This Sunday, 8 November 2026, 22 protected areas managed by Conaf in 15 Chilean regions offer free entry for the first National Family Day (Día Nacional del Encuentro Familiar). The list is published on the official event website of the Ministry of Social Development and Family and runs from Lauca National Park, on the Arica altiplano, to the Cueva del Milodón Natural Monument near Puerto Natales. The free ticket is booked on Pases Parques and depends on each park's capacity.
By law, the day falls on the Sunday after National Teletón Day (the first Saturday of November). The law was signed on 29 October 2026, according to Radio Agricultura, and the ministry lists more than 154 free or discounted activities in museums, heritage routes, parks and cultural venues.
View the data as a table
| Protected areas with free entry | 22 |
| Regions with at least one area | 15 |
| Free or discounted activities | +154 |
Free national parks this Sunday, region by region
These are the 22 protected areas with free entry, with the access hours published on the official site. Ñuble is the only mainland region without an area on the list. Torres del Paine is not included.
View the data as a table
| Visitors 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Los Lagos | 597,307 · 1 free area |
| Magallanes | 165,405 · 2 free areas |
| Biobío | 127,264 · 2 free areas |
| Antofagasta | 71,810 · 2 free areas |
| Metropolitana | 33,516 · 1 free area |
| Coquimbo | 33,066 · 1 free area |
| O'Higgins | 21,677 · 1 free area |
| La Araucanía | 19,687 · 1 free area |
| Maule | 14,773 · 2 free areas |
| Los Ríos | 11,755 · 2 free areas |
| Aysén | 11,682 · 1 free area |
| Atacama | 11,280 · 2 free areas |
| Tarapacá | 6,913 · 1 free area |
| Arica y Parinacota | 5,395 · 2 free areas |
| Valparaíso | 4,737 · 1 free area |
| Protected area | Region | Access hours on 8 Nov | Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lauca National Park | Arica y Parinacota | 8am to 6pm | Walk-in, no ticket |
| Picaflor de Arica National Park | Arica y Parinacota | Not stated | Walk-in, no ticket |
| Pampa del Tamarugal National Reserve | Tarapacá | 9:30am to 4pm | Pases Parques |
| La Portada Natural Monument | Antofagasta | 9:30am to 5:30pm | Walk-in, no ticket |
| Morro Moreno National Park | Antofagasta | 9:30am to 4pm | Walk-in, no ticket |
| Pan de Azúcar National Park | Atacama | 9am to 6pm | Pases Parques |
| Llanos de Challe National Park | Atacama | 9am to 4:30pm | Pases Parques |
| Bosque Fray Jorge National Park | Coquimbo | 9am to 3pm | Pases Parques |
| Lago Peñuelas National Reserve | Valparaíso | 9am to 3pm | Pases Parques |
| Río Clarillo National Park | Metropolitana | 8:30am to 1pm | Pases Parques |
| Río Los Cipreses National Reserve | O'Higgins | 8:30am to 4pm | Pases Parques |
| Federico Albert National Reserve | Maule | 8:30am to 4pm | Pases Parques |
| Los Ruiles National Reserve | Maule | 8:30am to 3pm | Pases Parques |
| Laguna del Laja National Park | Biobío | 8:30am to 6pm | Pases Parques |
| Nonguén National Park | Biobío | 9:30am to 3pm | Pases Parques |
| Cerro Ñielol Natural Monument | La Araucanía | 8:30am to 5pm | Pases Parques |
| Mocho Choshuenco National Reserve | Los Ríos | 9:30am to 1:30pm | Pases Parques |
| Alerce Costero National Park | Los Ríos | 9am to 4:30pm | Pases Parques |
| Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park | Los Lagos | 9am to 5pm | Pases Parques |
| Coyhaique National Reserve | Aysén | 9am to 2pm | Pases Parques |
| Magallanes National Reserve | Magallanes | 8:30am to 4pm | Pases Parques |
| Cueva del Milodón Natural Monument | Magallanes | 8am to 6:30pm | Pases Parques |
Source: National Family Day, "Parques y reservas" section, checked on 7 November 2026. Hours may change due to weather or safety.
