Perspectives of living in the Andes – Volcano Lonquimay
Have you thought about passing time in the Andes mountains in the south of Chile or Argentina?
Mountain living in Chile, depending on your perspective may conjure up romantic visions of nature, pure air and adventure, or if you are a poor Chilean, it may conjure up ideas of cold winters & hardship, albeit with a sense of peace and calm that is not found in the cities of Chile or Argentina. Certainly it means being more connected with nature and far from the commodities of city living. The great thing about Chile is that the use of public transport is high compared to private vehicle use so the buses get to most remote places that one may want to visit or live in. They aren´t usually easily to find on the internet but best found by asking in the local bus terminals.
The other obvious point about living in the Andes mountains of South America is the ever present threat of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. As there are thought to be around 90 active volcanoes in Chile, it is not an improbability that ones life could be affected by an eruption and one lives with this in the back of the mind. Volcano Lonquimay last erupted on Christmas day 1988 affecting hte health of the local people and killing livestock. However, for many the benefits of living with clean air and water surrounded by nature and mountains outweighs the negative aspects or risks.
Malalcahuello township with the surrounding parks: Malalcahuello, Conguillio and volcanoes Lonquimay and Llaima, in recent years have started attrracting more tourists and people looking for a change of lifestyle. Whether one is looking for peace and tranquility or adventure, the energy gained from immersion in nature, surrounded by majestic mountains, starry nights uninterrupted by city lights and of course, the clean air and water, is something worth experiencing.
Which season is best? The answer depends on your interests and passions. For ski lovers the winter is favoured for the quiet but well developed (for rural Chile) ski centre at Corralco on Volcano Lonquimay. Spring is popular with back country skiers and split boarders. The vibrant green tones of the native beech trees awakening from their winter hibernation lends a vibrancy and freshness to the season. Summer, on the other hand is ideal for trekking in the mountains whilst autumn provides a spectacular scenery of changing colours as the tree foliage changes hues from green to oranges and different tones of red.
A word of caution for those considering a change of life to live or travel long term in the mountains of southern Chile, tourism is the strongest industry in the zone around Volcano Lonquimay and many areas in the southern Andes of Chile, unless you are into the keeping of livestock. Tourism is notorously seasonal and fickle. One must plan well and learn how to live simply or with a secondary income stream.
