site design >
programming >
link partners >

National Parks

Lauca     Villarrica     Puyehue     Vicente Perez     Queulat     Torres del Paine    

To see an itinerary that starts from, or includes, one of the places mentioned above, just click on the name.

Chile has 79 stunning National Parks and Reserves with outstanding natural geographic features and/or amazing flora and fauna. There are 31 National Parks and 48 National Reserves covering an area of 14 million hectares (19% of Chile's land mass).

The definition or category of National Park means that the geographic area and wild life within that area are protected. The area cannot be used for any commercial purpose. However, a National Reserve means that within the designated area limited and authorized economic activity can occur within a controlled environment.

NOTE: We recommend that you travel in a good four-wheel drive vehicle, always take extra water and clothes, and let someone know where you are going.

What follows is a BRIEF introduction about the more popular and accessible National Parks. Scroll down or Click on the section below to get directly to the information.

Northern Chile

Parque Nacional Lauca

Nearest City with Airport: Arica.
Location: Near Putre in the Parinacota Province. Covering 138,000 hectares.
What to See: Contains a third of all the bird life in Chile. Extremely high (4,500 mts), this IS the "Altiplano" (high plain). Snow-covered volcanoes Parinacota (6,342 mts), Pomerape (6,282 mts), Guallarite (6,060 mts) and Acotango (6,050 mts) make for an impressive sky line. The park is rather stark but contains the Chungara Lake and "Altiplano" plants and animals. The park admin is located at Putre, a small village about 46 kms from the park itself. Open: 09:00hrs - 12:30hrs and 13:00hrs - 17:30hrs. Visitors should consider travelling from Arica to Putre (146 kms) and overnight in Putre. Note that the high altitude will make relaxing difficult and overnight sleeping can be interrupted by sudden gasping for breath (normal at such altitude).

Parque Nacional Volcan Isluga

Nearest City with Airport: Iquique
Location : About 228 kms. north-east of Iquique.
What to See: Covering an area of almost 175,000 hectares, the park is located at an altitude of 2,100 mts rising up to 5,400 mts. Park administration is located at Enquelga, a small village 228 kms east of Iquique and 10 kms from the park entrance. A short distance from the park entrance are hot springs and within the park are various types of vegetation, flamingos and other birds.

Parque Nacional Llullaillaco

Nearest City with Airport: Antofagasta
Location: About 275 kms. south-east of Antofagasta.
What to See: Covering an area of 268,000 hectares and containing the Llullaillaco Volcano, the second highest peak in Chile at 6,739 mts. Administration for the park is located in Antofagasta at Avda. Argentina 2510. Tel: (55) 251 364. Many Guanacos and Vicunas, good for climbers.

El Parque Nacional Pan de Azucar

Nearest City with Airport: La Serena or Copiapo.
Location: On the coast just north of Chanaral
What to See: This park covers 44,000 hectares. Access to the park is off the Panamericana Ruta 5 heading north, just past the port of Chanaral or at km 1,014 in the sector of Las Bombas. Both turn-offs head west in the direction of the Pacific Ocean. Distances from: La Serena 527 kms., Copiapo 194 kms., Chanaral 30 kms., Caldera 100 kms. The park contains a small island which is home to Humboldt Penguins and Sea Lions and can be seen by taking a small fishing boat to the island. Beautiful sandy beaches and amazing desert scenery in general. Good for camping and limited cabana accommodation.

Parque Nacional Bosque de Fray Jorge

Nearest City with Airport: La Serena
Location: 110 kms. south of La Serena, on the coast.
What to See: Covering almost 10,000 hectares, this coastal park is known for its micro climate that enables a wood and other flora to thrive in an otherwise arid region. Access is from the Panamericana Ruta 5, north at km 389 and 27 kms west following a dirt track. Only OPEN during weekends and public holidays. Take a coat as it can be quite cool within the park.

Central Chile

Parque Nacional La Campana

Nearest City with Airport: Santiago.
Location: 160 kms. north-west of Santiago, near to Quillota.
What to See: Covering 8,000 hectares the park boasts varied vegetation and thousands of Chilean palm trees dating back 800 years and more. When Charles Darwin ventured to Chile in 1836 he climbed to the summit of the park, El Roble, located at 2,200 mts. There are three ways to enter the park, the best entrance is off of the Panamericana Ruta 5 just by Ocoa 14 kms from the park.
Distances: Santiago:160 kms, Valparaiso:60 kms, Quillota: 29 kms.

