Olmué is a municipality of 19,778 people (2024 census) in Marga Marga province, Valparaíso Region, about two hours by bus from Santiago, famous for La Campana National Park and for the Olmué Huaso Festival, which in 2027 runs from 14 to 17 January at the El Patagual amphitheatre. Its economy relies on countryside tourism: campsites, inns, horse rides and farm cooking, according to Wikipedia.
Its name comes from the Mapuche language and means "place of huilmos" (a native flower). In 1834 Charles Darwin climbed La Campana and wrote that from the summit he could see both the Andes and the Pacific Ocean.
Olmué in figures
View the data as a table
| Inhabitants (2024 census) | 19,778 |
| Visits to La Campana in 2025 | 38,410 |
| Nights of the 2027 Huaso Festival | 4 |
| Hours by bus from Santiago | ~2 |
La Campana National Park, the top thing to do in Olmué
The park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, received 38,410 visits in 2025 according to Conaf and is rated 4.7 with 2,361 reviews on Google Maps. Tickets are sold on Pases Parques (from 4,500 pesos for an adult, checked on 11 November 2026). Details in our La Campana guide.
| Trail | Distance | Duration | Difficulty | Sector |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andinista (La Campana summit) | 7 km | 8 h | Hard | Granizo |
| Los Peumos | 2.5 km | 3 h | Moderate | Granizo / Cajón Grande |
| El Arenal–El Coipo loop | 2 km | 1 h | Moderate | Cajón Grande |
| La Canasta | 1 km | 1 h | Moderate | Granizo |
| La Cascada (La Cortadera waterfall) | 6 km | 5 h | Hard | Palmas de Ocoa |
Olmué Huaso Festival 2027: dates, artists and tickets
The festival returns to Chilevisión with Diana Bolocco and José Miguel Viñuela as hosts. The presale starts on Monday 16 November at 10:00 on Ticketmaster, with a 20% discount for one bank's cardholders, and general sale two days later, Emol reported.
| Night | Artists and comedians |
|---|---|
| Thursday 14 January | Los Pericos, Bombo Fica and El Llanero del Ñuble |
| Friday 15 January | Illapu; comedy from Tachuela Chico, Pastelito Chile and Junior; closing act Cami |
| Saturday 16 January | Fran Valenzuela, Maly Jorquera and Javiera Mena |
| Sunday 17 January | Sinaka, Diego Urrutia and Amigo de Artistas |
- 1612Mariana de Osorio donates the Gulmué estateTo the Indigenous people who worked it.
- 1834Darwin climbs La Campana hill17 August.
- 1893Olmué municipality created
- 1967La Campana becomes protectedStart of protection in the official registry.
- 16 Nov 2026Huaso Festival presaleTicketmaster, 10:00.
- 14-17 Jan 2027Olmué Huaso FestivalEl Patagual, Chilevisión.
More things to do in Olmué
- Main square: 4.5 with 3,224 reviews on Google Maps; fairs, crafts and the "Olmué, folk capital" monument.
- La Dormida pass: the historic road between Valparaíso and Santiago, with viewpoints (4.5 with 155 reviews).
- El Patagual amphitheatre: home of the festival (4.5 with 825 reviews).
- Country food: baked empanadas, cazuela stew and pastel de choclo at the inns on the road to Granizo.
How to get to Olmué from Santiago and Valparaíso
| From | How | Price and time |
|---|---|---|
| Santiago | Pullman Costa bus (Kupos) | From 8,140 pesos, about 2 hours (13 Nov 2026) |
| Santiago by car | Route 5 North or La Dormida pass (mountain road) | About 70 km in a straight line |
| Valparaíso or Viña del Mar | Metro Valparaíso to Limache, then a local bus to Olmué | Usual weekend combination |
For more ideas near the capital, see the best hikes near Santiago or Valparaíso in a day. And note: on Saturday 14 November 2026 La Campana has free entry, as we reported in our Protected Areas Day story.
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2027 Olmué Festival?
From Thursday 14 to Sunday 17 January 2027, at El Patagual, broadcast by Chilevisión.
How long does it take to climb La Campana?
The Andinista trail is 7 km and Conaf estimates about 8 hours return. Start early and carry at least 3 litres of water.
How do I get to Olmué by public transport?
With Pullman Costa from Santiago (about 2 hours, from 8,140 pesos) or on Metro Valparaíso to Limache and then a local bus.
