Isla Fresia, on the eastern side of Lago Puyehue is a private property soon to become one of the best tourist destinations in the region. The 157km² small island consists of a centuries old native forest, small pampas and pebbled beaches. The terrain is steep and full of typical puyehue flora as well as a wide variety of fauna. You can hike the trails and swimm in the clear (drinkable) water. There is only one house on the western side of the island which is occupied by the owners about three Months of the year and can be rented between January and March. Amongst the jungle flora you will find carbonating trees that have been dead for decades, lots of small insects and clear stary night skies. Nothing on the island is poisonous or venomouos. View images of the island in my photo gallery.
The island's name originates from the tail of "Fresia", wife of the Mapuche leader Caupolicán and is believed to be the last known settlement of the Mapuche tribe Wallmapu. It is said, that after Caupolicán surrendered to the Spanish Conquistadors, Fresia killed his son in front of him while he and his soldiers were bound in chanes by the Spanish as an act of defience for his weakness and flead with women and children of the tribe. As the Mapuche men's only duty was to hunt and defend the tribe from enimies and the women took care of everything else, she had a great influence on the tribe families. Because of this, the Spanish hunted her down, hoping this would end the resistance and heritance of the Mapuche culture. Apparently she fled via Cui Cui (on the Northern coast of Lago Puyehue) and settled on the island for many years before disappearing further South.
There are many leads that there was infact a Mapuche tribe living on the island. Tools and jewlary of the Mapuche were found on the island. In the late 1800s the property was bought up by a German family and sold to an Austrian Family in 1939 which owns and cultivates the island to this day.
Things to do on the island include:
- Hiking
- Camping
- Fisching (mostely Salmon)
- Hunting (red deer, muflons, pheasants)
- Swimming
- Rent the local house, built in the 1950s or the cabin on the Southern lake side
Or you can explore the nearby region (Kayaking, Parc National Puyehue, Aguas / Termal Calientes, Volcanos Casablanca and Puyehue, Skiresort Antillanca).