As we proceeded further south, we passed through some peak tourist country; it became clear that we were a little ahead of time. Thousands of cabins, many campgrounds – theoretically open, but as yet, empty. I did manage to quiz a tourist information officer in one particularly well-served community about this – was there an oversupply? She maintained not – once the season kicked off (15th January) most locals would move out, offering their own homes for rent to holidaymakers, mostly from Santiago. February is peak season, apparently.