I Was Driving…

El Muelle de las Almas

Chilean and Mapuche flags at El Muelle de las Almas trailhead. The Mapuche are definitely a nation within a nation in this part of Chile.
It’s a 3 km trail through the
woods, along the Pacific Ocean, leading to El Muelle de las Almas or
the Dock of Souls.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/dock-of-souls-muelle-de-las-almas

The site represents Mapuche mythology where deceased souls wait for the boatman Tempilkawe to take them to the afterlife in a boat, often through the mist.
The above for those who can read Español
This was somewhat of a spiritual experience. I had read of the Mapuche legend and why the artwork was created . I had looked online at El Muelle and there were crowds pictured waiting for their two minutes on the dock. That is not the experience I wanted to have. I made sure I was the first one there this morning. There was a couple behind me on the trail and they arrived at El Muelle about 10 minutes after I did. We each took pictures for each other, and after a while, they left. I decided I would go and sit at the end of the dock until the next people showed up. It was sublime!

About a half hour later the next hikers showed up and I ceded my spot and started my return trek.
Tempilkawe’s barca (boat).


On my return hike I met 55 people on the trail on their way to El Muelle. Just the reason I got up early and started my hike when it opened.
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One response to “El Muelle de las Almas”

  1. BC Avatar
    BC

    Really great pics on your trip!

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