Ñorquinco, An Ecological Camping Site

The Pehuenia Circuit is a sequence of amazing sceneries boasting monkey-puzzle tree woodlands, cascades and water bodies featuring green and blue hues. Besides, it provides the possibility of spending the night in fantastic camping sites, such as the one located in Ñorquinco.

The road that leads to this nook is made of gravel and visitors may set out either from Villa Pehuenia or Aluminé. We drove there with enough time to spare, so as to be able to make stops to rest and enjoy the view. At any of both districts, Provincial Route 23 must be taken up to the crossroads with Provincial Route 11, which leads to the mountain range towards the West. That is the point where the rubble road starts.

Driving parallel to the Pulmarí River, we discovered various changes in the local vegetation. It got lusher and lusher as we drove on. After making a stop at Lake Pulmarí, we finally came to Lake Ñorquinco and its ecological camping, lying on the northern end of Lanín National Park.


Healthy Life amidst Nature

The strong Andean sunshine forced us to look for shelter under some shady trees in order to have lunch. We had packed some food in a picnic basket. Lying on our backs by the lake, we let the crystal-clear waters sing us a lullaby.

Later on, we resolved to go for a walk up to some small cascades and creeks that end in the lake after running across woodlands featuring a wide range of species. The murmuring waters and the swaying branches made this a memorable trek.

Then we met Aldo, alma mater of the camping site. His knowledge and hard work help him take advantage of the natural resources. He is in charge of bio-construction. “What is that?” we asked. “Join me and you will understand”, was his invitation to follow his steps towards an adobe construction still unfinished. We learned how straw is mixed with mud in order to give shape to indestructible walls and roofs.

We also met Daniela, who has been the manager of the camping site ever since its opening in 1993. Its creation was undertaken by Corporación Interestadual Pulmarí. She proudly told us that she used to be a rural teacher and guide visitors to the area on interpretation tours.

Oak woodlands, a tchenque (a native burial ground), and a cave are some of the emblematic local attractions Daniela knows very well. She told us stories about Juan Benigar, known as “White Chief”, a born Croatian and great defender of the Mapuche cosmopolitan vision, with whom he lived for many years.

The chat and some delicious mate were our farewell to the ecological camping with the promise of returning one day bringing our tent so as to stay longer. Feeling nature in our body was a great challenge for us. And we would accept it when our duties let us come back to the shores of the Ñorquinco.