Alerce Andino National Park protects 39,255 hectares of rainforest between Puerto Montt and Cochamó, with alerce trees growing on almost 20,000 of them and ancient specimens more than 2,500 years old. It is open every day from 9:00 to 17:00, with last entry at 15:00, and tickets are sold on Pases Parques. In 2025 it had 62,687 visitors, according to CONAF's official visitor data. One key fact before you go: as of November 2, 2026, Pases Parques listed six trails as closed since October 15.
*Updated on November 2, 2026.* The data come from CONAF's park page, Pases Parques and Chile Travel. From March 1, 2027, the parks move from CONAF to the Biodiversity and Protected Areas Service, as we explained in this article.
Key facts about the park
| Fact | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 39,255 hectares | CONAF |
| Created | November 17, 1982 (Supreme Decree 735, Ministry of National Assets) | CONAF |
| Location | Llanquihue Province, municipalities of Puerto Montt and Cochamó, south of Lake Chapo | CONAF |
| Alerce trees | On almost 20,000 ha, mainly above 400 m; specimens over 2,500 years old | CONAF and Chile Travel |
| Hours | Monday to Sunday, 9:00 to 17:00; last entry 15:00 | Pases Parques |
| Best time | November to March | CONAF |
| Other status | Part of the Temperate Rainforests of the Southern Andes Biosphere Reserve | CONAF |
The alerce (*Fitzroya cupressoides*) is one of the longest-living tree species on the planet and is protected as a natural monument in Chile. In the park it grows alongside Chiloé coigüe, tineo, mañío and canelo; higher up come Magellan coigüe and lenga. Among the wildlife, CONAF lists the pudú, puma, kodkod (güiña), monito del monte, Magellanic woodpecker and Andean condor.
Alerce Andino National Park trails and their status
The park has three sectors open to the public: Correntoso and Sargazo, in the north, and Chaicas, in the south. Both CONAF's page and the park's page on Pases Parques list six trails as closed, without giving the reason or a reopening date. Pases Parques also scheduled sector closures on specific days in October.
| Trail | Status on Nov 2, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Laguna Sargazo | Closed since October 15 |
| Laguna Fría | Closed since October 15 |
| Catedral de Alerce | Closed since October 15 |
| Rodal de Alerce | Closed since October 15 |
| Laguna Triángulo | Closed since October 15 |
| Laguna Chaiquenes | Closed since October 15 |
Source: Pases Parques and CONAF, checked on November 2, 2026. Call or email CONAF Los Lagos (loslagos.oirs@conaf.cl, +56 65 2 486400) before travelling to find out what is open. Meanwhile, the viewpoints and picnic areas of the open sectors can be used.
The trail to Sargazo lake, one of the most visited, has just been upgraded: it has 75 new metres of wooden stairs, four viewpoints and areas to observe alerces, built by Universidad San Sebastián with CLP 120 million from the Los Lagos Regional Government, according to MiradaSur TV (October 16, 2026).
Alerce Andino National Park entrance fee in 2026
Tickets are bought online on Pases Parques, which separates purchases for Chileans and foreigners and has categories for adults (18 to 59), youths (13 to 17), children (0 to 12), seniors (60 and over) and people with disabilities. The park's page did not show the amounts on November 2, 2026; the site Chile es Tuyo published these 2026 prices:
| Ticket 2026 | Chileans and residents | Foreigners |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | CLP 3,900 | CLP 8,200 |
| Teenager (13 to 17) | CLP 2,300 | CLP 4,100 |
| Person with a disability (18 to 59) | CLP 2,300 | — |
Source: Chile es Tuyo, how much national parks cost, September 25, 2026. Confirm the price on Pases Parques when you buy; under-13s and resident over-60s have special conditions. You must sign in at the ranger station on entry and exit.
Park visitors by month in 2025
| Month (2025) | Visitors |
|---|---|
| January | 9,783 |
| February | 11,870 |
| March | 10,530 |
| April | 3,588 |
| May | 2,521 |
| June | 1,600 |
| July | 2,256 |
| August | 2,709 |
| September | 2,725 |
| October | 4,135 |
| November | 6,162 |
| December | 4,808 |
| Total 2025 | 62,687 |
Source: CONAF, protected area visitor numbers 2025 (revised February 28, 2026). January to March account for half the visits; November is a good month to go with fewer people and long days. To compare with other parks, see the ranking of Chile's most visited national parks.
How to get to Alerce Andino National Park from Puerto Montt
| Sector | Route | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Correntoso and Lake Chapo | Road V-65; from Correntoso, 2.5 km to the ranger station | 46 km from Puerto Montt |
| Sargazo | Before the Chamiza bridge, turn off to Correntoso (20 km paved) and then 10 km of gravel | About 30 km |
| Chaicas | Carretera Austral to Lenca and a 15 km road to Laguna Chaiquenes (4x4 only); ranger station at km 7 | 40 km to Lenca, about 45 min |
Source: CONAF. By public transport, Buses Fierro, Jordán and Quillaipe go to Chaicas and Caleta La Arena, and Buses Fierro and JB to Correntoso and Lake Chapo, from the Puerto Montt terminal. The Chaicas sector lies on the Carretera Austral road trip. For places to stay and eat, see things to do in Puerto Montt; for another ancient southern forest, read the Huilo Huilo guide.
Rules and tips
- Fires, gas stoves and smoking are banned (Law 20,653): bring cold food.
- Pets and drones are not allowed (drones only with CONAF authorisation).
- There are no authorised fishing areas in the park.
- Wear hiking boots and waterproof clothing: it rains even in summer.
- Register your departure with the ranger and give an approximate return time.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the entrance fee to Alerce Andino National Park?
In 2026, CLP 3,900 for Chilean or resident adults and CLP 8,200 for foreign adults, according to Chile es Tuyo. Tickets are sold on Pases Parques.
Are the park's trails open?
As of November 2, 2026, Pases Parques and CONAF showed the Laguna Sargazo, Laguna Fría, Catedral de Alerce, Rodal de Alerce, Laguna Triángulo and Laguna Chaiquenes trails as closed. Check with CONAF Los Lagos before you go.
How far is it from Puerto Montt?
The Correntoso sector is 46 km away on road V-65, and Lenca, gateway to the Chaicas sector, is 40 km away on the Carretera Austral.
How old are the park's alerce trees?
Chile Travel says there are ancient alerces more than 2,500 years old.
