3 step guide to Termas

Step 1… Hitch-hike in a JCB Digger for about 30km (seriously)

 

 

Step 2… ask a boat man to row you across this stunning river

 

Step 3… Unwind and relax in this natural thermal spring, located at the heart of a deep alpine gorge, neighboured by serene, gigantic volcanoes.  When you want the water to be a little hotter, dig down deeper to release the hot gases and water.  Eat a sandwich.

 

That really was our day.  At present we are enjoying the idyllic Chilean Lake District, which in terms of beauty and tranquillity, is a definite highlight.  Our home is currently our little tent, right on the shore of Lago Llanquihue, Ensenada; where each night, we are indulged by the most incredible sunset, one framed by the lake and volcanoes Osorno and Calbuco (Osorno imitating a mini Moutn Fuji-san for symmetry and beauty).  The district is famous for it’s hot springs (termas), so Emma and I decided to make this our focus of the month, travelling only to destinations where we could find these natural thermal baths.  The region has certainly capitalised on this feature, with the tourism industry providing many spa-hotels/resorts.  We however, were looking for something a little more rugged and natural and so trekked out on a blisteringly hot Friday to find these termas.  Locals kindly informed us that there were indeed natural, free springs nearby (35km) but the route had no public transport: that’s fine by us, Emma now has a black belt in hitch-hiking.  So to begin, a lovely couple of Brazilians took us a couple of km before dropping us of at another junction.  32km left.  Roadworks going on. No buses.  And then, one of those moments where time stops… imperiously negotiating the corner, like a golden God, was a pristine 10 tonne JCB Excavator-truck.  (An aside… my Mam will tell you that the one thing I loved –really really loved - as a toddler was… diggers.  I mean, I would go insane for them yelling ‘Digger! Digger! Digger!’ when ever we trundled past building works.  Played with them, drew them, talked about them.  Diggers.)

Emma stuck her thumb out and as Tommy Cooper would say “Just like that!” a lifetime dream came true – the bloody thing pulled over!

We were a little dumb-struck, with the grinning Chilean handler motioning, '”Hop in!” Both of us were buzzing with the thrills of being in the cockpit belly of this impressive mechanical beast, and yet a little intimidated by the legion of levers, switches, dials and gears, aware that one false slip could do some serious damage.  32km later we hopped off (I kind of danced off) and with a surety in our hearts that anything, any dream is possible, held hands and took the path down to the awaiting springs.