrive, to enjoy the best season to explore the splendid zone and its many attractions. The vast majority of the area’s hotels and lodges are already reopening and welcoming visitors. Fortunately too, they were not affected by major damages, other than those suffered by the whole area during the near two-week emergency of the wildfires, with the presence of smoke and ashes from nearby fire hotspots. The main route utilized by all vehicles to enter the Park is now open and fully operational, thus providing access to all of the National Park’s visitor areas. Therefore, voyagers can now enjoy again the navigation to Grey Glacier and just about all of the main attractions of the Park’s southern sector, which had been closed during the emergency. Most of the Shelters and Camps are also open now as well as the majority of the Trekking Routes which are so popular with visitors. Just a few of these routes remain operational, but with some precaution restrictions and the obligation of being accompanied by guides. The brave action of the Chilean Forestry Corporation; fire brigades and armed forces, aided by the support of local volunteers, made it possible to put down, in a relatively short span of time, the emergency, preserving people’s lives, the integrity and security of the visitors and protecting one of Chile and South America’s most precious natural areas from greater destruction and damage. The good news now is: “Visitors are Welcome again to Torres del Paine National Park”…..
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January 21, 2012
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