Visit the National Parks in Chile!
With the arrival of spring, the low rate of Covid-19 and the reopening of borders, Chile's National Parks are once again among the region's highlights when it comes to tourism and nature. Not without reason, Chile was awarded as the World's Leading Green Destination, according to the World Travel Awards 2020.
Did you know?
In Chile, more than 20% of the territory is part of a National Park; this includes forests, glaciers, lagoons, among other areas of great natural wealth.
By definition, National Parks are generally large areas where there are several unique or representative environments of the natural biological diversity of the country, not significantly altered by human action, and where the species of flora and fauna or geological formations are of special educational, scientific or recreational interest.
In Chile there are 42 places called National Parks, in addition to 46 National Reserves and 18 Natural Monuments, which, before the pandemic, were visited every year by thousands of national and foreign tourists.
And as in any destination, there are always some places that stand out for being among the most visited... For example:
Torres del Paine
Located in the Magallanes Region, with around 300 thousand visitors a year, it is one of the all-time favorite! Its spectacular range of natural landscapes are just indescribable: from the Cerro Paine, the snow-capped peaks that give it its name, to amazing lakes, valleys and ice fields.
Vicente Pérez Rosales
Created in 1926, this National Park is the oldest in the territory. It is located in the province of Llanquihue, Los Lagos region, and is part of the Temperate Rainforests of the Southern Andes Biosphere Reserve. Among its main attractions are the Osorno Volcano, Lake Todos los Santos and the famous Petrohué Falls.
Conguillío
It is one of the favourites of photography and hiking lovers. Located in the Araucanía Region, 148 kilometres northeast of Temuco, this place imposes itself with its snow-covered volcanoes, its crystal-clear lakes and its araucaria, lenga and coihue trees that abound in the landscape.
Puyehue
Created in 1941, this National Park located between the Lakes Region and the Los Ríos Region is a place with its own mystique, as it was an area originally inhabited by Huilliche communities, the southernmost branch of the Mapuche culture. Among its attractions are the hot springs of Puyehue and Aguas Calientes, the Casablanca volcano and its beautiful native fauna with more than 130 species of birds.
Some tips for your next visit
- Check the current situation, protocols and schedules of each National Park, Reserve and Monument at Conaf.cl.
- For some parks, you can book your visit through the Aspticket platform.
- If you want to travel well equipped, at Maps.trekkingchile.com you can find a variety of route and trekking maps of the north, centre and south of Chile.
- Don't have the chance to visit the parks in person? Visit them virtually at Mma.gob.cl!
