420km (260 miles) N of Coyhaique
Chaitén is a sleepy hamlet that serves as a jumping-off point for exploring Pumalín, Futaleufú, and the Carretera Austral. There's not much to see or do here, but it is a solid service center and it is the only way of reaching Pumalín Park's south during the low season. Local citizens are so annoyed by this lack of access to the mainland that the mayor annually hoists the Argentine flag to demand the completion of the Carretera Austral to boost access. Visitors driving the highway from north to south will hence need to begin here during the low season. The town's main attraction is the view of Volcán Michimahuida, although perennial rain often impedes visibility of anything except the puddled, potholed streets.
