Parque Municipal Llao Llao

Have you ever wondered what a mushroom tastes like? I’m not talking about the button mushrooms you find in the supermarket. I’m talking about the llao-llao, a bright orange parasitic fungus that grows on beech trees. It’s here, in Parque Municipal Llao Llao, that this curious fungus thrives, lending its name to this very park. Parque Municipal Llao Llao isn’t just named after a fungus though. It’s a vibrant ecosystem teeming with life, nestled between two stunning lakes: Nahuel Huapi and Moreno. Established in 1989, this 1226-hectare park protects a unique slice of Patagonian wilderness. Imagine yourself walking beneath towering coihues, their branches reaching towards the sky. The forest floor is a mosaic of green, dotted with the bright fuchsia of chilco flowers and the spiky leaves of neneo bushes. Look closely and you might spot a flash of color – the ruby-red throat of a hummingbird, or the vibrant blue of a Patagonian thrush. Parque Municipal Llao Llao is home to a surprising variety of wildlife. While the endangered huillín (a river otter) and huemul (a South Andean deer) are elusive, you might catch a glimpse of a huiña, a small wildcat, or hear the distinctive call of a chucao bird echoing through the trees. Even the lakes hold secrets. Within the protected waters of Lago Escondido, a freshwater jellyfish, Craspedacusta sp., thrives, adding another layer of intrigue to this already fascinating park. So, as you explore Parque Municipal Llao Llao, remember, you are walking through a place where even the mushrooms have a story to tell.