ENG:Península Lican Ray
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General description
The circuit starts from the access door to the Peninsula bordering the lake to the west, where its vegetation and forests invite you to enter it. Among its attractions include: the viewpoints corresponding to Milestones No. 5 and No. 8 from which you can see the modeling of glacio-lacustrine forms in the first and a panoramic view of Lake Calafquén and its islands in the second. Likewise, three beaches will be visited along the route: at the beginning of the route, Hito N ° 1, inside the peninsula, Hito N ° 6, at the end, Playa Grande, Hito N ° 10. In all you can bathe and enjoy water activities. Throughout the tour you will find both native forest and introduced species, which can be observed with special attention in Milestones N ° 11, N ° 12 and N ° 13.
| Mapuche mitology,princess Lican Ray |
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Princess Lican Ray The town owes its name to the legend of the young and beautiful daughter of the powerful Cacique Curilef, Princess Lican Ray, who upon the arrival of the Spaniards fell in love with one of her soldiers, provoking jealousy and going to the Mapuche people. One day the girl went to meet her lover and he promised that they would flee that night. Lican Ray warned him that if they were discovered, a horrible death awaited them both. The boys' love was stronger than the fear of death and they decided to escape together. At dusk they gathered on the banks of the lake in a canoe, silently, they went to one of the islands that seemed decked out especially for their first night of love. The cinnamon trees shone like silver in the moonlight and their white flowers swayed faintly; in the background, the volcano blew flashes that illuminated the surroundings for seconds. The lovers were two days without setting fire until, on the third day, because of the intense cold, they set a bonfire. The Mapuches who had looked for the princess in the neighboring woods, seeing the smoke on the island, decided to go there. The couple, fearing discovery, had moved to another island. In this adventure, they met a machi who had taken care of Lican Ray while she was a girl and seeing her persecuted and scared, sent a curse. Anyone who came to touch the boat where the princess and her boyfriend would be immediately transformed into an island. According to legend, this would be the reason that explains the existence of so many islands in Lake Calafquén. |
Location
The Lican Ray Peninsula Heritage Route, is located in the Araucanía, IX region of Chile, in the commune of Villarrica. Lican Ray is located on the north shore of Lake Calafquen, 113 kilometers southwest of Temuco, 24 kilometers south of Villarrica and 50 kilometers from the tourist resort of Pucón, amidst a variety of mountain landscapes generated and modeled by the retreat of glaciers and volcanic action.
Season
Given the climatic conditions of the area, it is possible to go throughout the year, although in the summer season, between the months of December and March, the conditions are more favorable for the journey of the route.
Access
The Lican Ray Peninsula Heritage Routeis located in Araucanía, Chiles RegionIX,in the borough of Villarrica. Lican Rayis on the north shore of lake Calafquén,113 kilometres south of Temuco, 24kilometres south of Villarrica and 50kilometres from the tourist resort ofPucón,and lies in the midst of a varietyof mountain landscapes created andmodelled by receding glaciers andvolcanic action.ACCESSThe route from Temuco to Lican Ray isas follows:take highway PanamericanaCH 5, and continue for twenty-sevenkilometres south until you reach theFreire crossing,where you must changeto route CH 199 and take an easterlycourse. You will reach Villarrica after 55kilometres. Lican Ray is twenty-fourkilometres south of Villarrica.On reaching Lican Ray,you must walkalong General Urrutia street until youreach the Felipe Manquel boardwalk,which takes you to Playa Chica on thelakeshore itself.The main access to thepeninsula is some 200 metres to theright.SEASONAL FEATURESWeather conditions are quite good,soyou can visit the area at any time of theyear,but the summer season (Decemberto March) has the most favourableweather for touring the rout
Route description
Milestone Nº1 - Entrance to the peninsula
To enter the Lican Ray Peninsular heritage route, you must go along General Urrutia street until you reach Playa Chica. From here you must turn to the west by Felipe Manquel street and continue 200 meters, passing the pier until you reach the access gate to the Peninsula corresponding to Milestone No. 1. In this place you will find a booth in which the registration is made during the summer season.
Hito Nº2 - Bifurcation 1 (Beacon, road indication)
Beginning the tour, you must advance along the main path. At 60 meters you will find a fork, Hito N°2 of the circuit, with a beacon that indicates the path to follow.
Milestone Nº3 - Bifurcation 2 (Beacon, indication road)
Along the same path, at 180 meters, is the Milestone No. 3 with indications to continue the road. During this part of the route you can see a forest sector of Arrayán or Palo Colorado (luma apiculata), a species that grows in areas of abundant humidity, especially on the banks of rivers and lakes. The Arrayán is an "always green" tree, that is, it keeps its leaves during all the seasons of the year, characterized by being very aromatic and by the reddish color of its wood, features that are easily distinguished.
Hito Nº4 - Acceso Mirador
50 meters further on is a signposted fork, Milestone N°4 indicating the descent and access to the viewpoint. Here you should turn left towards the lake.
Recommendations
- This trekking is described in full detail in the following topoguide of the Ministery of Public Patrimony. The printed guide can be obtained for free in the Ministery:56-2-3512100 -> 2325. It is hihgly recommended to take it to the walk, as it enriches the experience with descrptions of flora, fauna, geography and geology.
