A puma was filmed on Sunday, October 11, 2026, in the upper part of Lago Peñuelas National Reserve, in the Valparaíso Region, a few kilometers from Route 68. The images, taken by a visitor, allowed Conaf to confirm the cat's presence in the protected area five years after the first record, in May 2021, Chile's National Forest Corporation reported on October 17.
"This is the second record we have of a puma in the upper part of this protected area," said Conaf's Valparaíso regional director, Yenny Prieto, who noted that the reserve meets the species' habitat needs and that recent rains have enriched a well-protected ecosystem.
What we know about the Lago Peñuelas National Reserve puma
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Date of the record | Sunday, October 11, 2026 | Conaf |
| Recorded by | A visitor, on video and in photos | Conaf |
| Location | Upper part of the reserve | Conaf |
| Previous record | May 2021, with rangers' camera traps | Conaf / La Tercera |
| Habitat | Biological corridor of native sclerophyllous forest | Conaf |
| Sex and size of the animal | Not reported | — |
The head of Conaf's Protected Areas Department, Marcelo Pérez, explained that the visitor's footage made it possible to verify the animal's presence and called it a source of pride for the reserve's conservation goals. In 2021, the rangers' camera traps captured 18 night photos of an adult male, according to coverage at the time by BioBioChile.
What to do if you see a puma
Conaf asked people to protect the animal and look after themselves: keep your distance, do not approach it and do not feed it. The puma is a protected species that lives from the coast to the high Andes, up to 5,800 meters, in scrubland, forests and Andean and Patagonian steppe. These are the usual recommendations for hikers in puma country:
- Do not approach or follow it: stay still, keep your distance and let it move away.
- Do not run or turn your back: back away slowly while facing the animal.
- Make yourself look big and speak loudly if it comes closer; raise your arms or your backpack.
- Hike in groups and keep children close, especially at dawn and dusk.
- Do not leave food or trash on the trails.
- Tell the rangers and, if you can, note the place and time: that is how this sighting was confirmed.
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See advertising optionsHow to visit Lago Peñuelas National Reserve
The reserve was created in 1952 and has been part of the La Campana-Peñuelas Biosphere Reserve since 1985. Its Conaf page lists an area of between 9,094 and 9,262 hectares (the page gives both figures) and an entrance at kilometer 87.3 of Route 68, between Santiago and Valparaíso. Tickets are sold on Pases Parques, Conaf's official system.
| Route | Length | Duration | Difficulty | Entry hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Coipos trail | 900 m | 1 hour | Easy | 09:00 to 15:00 |
| Las Orquídeas trail | 1.6 km | 90 minutes | Easy | 09:00 to 15:00 |
| Family bike route (3 loops) | 42.9 km | 4 hours | Moderate | 09:00 to 13:00 |
Data from the Conaf page consulted on October 18, 2026; hours may change, so confirm them on Pases Parques. The reserve is home to about 120 bird species, plus culpeo and South American gray foxes, the colocolo cat, coypu and the yaca, a small marsupial. Fishing is not allowed.
Lago Peñuelas is a quiet protected area: it recorded 4,737 visits in 2025, far fewer than La Campana, according to Conaf's official spreadsheet. Its busiest month was May, with 1,634.
| Protected area in the Valparaíso Region | Visits in 2025 |
|---|---|
| La Campana National Park | 38,410 |
| Laguna El Peral Nature Sanctuary | 25,105 |
| Lago Peñuelas National Reserve | 4,737 |
| Juan Fernández Archipelago National Park | 775 |
A lake that filled up again
The record comes in a special year for Peñuelas. In March 2022 the reservoir held just 8,000 cubic meters and was practically dry. After the weather fronts of 2026, by July the water surface reached about 540 hectares and the reservoir was at 33% of capacity, according to El Dínamo. To combine the visit with other places nearby, see our guide to things to do in Viña del Mar and our ranking of Chile's most visited protected areas.
Frequently asked questions
Are there pumas in Lago Peñuelas National Reserve?
Yes. Conaf confirmed a record on October 11, 2026, in the upper part of the reserve, the second after the one in May 2021.
Is it dangerous to visit Lago Peñuelas?
Puma attacks on people are very rare. Conaf recommends keeping your distance, not approaching or feeding the animal and staying on marked trails.
Where is Lago Peñuelas National Reserve?
In the municipality of Valparaíso, with access at kilometer 87.3 of Route 68 between Santiago and Valparaíso. Tickets are sold at pasesparques.cl.