How to get your free national park ticket
According to the official site, it works like this:
- Go to pasesparques.cl, choose the protected area, the date (Sunday 8 November) and the ticket category. The platform issues a $0 ticket, and then each ticket has to be registered to a named visitor.
- The option has been available since 21 October and runs until Sunday 8, while capacity lasts.
- Free entry does not apply to tickets bought through a tour operator.
- Lauca, Picaflor de Arica, La Portada and Morro Moreno are not on Pases Parques: just walk in, no ticket needed.
- Entry may be suspended for safety reasons or weather alerts; Conaf will notify the registered email. Free entry covers only the park fee, not concession services, as Conaf Biobío pointed out.
A note for foreign visitors: the site does not exclude any visitor category, but parks normally charge different fees to Chileans and foreigners. If the system does not show a $0 ticket for your category, do not pay: check with the park administration.
How many people visit these national parks in a normal year
It helps to know which ones get crowded. According to Conaf's 2025 visitor figures, Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park (Petrohué falls and Lake Todos los Santos) is by far the busiest on the list, followed by Cueva del Milodón and Laguna del Laja.
| Protected area | Visitors in 2025 |
|---|---|
| Vicente Pérez Rosales NP | 597,307 |
| Cueva del Milodón NM | 137,508 |
| Laguna del Laja NP | 109,078 |
| La Portada NM | 69,698 |
| Río Clarillo NP | 33,516 |
| Bosque Fray Jorge NP | 33,066 |
| Magallanes NR | 27,897 |
| Río Los Cipreses NR | 21,677 |
| Cerro Ñielol NM | 19,687 |
| Nonguén NP | 18,186 |
| Coyhaique NR | 11,682 |
| Federico Albert NR | 9,151 |
Source: Conaf, protected area visits 2025 (revised 28 February 2026). The 12 busiest areas on the list are shown.
To plan your day out, see our guides to Laguna del Laja National Park, Bosque Fray Jorge, Vicente Pérez Rosales and the Petrohué falls and Lauca and Lake Chungará. If you are heading to Petrohué from Puerto Varas, also check our guide to Puerto Varas tours.
What else is free on National Family Day
Besides national parks, the ministry lists among the participating venues the Museo Interactivo Mirador (MIM), the National Museum of Natural History, Artequín, the Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, the Lota circuit and Niebla Castle, according to the 5 November presentation reported by Radio Agricultura and the Ministry of Social Development and Family. The official site also lists free heritage routes in Valparaíso, La Serena, Chillán, Punta Arenas and the Elqui Valley, among others. Some private venues, such as Parque Tricao in Santo Domingo, offer free places with prior booking.
The creation of the day drew criticism from some sectors and social media figures; minister María Jesús Wulf replied that it is meant to complement social policies with opportunities to spend time together. For travellers the practical effect is simple: more people in parks near cities, and places that may run out.
Tips for visiting a national park in the heat
The weekend brings high temperatures to central and southern Chile, as we explained in our story on the preventive heat alert. Bring water, go early (several parks close access around midday, such as Río Clarillo at 1pm), do not light fires and stay on marked trails, as Conaf asks for this day.
Does your cabin, campsite or tour near a national park want to reach people planning nature getaways?
See advertising optionsFrequently asked questions
Which national parks are free on 8 November 2026?
22 Conaf protected areas in 15 regions, including Lauca, Fray Jorge, Río Clarillo, Laguna del Laja, Vicente Pérez Rosales and Cueva del Milodón. The full list is in the table above.
Is Torres del Paine free on National Family Day?
No. Torres del Paine does not appear among the free areas on the official site. In Magallanes, free entry applies to Magallanes National Reserve and Cueva del Milodón.
Do I need to book to get in free?
Yes, at most of them: the $0 ticket is booked on pasesparques.cl until Sunday itself, subject to capacity. At Lauca, Picaflor de Arica, La Portada and Morro Moreno you just walk in.
When is National Family Day in Chile?
Every year on the Sunday after National Teletón Day, which is the first Saturday of November. In 2026 it falls on Sunday 8 November.
