With most of the population concentrated around Santiago and Concepción, the rest of Chile has some beautiful wilderness areas to explore.
Almost one-fifth of Chile is protected to varying degrees in national parks and reserves. The national park service, CONAF, administers 35 national parks, 49 national reserves, and 16 natural monuments. The first national park in Chile, Vicente Pérez Rosales, in the southern Lake District, was founded in 1926. Entrance fees contribute to maintenance and conservation work.
Chile’s long, narrow geography means that its national parks are very varied. Not many people want to trek in the hot, dry desert north – the main attractions of parks like Lauca and Volcán Isluga are the wildlife and the superb scenery. These parks are best tackled in a four-wheel-drive vehicle, preferably with a driver who knows the area well. Farther south, coastal parks like the popular Pan de Azúcar give protection to sea life and are popular for camping.
Many national parks such as Nahuelbuta, Alerce Andino, and Conguillío have been created to protect Chile’s native forest. Unfortunately, the popularity of Parque Nacional Conguillío, in the northern Lake District, has brought with it serious erosion.
In the far south, parks like Laguna San Rafael and Bernardo O’Higgins protect Chile’s southern lakes and glaciers, while prime trekking territory is found in the magnificent Parque Nacional Torres del Paine in Magallanes.
Finally, the archeological monuments of Easter Island are protected by Parque Nacional Rapa Nui.
Parque Nacional Torres del Paine
Parque Nacional Torres del Paine, 112km (70 miles) north of Puerto Natales in Magallanes, covers a wilderness area of 181,400 hectares (450,000 acres). Created in 1959, the park achieved World Biosphere Reserve status from Unesco in 1978, and is today one of Chile’s best-known and most beautiful tourist attractions.
The park’s crowning glories are the spectacular torres (towers) and cuernos (horns), stark granite peaks that form part of the Paine Massif. The range continues into Argentina’s Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, with the Fitzroy Range attracting climbers from all over the world.
Parque Nacional Torres del Paine is a haven for the ñandú (rhea) and the guanaco, which European settlers slaughtered to near-extinction to make room for sheep but has since recovered. Used to visitors, they aren’t unduly bothered by cars and it’s usually possible to get quite close to take pictures. You might also see flamingos, condors and, if you’re really lucky, a puma.
Most people visit in January and February but the best month is December. As well as greater solitude, it is the time when the wildflowers are in best bloom.
Three more of the best
Lauca
At the heart of this national park on the border with Bolivia, the Chungará Lake lies at 4,500 meters (14,760ft) above sea level against a backdrop of snow-capped volcanoes and teeming with birdlife, including flamingos.
Nevado Tres Cruces
Overshadowed by Ojos del Salado, the world’s highest volcano, this national park is off the beaten track but includes several Andean lakes and part of the spectacular Salar de Maricunga salt flat.
Vicente Pérez Rosales
Founded in 1926, this vast national park, at the eastern end of Lago Llanquihue, has some of the most beautiful countryside in the Lake District and is dominated by the Volcán Osorno.
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