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TOUR
OF FRAY JORGE AND THE ENCHANTED VALLEY
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The fascinating full day excursion begins in the
morning with a drive along the coast of the Coquimbo Region passing by such resorts as La
Herradura, Totoralillo, Las Tacas and Morrillos. As the Pan-American
highway veers inland there is opportunity to observe the customary thick
fog that settles above the coastal hills (known as the
"camanchaca"). After turning off the Pan-American the
remaining route to Fray Jorge National Park is 27 kilometres of
country road which is unpaved and passes wheat fields, goat herds and the
traditional goat cheese stands Fray Jorge became a National Park in 1941, and was
declared a Reserve of the Biosphere in 1977 by UNESCO. Within Fray
Jorge´s 9,559 hectares the visitor can observe the contrast between
the semi arid hills that predominate in the park and the groves of forest
similar to those that cover southern Chile.
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The tour stops at the Visitor Centre for an
introduction to the Park before climbing 560 meters to the top of the
hill for a guided forty minute walk during which the cinnamon, myrtle
and olivillo trees can been seen growing above a carpet of ferns. This
unusual abundant vegetation can grow in this area because of the
coastal clouds (or camanchaca) which forms due to the cold moisture-laden
air coming off the ocean and condensing upon hitting the high ridge. The
high altitude vegetation takes advantage of the moisture in the clouds,
allowing a forest typical of Southern Chile to survive in the arid north. After
the tour of the cloud forest the descent to the semi arid sector is
in sharp contrast for here can be observed the natural flora and fauna, especially
the foxes and a great variety of birds, birdwatchers bring your binoculars
! After a box lunch in the camping area the tour leaves the Park to
continue towards Ovalle and a visit to
the Enchanted Valley.The
Enchanted Valley is located 19 kilometres southwest of Ovalle and
was once a vast amphitheatre which was once a religious sanctuary and has
become an open air museum of scientific and cultural interest.
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Here petroglyphs, pictographs and characteristic
mortars ground into the rock whisper of days long gone when the Indians of
the El Molle culture inhabited this beautiful valley of gargantuan boulders
and murmuring streams. After a guided walk to enjoy the magic of this
valley and to see the archaeological remains the tour
returns to La
Serena along an inland route in the early evening.
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