Cambios

==Entrance Permits and Fees==

The Greater Patagonian trail is not an official trail that is set up and managed by a government agency. Is simply a compilation of horse trails, minor roads and some cross country sections that pass over private properties and state owned land.

Nearly the entire trail can be hiked without entrance permits or paying entrance fees. And what is even better: many of the humble people that live along the trail will welcome you or even invite you to stay. Hospitality matters.

But there are a few exceptions; some briefly mentioned above under [[#Trekking Direction|Trekking Direction]].

Unfortunately the public right of way is vague and sometimes ignored in Chile. By Chilean law the access to the coast, to lakes and to rivers is a public right but there are numerous locations where this gets disregarded. There are simply no penalties if someone unlawfully denies passage. I'm not sufficiently familiar with Chilean law to state if a similar public right of way applies to all the connecting trails and roads on private properties. But if it exists it’s occasionally disregarded. Some rich landlords with huge plots employ guards and instruct them to deny access to anyone.

'''Hydropower Station Cipreses''': The Hydropower Station Cipreses is owned by Endesa and controls the valley between the Route 115 and the Laguna de La Invernada. Permanently manned gates control the northbound access from the Route 115 but there are no similar barriers when entering the property southbound over the mountains in example when comming from the volcano Descabezado. An access permit can be requested in advance and is normally granted. See the [http://www.wikiexplora.com/index.php/Laguna_y_Cr%C3%A1ter_Los_Hornitos#Permiso wikiexplora article "Laguna y Cráter Los Hornitos"] for further information.

'''Section 2-3'''

'''Fundo Las Truchas''': The fundo Las Truchas is owned by a regional big farmer. When he purchased this ranch he first kept it open for public access to the attractive Laguna Las Truchas. Unfortunately some locals don’t treat their environment with respect and litter or fish without limits. The owner got annoyed and now denies public access in particular to local citizen. When entering the fundo Las Truchas northbound you may be send back by the guard, who lives 2 km south of the Laguna Las Truchas from late spring to autumn. If entering southbound you may be asked to leave the property in the direction you are hiking anyway.

'''Section 3 "Bad Weather Option"'''

'''Hydropower Station El Toro''': The Hydropower Station El Toro is owned by Endesa and controls the valley Rio Polcura upstream of Abanico. A permanently manned gate controls the northbound access from Abanico. There are no similar controls when entering the property southbound from the the Laguna de Las Lajas. An access permit may be requested in advance but no specific information are available where this can be done.

'''Section 12'''

'''Fundo Chihuio''': The fundo Chihuio is situated north of the Termas de Chihuio and owned by rich businessman. The guard lives at the southern entrance to the ranch. He is instructed to deny access to the former public road towards Puerto Fuy and Pirihueico. When hiking southbound you will leave the property at the entrance where the guard lives.

'''Section 13'''

When challenged on the trail explain friendly that you are just a hiker and that you do not want anything else than passage to the next road or town. Hikers are rarely seen on most of the route and some people may suspect other interests because they simply don't know the concept of hiking. You may explain how far you already walked to gain the sympathy and respect of the guard or land owner. Gurantee that you will carry all your waste and that you will not leave any traces.

What we experienced on the trail seems to mirror the attitude of the Chilean society: The humble poor people on the trail opened the doors to their houses to give us shelter and they literally shared their bread with us without even asking for it. But some of the super-rich denied passage over their immense properties on which they normally don’t even live when kindly asking for permission to pass.