Nature & Parks
National parks, reserves and natural landscapes from north to south.
Coquimbo's reservoirs recover: Recoleta and Cogotí at 100% and tourism returns to La Paloma for the summer
After the 2026 rains, the reservoirs of the Coquimbo Region reached 72.3% of capacity, with Recoleta and Cogotí full and La Paloma near 70%. Visitors are returning to Isla Condorito and Las Ruinas. Figures by reservoir and what to know to visit the Limarí and Elqui valleys.
Ojos del Caburgua: entrance fee, opening hours and how to get there from Pucón in 2026
The Ojos del Caburgua, about 20 km from Pucón, charge around 2,000 pesos per adult and open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. How to get there by car or bus, what they are, the Laguna Azul and what else to see at Lake Caburgua, with October 2026 data.
The most active volcanoes in Chile in 2026: Villarrica leads with 41 eruptions since 1900
2026 ranking of Chile's most active volcanoes according to the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Program: Villarrica has had 41 confirmed eruptions since 1900, Llaima 35 and Láscar 25. The most recent eruptions, the most explosive ones and how they compare with Sernageomin's risk ranking.
The most visited national park in each region of Chile in 2025: Los Lagos, La Araucanía and Magallanes account for 72% of visits
2025 ranking of visits to Conaf's protected areas by region: Los Lagos leads with 887,275 visits and Vicente Pérez Rosales is its most visited park. The most visited protected area in each of Chile's 16 regions, with official data.
Transfer of Chile's national parks from Conaf to the SBAP: 40% complete in Magallanes and set for March 1, 2027
The transfer of Chile's national parks from Conaf to the new Biodiversity and Protected Areas Service (SBAP) is about 40% complete in Magallanes and set for March 1, 2027. What is known, what park rangers say and what changes for visitors.
Huerquehue National Park: trails, how to get there from Pucón and what is open in 2026
Guide to Huerquehue National Park near Pucón, Chile: the Los Lagos trail (10.8 km), which trails are closed until December 15, 2026, how to get there, camping, when to go and how many visitors it gets, with Conaf data.
Laguna San Rafael: how to get to the glacier, tours, season and what to know before you go
Guide to Laguna San Rafael National Park, in Chile's Aysén Region: how to get to the San Rafael glacier from Puerto Río Tranquilo, Puerto Chacabuco or by light aircraft from Coyhaique, reference tour prices, Conaf trails and the best time to go.
Lauca National Park: how to get to Lake Chungará, trails and tips for the altitude
Guide to Lauca National Park, in Chile's Arica y Parinacota Region: how to get to Lake Chungará via route 11-CH, free entry, Conaf trails, altiplano wildlife, the Parinacota volcano and tips to avoid altitude sickness.
Embalse El Yeso: how to get there, what to do and access conditions in 2026
Guide to Embalse El Yeso, in the Cajón del Maipo near Santiago: how to get there, the April-to-August vehicle closure, the entrance fee for the Embalse El Yeso Natural Park (CLP 3,450 per adult), the dam-wall trail and what to check before driving up.
Queulat National Park: guide to the Hanging Glacier, trails, opening hours and how to get there
Guide to Queulat National Park, on the Carretera Austral: the La Morrena trail to the Hanging Glacier (Ventisquero Colgante), Laguna Témpanos, Conaf's 12 trails, opening hours Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 16:30 and how to get there from Puyuhuapi and Coyhaique.
The largest marine protected areas in Chile in 2026: the official ranking by size
Chile's largest marine protected area is the one around Rapa Nui, at 579,368 km², more than three-quarters of the size of mainland Chile. The ranking of marine parks, reserves and coastal protected areas according to the Ministry of the Environment's official register.
Kawésqar National Park: Conaf and 16 communities form the first council to manage Chile's second-largest park
On 22 October 2026 the first Management Council of Kawésqar National Park was formed, with Conaf and 16 Kawésqar communities. What the council will do, what the protected areas law says and how to visit this 2.8-million-hectare park in Magallanes.
Chile's 10 highest volcanoes in 2026, according to the Global Volcanism Program
Ranking of the highest volcanoes in Chile with data from the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Program: Ojos del Salado (6,879 m), Llullaillaco (6,739 m) and Incahuasi (6,638 m) lead. The highest lying entirely in Chile is Pular.
Laguna Cejar: 2026 entrance fee, how to get there and where you can float
Guide to Laguna Cejar in San Pedro de Atacama: 2026 entrance fee (CLP 15,000 per adult), how to buy tickets, rules for bathing in Laguna Piedra, how to get there and what to bring.
Piedras Rojas and the altiplanic lagoons: how to get there, tickets and what to see at the Aguas Calientes salt flat
Guide to Piedras Rojas and the Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons near San Pedro de Atacama: distances, altitude, how to buy tickets from the Socaire community, how to get there and how to avoid altitude sickness.
Radal Siete Tazas National Park: how to get there, trails, opening hours and tickets
Guide to Radal Siete Tazas National Park in Chile's Maule Region: how to get there from Molina and Talca, Conaf's trails with distances and times, opening hours, tickets on Pases Parques and camping.
Termas Geométricas: the hot springs are now called Termas Martini, what changed, prices and how to get there
Since 1 October 2026 the Termas Geométricas hot springs near Coñaripe have operated as Termas Martini, under new management. The 18 pools, water temperature, how to get there from Pucón and Coñaripe, and how much it costs.
La Campana National Park: sectors, trails and how to get there from Santiago and Viña del Mar
Guide to La Campana National Park in Chile: its three sectors (Granizo, Cajón Grande and Palmas de Ocoa), its 16 trails with distances and times according to Conaf, the climb up Cerro La Campana, the Chilean palms and the park rules.
