29-08-09
Foto: Jimmy Pincheira
I have always been a big fan of Chilean Palms.
They show up in the first sketches of the hills of Valparaíso, in the 16th Century, in great numbers.
Now only a few pockets of these living fossils stil survive.
This time we set out to visit one of the last major palm reserves: Cocalan.
The journey starts in a deliciously rural setting right outside the small town of Las Cabras. A small climb and we are out rolling over a fine paved road. It's spring and the hills are luxuriously green with fresh grass.
Leaving las Cabras
The "Avocado fever" has spared this hills so far.
Rows of ancient ash trees are planted on both sides of the road to shelter the fields from the wind. The sensation of speeding down these roads, the deep perspective and the strobe effects in the afternoon light is exhilarating.
.
Alamedas
But, we could not acces the paln reserve at Cocalan. Closed gate. No entry. Private property. Back home I call CONAF, the park administration, and they tell me this is a mational park within a private estate. The only case in Chile that is. Visits are restricted to officials and researchers properly authorized.
Perhaps it's better that way.
At least we enjoyed the ride.
A lot.
San José de Cocalán
A very old house clings to its two large palms.
KMZ here
Este lugar fue declarado Parque Nacional en 1989 pero creado años antes, en 1971, convirtiéndose en el primer y único Parque Nacional Chileno ubicado en terrenos particulares, situación por la cual habitualmente permanece cerrado al público; tan sólo se concede permiso de acceso con fines de investigación o estudios de carácter ecológico.
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