Lake Budi

Lake Budi lies just behind the coast south of the Imperial river mouth and is salt - sea water enters through a narrow connection to the Pacific, which is why it is described as the only inland salt lake in South America, and why it carries a mix of freshwater and marine species. It also sits in one of the most densely Mapuche parts of Chile, home of the Lafkenche, the people of the sea, and much of the visitor activity here is run by communities themselves: staying in a ruka, eating what the household eats, going out in a wampo, the traditional dugout canoe. That model is deliberate, and it works on the community's terms rather than a tour operator's.

What to look for

• Described as South America's only inland salt lake - sea water entering behind the coast.
• Lafkenche Mapuche country - the people of the sea.
• Community-run visits - staying and eating with households.
• The wampo - the dugout canoe used on the lake.

When to go

December to March. A full day, or overnight with a community.

Practical notes

Stays are arranged with communities in advance, not booked online at short notice, and they are simple. Roads around the lake are gravel and poorly signed. This is a living Mapuche area, and behaving as a guest rather than a spectator is the expectation.

Nearby

Puerto Saavedra is at the coast; Temuco is inland east.

Key facts