La Araucanía regional governor René Saffirio presented the Regional Council with a project worth more than CLP 4,773 million (about US$4.9 million) to rebuild the Nahuelbuta National Park infrastructure destroyed in the November 2022 arson attack: trails, viewpoints, toilets, campsites and Conaf buildings. The governor spoke of "5 billion pesos"; the project amount is CLP 4,773 million and has not yet been approved, according to Araucanía Noticias and Alerta Noticias Temuco, both on November 2, 2026.
*Updated November 3, 2026.* The park remains open to visitors, but without services: there are no toilets and no information center. Dollar conversion at the November 3 observed rate (CLP 981.82).
What the Nahuelbuta National Park project includes
CLP 4,773 M
Proposed investment
Chilean pesos, not yet approved by the Regional Council
17,100
Estimated beneficiaries
People linked to rural tourism
22,715
Visitors in 2025
According to Conaf
5
Trails to restore
Piedra del Águila, El Aguilucho, Casa de Piedra, Cerro Anay and Estero Los Gringos
Source: Araucanía Noticias and Conaf
View the data as a table
| Proposed investment | CLP 4,773 M · Chilean pesos, not yet approved by the Regional Council |
| Estimated beneficiaries | 17,100 · People linked to rural tourism |
| Visitors in 2025 | 22,715 · According to Conaf |
| Trails to restore | 5 · Piedra del Águila, El Aguilucho, Casa de Piedra, Cerro Anay and Estero Los Gringos |
| Component | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | More than CLP 4,773 million (the governor mentioned CLP 5,000 million) | Araucanía Noticias |
| Drawn up by | Conaf | Araucanía Noticias |
| Technical unit | Architecture Directorate of the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) | Araucanía Noticias |
| Trails | Piedra del Águila, El Aguilucho, Casa de Piedra, Cerro Anay and Estero Los Gringos | Araucanía Noticias |
| Works | Viewpoints, signage, parking, toilets, campsites and administrative buildings | Araucanía Noticias |
| Beneficiaries | More than 17,100 people | Araucanía Noticias |
| Status | Submitted to the Regional Council; must go through committees and a vote | Araucanía Noticias |
During the same visit, residents of Vegas Blancas, El Manzano and Los Corrales asked for the access road to the park to be paved, a project that is not part of this proposal, according to Alerta Noticias Temuco.
What happened at Nahuelbuta in November 2022
In the early hours of November 13, 2022, a group of armed, hooded people entered the park, threatened Conaf rangers and set fire to houses, control booths, storage buildings and other facilities; they also took official vehicles. A banner left at the site showed the group Weichán Auka Mapu claiming the attack, according to Araucanía Noticias. Conaf opened new ranger quarters in May 2026, but the rest of the visitor infrastructure has not been rebuilt.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 4, 1939 | Nahuelbuta National Park is created (6,831.9 ha) |
| November 13, 2022 | Arson attack destroys houses, booths, storage and Conaf facilities |
| 2025 | The park receives 22,715 visitors, without basic services |
| May 2026 | Conaf opens new ranger quarters |
| November 2, 2026 | The governor presents the CLP 4,773 million project to the Regional Council |
Sources: Conaf, 2025 visitation spreadsheet and Araucanía Noticias.
What Nahuelbuta National Park is like for visitors today
The park welcomes visitors year-round: in 2025 it had between 875 (September) and 2,801 (April) visitors a month, according to Conaf. But there are no services. "Today there are no toilets, there is no tourist information center," Leslie Gysi, president of the Nahuelbuta Rural Ecotourism Association, told Alerta Noticias Temuco.
| Facility | Status as of November 3, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Access and trails | Open; Piedra del Águila is the most visited |
| Toilets | None |
| Information center | None |
| Campsite | Infrastructure not rebuilt; check with Conaf before planning to stay overnight |
| Water and food | Bring everything: Conaf warns there are no services inside the park |
| Contact | parque.nahuelbuta@conaf.cl |
Sources: Conaf and Alerta Noticias Temuco. Our full guide, with trail distances and how to get there from Angol and Cañete, is at Nahuelbuta National Park: how to get there and Piedra del Águila.
Do you offer cabins, food or excursions in Angol, Cañete or Purén? Reach travelers planning a trip to Nahuelbuta.
See advertising optionsWhy Nahuelbuta matters beyond tourism
The Picoiquén River, one of Angol's main water sources, starts in the park. "Without Nahuelbuta National Park, Angol would not have its main water source," said Juan Hernández Arévalo of the Pehuenquén Foundation. It is also one of the few monkey puzzle forests on the Coastal Range; the other large forests of this species are in the Andes, in Conguillío and Huerquehue. From March 2027, park management will move from Conaf to Chile's new biodiversity service: what changes with the transfer.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nahuelbuta National Park open?
Yes, it receives visitors, but it has had no toilets or information center since the 2022 attack. Bring water and food.
How much will be invested in Nahuelbuta?
The project submitted is worth more than CLP 4,773 million. It still has to be approved by La Araucanía's Regional Council.
What happened at Nahuelbuta National Park in 2022?
On November 13, 2022, an armed group set fire to houses, booths and Conaf facilities. The group Weichán Auka Mapu claimed the attack.
When will the works be finished?
There is no date. The Regional Council must first approve the funds; then come tendering and construction, overseen by the MOP Architecture Directorate.
