Patagonia National Park — announced January 2018 — combined the Jeinimeni National Reserve (400,000 acres), the Tamango National Reserve (20,660 acres), and the privately-owned Patagonia Park (200,000 acres).
The part donated by Americans had been a sheep ranch.
Conservacion Patagonica, the organization founded by Kristine and the late Doug Tompkins of The North Face bought the the huge property in 2004 and had been returning it to natural state.
The sheep were sold but Gauchos offered work in the new Park.
Fences and invasive species were removed. Cows are long gone.
They donated it to the Chilean government.
I visited as part of a 6 hour tour out of Cochrane. Watching large numbers of guanacos running free was the highlight.
The Park Headquarters built by the Tompkins is first class, even better than Pumalin.
It includes a wonderful museum and library of essential conservation information.
I learned a lot.
Patagonia National Park should evolve to be the second best hiking destination on the Carretera Austral after Cerro Castillo.
Right now you still need private transportation to get to trailheads. No convenient hiker shuttle yet exists. IF only I still had a bike. 🙄
related – NY Times – With 10 Million Acres in Patagonia, a National Park System Is Born
Great post 😁