Queulat National Park protects 154,093 hectares of rainforest, fjords and glaciers in Chile's Aysén Region, and its main attraction is the Hanging Glacier (Ventisquero Colgante), a glacier that hangs over a cliff and falls in waterfalls towards Laguna Témpanos. It lies beside the Carretera Austral, about 20 km south of Puerto Puyuhuapi, and opens Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 16:30, with last entry at 14:30, according to Pases Parques. In 2025 it received 47,029 visits, ninth among the national parks managed by Conaf.
*Updated on 26 October 2026.* Trail, rules and area data come from Conaf's official page and opening hours from Pases Parques, the platform where tickets are sold. Hours may vary with the weather.
Queulat National Park at a glance
| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 154,093 hectares | Conaf; SIMBIO register of the Ministry of the Environment |
| Created | 1983 | Conaf |
| Location | Aysén Region, provinces of Coyhaique and Aysén; crossed by the Carretera Austral (Route 7) | Conaf |
| Visits in 2025 | 47,029 (9th most visited national park in the country) | Conaf, 2025 visitor statistics |
| Opening hours | Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 to 16:30; last entry 14:30 | Pases Parques |
| Camping | The Ventisquero Colgante sector campsite has been closed since 17 April 2026, until further notice | Conaf; Pases Parques |
Queulat is Chile's 13th largest national park, as shown in our ranking of the largest national parks, and one of the most visited in Patagonia according to the ranking of the most visited national parks. In March 2026 Conaf confirmed the presence in the park of the monito del monte, a small endangered marsupial, which La Tercera described as a sign of the forest's good health.
The Hanging Glacier and Laguna Témpanos
The park's two most visited trails, La Morrena (formerly called Ventisquero Colgante) and Laguna Témpanos, reopened on 10 January 2026 after works costing more than CLP 1.9 billion, funded by the Aysén Regional Government and carried out by the Ministry of Public Works' Architecture Directorate, according to Diario Regional Aysén. With the reopening, boat trips on Laguna Témpanos resumed, operating with three boats that season.
The glacier has a long record: the explorer Hans Steffen described it in 1897, when its front was about 200 metres from the shore, according to Andeshandbook. It has since retreated markedly, and today it can be seen hanging high up the valley.
Trails in Queulat National Park
| Trail | Distance | Duration | Difficulty and notices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morrena (to the Hanging Glacier viewpoint) | 3.2 km | 2 h | Easy |
| Laguna Témpanos | 600 m | 20 min | Easy |
| Laguna Los Pumas | 5.2 km | 5 h | Easy; closed June to September, risk of flooding |
| Laguna Los Quetros | 2.3 km | 1 h 30 min | Easy; risk of flooding August to October |
| El Explorador | 1.5 km | 1 h | Easy; risk of flooding August to October |
| Ciudad de los Césares | 860 m | 30 min | Moderate |
| Leviñanco | 700 m | 40 min | Easy |
| Los Colonos | 350 m | 20 min | Easy |
| El Aluvión | 350 m | 20 min | Easy |
| Mirador Panorámico | 250 m | 20 min | Easy |
| Salto Padre García | 150 m | 15 min | Easy |
| Huellas de Glaciación (universal access) | 40 m | 10 min | Easy |
Source: Conaf, Queulat National Park page, accessed on 26 October 2026. Andeshandbook measures the route to the glacier viewpoint at about 5 km round trip, with 326 metres of elevation gain, taking 2.5 to 3 hours. Regional guides say entry to that trail closes earlier than the park, around 13:30: if you want to do it, arrive in the morning.
Do you run accommodation, a tour or a boat trip on the Carretera Austral? Reach travellers planning their route through Aysén.
See advertising optionsHow to get to Queulat National Park
| From | Approximate distance | Approximate time |
|---|---|---|
| Puerto Puyuhuapi | 20 km to the north | 20 to 30 minutes |
| La Junta | 65 km to the north | 1 hour |
| Puerto Cisnes | 64 km to the south | 1 hour |
| Coyhaique | To the south, on Route 7 | Several hours on the Carretera Austral |
| Chaitén | About 180 km to the north | Several hours on the Carretera Austral |
Source: Aysén Patagonia, the region's tourism promotion website, and Andeshandbook. From the Carretera Austral, a road of about 750 metres leads to the entrance and another 1.5 km to the car park where the trails begin. South of the park, the Queulat pass (cuesta Queulat) is one of the most demanding winding stretches of Route 7; in May 2026 the contract to finish paving between the Queulat Fjord and the Chucao bridge was awarded, according to El Divisadero. Our Carretera Austral guide and the story on Sernatur's trip-planning platform cover the other sections and roadworks.
Tickets and park rules
Tickets are bought in advance on Pases Parques, which separates purchases for Chilean and foreign visitors and has categories for adults (18 to 59), young people (13 to 17), children (0 to 12), seniors (60 and over) and people with disabilities. The platform was not showing amounts at the time of checking; an unofficial information site about the park lists CLP 5,200 for Chilean adults and CLP 11,400 for foreign adults, with children free, figures you should confirm when buying. There is little signal in the area: bring a printed ticket.
- Fires are prohibited, including barbecues, camping stoves and cigarettes (Law 20,653).
- No pets or drones (the latter only with Conaf authorisation).
- Stay on the trails and do not climb rocks; rangers may close trails due to bad weather or flooding.
- Take your rubbish back and do not pollute watercourses.
- Waterproof clothing: this is one of the rainiest areas of Aysén; the forest stays wet even after the rain.
To continue south, see things to do in Coyhaique and the guide to the Marble Caves.
Frequently asked questions
What are Queulat National Park's opening hours?
Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 to 16:30, with last entry at 14:30, according to Pases Parques. It is closed on Mondays.
How far do you walk to see the Hanging Glacier?
The La Morrena trail is 3.2 km according to Conaf and takes about 2 hours; other measurements put it at about 5 km round trip.
Can you camp in the park?
The Ventisquero Colgante sector campsite has been closed since 17 April 2026, until further notice.
Where do you buy tickets?
On the Pases Parques platform, in advance.