Chile's 10 largest national parks in 2026, according to the official registry
Ranking of the largest national parks in Chile by area, with data from the National Registry of Protected Areas of the Chilean Ministry of the Environment. Bernardo O'Higgins leads with 3.5 million hectares; Torres del Paine is 12th.
Cape Froward makes National Geographic's list of the best places to visit in 2027
National Geographic included Cape Froward, in Chile's Magallanes Region, in its Best of the World 2027 list. On the same day, Chile's Ministry of the Environment began the indigenous consultation to create a 183,045-hectare national park. How to get there and what to do.
Laja Falls (Saltos del Laja): how to get there, what to do and when to go
Guide to Saltos del Laja, in Chile's Biobío Region: four waterfalls of 20 to 35 metres next to Route 5, 25 km from Los Ángeles. How to get there by car or bus, entry, boat trips, accommodation and the best time to visit.
Huilo Huilo: guide to the biological reserve, its hotels, waterfalls and how to get there
Guide to Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve, in Neltume, Chile's Los Ríos Region: 100,000 hectares of Valdivian rainforest, the Huilo Huilo and El Puma waterfalls, the Montaña Mágica and Nothofagus hotels, hot springs and how to get there from Panguipulli, Valdivia or Temuco.
Torres del Paine entrance fee 2026: prices, how to buy and opening hours
Entry to Torres del Paine costs CLP 32,400 per day for foreign adults and CLP 9,400 for Chilean adults in 2026; the 2-or-more-day pass is CLP 48,500 and CLP 14,200. Official fees, who enters free, how to buy on pasesparques.cl and opening hours.
Chile's 10 largest lakes according to the official DGA inventory (2026)
General Carrera is Chile's largest lake, with 951 km² within Chile, followed by Llanquihue (864 km²) and O'Higgins (499 km²). Ranking of the largest lakes in Chile with data from the lake inventory of the General Water Directorate (DGA).
Chile's 10 largest glaciers according to the official DGA inventory
Chile's largest glacier according to the DGA Public Glacier Inventory is the O'Higgins, at 772.5 km², followed by San Quintín (763.3) and Greve (754.8). Ranking of the 10 largest, where they are, which ones you can visit and why Pío XI comes fifth.
Marble Caves of Chile: how to get there, boat and kayak tour prices and the best time to go
Guide to the Marble Caves (Capillas de Mármol) on Lake General Carrera, in Aysén: how to get to Puerto Río Tranquilo, 2026 prices for the boat trip (from about CLP 20,000) and kayak tours, when to go to enter the caves and what else to do nearby.
The most dangerous volcanoes in Chile in 2026: the Sernageomin ranking
Chile's most dangerous volcano is Villarrica, first in Sernageomin's specific risk ranking, followed by Calbuco and Llaima. List of the top 20 out of 87 active volcanoes, with region, score and current alerts in 2026.
Nevados de Chillán remains on yellow alert: what travellers to Las Trancas and the hot springs should know
The Nevados de Chillán volcanic complex had an explosion of about 600 metres on October 13 and a lava flow, and remains on yellow technical alert with a 2 km perimeter. What it means for tourism in Ñuble.
A puma in Lago Peñuelas National Reserve: the second record in five years
A visitor filmed a puma on October 11 in the upper part of Lago Peñuelas National Reserve, near Valparaíso. Conaf confirmed the record, the second since 2021. What to do if you see one and how to visit the reserve.
Most visited national parks in Chile in 2025: Conaf's ranking
2025 ranking of Chile's most visited protected areas according to Conaf: 2,989,788 visits across 105 areas. Vicente Pérez Rosales leads with 597,307, followed by Torres del Paine and Malalcahuello.
Chile's natural records in 2026: the highest volcano, the driest place and the deepest lake
Fact sheet of Chile's natural records: Ojos del Salado, the world's highest volcano; Arica and Quillagua, the driest places according to Guinness; Lake O'Higgins and the Pío XI Glacier.
Flowering desert 2026: Atacama fills its hotels at the peak of the bloom
The 2026 flowering desert covers about 17,667 km² and Atacama destinations have occupancy rates of up to 75%. Where to see it, how long it lasts and what is banned.
Hot springs in Chile: a guide to thermal waters from north to south
Guide to Chile's hot springs: Puritama in Atacama, Jahuel, Cauquenes, Termas de Chillán, Geométricas and Puyehue. Where they are, how far from the nearest city and when to go.
Things to do in Pucón: Villarrica volcano, Huerquehue, Ojos del Caburgua and hot springs
Guide to Pucón: Lake and volcano Villarrica, Huerquehue National Park, Ojos del Caburgua, nearby hot springs and adventure activities. How to get there and when to go.
El Tatio geysers: complete guide to booking your tour with Tur.com
What the pre-dawn excursion to the El Tatio geysers is like, what the tour includes, who shouldn't attempt it because of the altitude, and how to book it online with Tur.com.
San Pedro de Atacama: what to do in the world's driest desert
The Tatio Geysers, Valley of the Moon and salt flats: a guide to planning a trip to San Pedro de Atacama, in northern Chile.
Conguillío National Park and Llaima Volcano
Ancient araucaria forests, lava-formed lakes, and Llaima Volcano in the background: a guide to Conguillío National Park, in the Araucanía region.
Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park and the Petrohué Falls
Chile's oldest national park: Osorno Volcano, Lake Todos los Santos, and the Petrohué River falls, near Puerto Varas.
Cerro Castillo National Reserve, Patagonia's lesser-known side
A much less crowded alternative to Torres del Paine: a guide to Cerro Castillo National Reserve, in the Aysén region.