Parque Nacional Laguna del Laja

Nearest City with Airport: Concepcion.
Location: About 93 kms. east of Los Angeles in the Andean foothills.
What to See: Covering an area of 11,880 hectares. Access is by road from Los Angeles towards Antuco and Laguna de Laja. Camping sites are available. The park is good for volcanic geographical rock formations, the source of the river Laja and flora and fauna. A few cabanas are available for over night accommodation.
Distances: Los Angeles: 93 kms. Antuco: 30 kms. Abanico: 10 kms.

Lake Region of Chile

Parque Nacional Villarrica

Nearest City with Airport: Temuco.
Location: About 120 kms. west of Temuco and 5 kms. east of Pucon.
What to See: The park covers an area of 63,000 hectares and includes the active, snow-covered Villarrica Volcano that rises to a height of 2,847 mts and forests that include the famous "Araucaria" trees (Monkey Puzzel Tree).

Parque Nacional Puyehue

Nearest City with Airport: Osorno.
Location: About 80 kms. east of Osorno, in the Andes foothills.
What to See: Covering an area of 107,000 hectares, the park is heavily forested with trees native to Chile. An area of outstanding natural beauty, similar in geographic appearance to the Swiss Alps with lakes and snow-capped mountains.

Parque Nacional Vicente Perez Rosales

Nearest City with Airport: Puerto Montt.
Location: About 90 kms. north-east of Puerto Montt.
What to See: Covering an area of 231,000 hectares, the park encompasses the "Todos Los Santos" Lake which is emerald green in colour, the impressive and powerful water falls "Saltos del Petrohue". A truly stunning area also containing the perfectly conical Osorno Volcano.

Parque Nacional Alerce Andino

Nearest City with Airport: Puerto Montt.
Location: About 50 kms. south-east of Puerto Montt. Access via the unpaved Carretera Austral.
What to See: Covering 40,000 hectares, a heavily forested area with numerous waterfalls and natural wilderness.

Chiloe Island

Parque Nacional Chiloe

Nearest City with Airport: Puerto Montt.
Location: On the western coast of Chiloe about 40 kms.west of Castro.
What to See: Divided in to three sectors covering 43,000 hectares. A totally unspoilt area full of woods.

Chilean Patagonia

Reserva Nacional Rio Simpson

Nearest City with Airport: Coyhaique
Location: About 50 kms west of Coyhaique.
What to See: Covering 42,000 hectares, the park is known for its many waterfalls and Patagonian wilderness.
Distances: Coyhaique to Puerto Aysen: 67 kms. Coyhaique to Reserva Nacional: 37 kms. Coyhaique to sector cerro Huemules: 15 kms. Puerto Chacabuco to Puerto Aysen: 14 kms. Puerto Ayson to Reserva Nacional: 32 kms.

Parque Nacional Queulat

Nearest City with Airport: Chaiten (light aircraft) Coyhaique for jet aircraft.
Location: About 196 kms south of Chaiten and 177 kms. north of Coyhaique.
What to See: An area of absolute outstanding natural beauty. A place where the world is still under construction. Waterfalls, hanging glaciers, rain forests, lagoons, rivers and all types of flora and fauna.

San Rafael Glacier

Parque Nacional Laguna San Rafael

Nearest City with Airport: Coyhaique.
Location: South-west of Coyhaique. 5 hrs. by catamaran from Puerto Aisen or few days by boat from Puerto Montt. To fly over is 1hr 30mins by light aircraft from Coyhaique.
What to See: The park covers an area of 1,742,000 hectares and includes the Glacier San Rafael which, as it slowly recedes, breaks off into huge icebergs that float in the San Rafael Lagoon. The size of the glacial wall and the massive chunks that break off draws travellers from all over the world.
Departures are from Puerto Montt or the closer port of Chacabuco (near to Coyhaique). All boats pass between the archipelago channels and passengers can enjoy a beautiful scenic journey going to and returning from the glacier.

Torres del Paine National Park

Nearest City with Airport: Punta Arenas
Location: 6 hours drive north from Punta Arenas. Nearest city is Puerto Natales, which is a 3hr drive.
What to See: Covering 182,000 hectares, this is the park everyone wants to see. Containing the very impressive "Cuernos del Paine" (two upright towers of rock) along with many lakes, glaciers, flora and fauna. True Patagonian country. Note that the weather in the park changes in minutes. It is usually windy and often raining.