Other mountain hikes in Central Chile

The following tours are short descriptions of the multiple opportunities to hike in the Central Andes. All of them are described in extension in our Adventure Handbook Central Chile.

Listed north to south.

La Campana National Park

Located in the Coastal Cordillera, La Campana National Park is situated between the 1,880 m peak of the same name and 2,222 m Cerro El Roble and protects the last stands of the formerly common Chilean Palm. In addition, there is a vast area of virgin forest – a botanist's dream. And an animal lover's – hardly a natural park can boast as many bird species. The Park, which can be accessed from two directions, has several easy, interesting hikes, as well as a special treat: from the top of Mt. La Campana, on a clear day, you can see the Pacific Ocean and the main Cordillera with the impressive peak of Aconcagua.

Yerba Loca Valley

This nature preserve close to Santiago protects the long valley with its Estero Yerba Loca, a lively stream between steep barren slopes. The trail runs gently uphill along its bank. At the end of the valley rule glaciated 4,930 m La Paloma and impressive 5,000 m peak El Altar. The easy trail is worth it because of the rugged scenery.

El Morado National Park

This park in the upper part of Cajón de Maipo can boast easy hikes in a colorful Andean mountain valley fairly easy to reach from Santiago. In addition, the resort of Baños Morales at the Park entrance provides a minimum of tourist attractions with simple accomodations, restaurants, and horse rentals.

Río Los Cipreses

River and Nature Preserve owe their name to the dark, slender mountain cypress trees that used to cover the slopes. In the lower part of the valley, you will find dense sclerophyll forests and a variety of cactus species. The trail wends its way all along the west side of the river. You will camp in a grove of cypress trees on the river bank, and you can do day tours from here to the surrounding mountains.

National Preserve Siete Tazas

There are seven "cups" – round basins – Río Claro has carved into the black basalt rock of the Pre-Cordillera. This narrow gorge in the midst of green virgin forest is an impressive sight to behold. There are several pretty places for taking a dip in this clear, green-shimmering river. You can also book trips on horseback from here. From the Conaf building, a trail leads through the awe-inspiring Southern Beech forest to Valle del Indio.

National Preserve Altos de Lircay

This charming nature reserve in the midst of a Southern Beech forest offers several easy hiking trails for nature lovers. You can hike through a majestic Coihue forest to a rock named Piedra de Aguila towering over a gorge (40 min approx.), or to moor Majadilla on a mountain ridge with a nice view (2 hrs.). For mountain lovers, a side trip to the outlook Peine (2,448 m, 6-7 hrs.) is a treat. Several arrieros offer tours on horseback for half or whole days.

Pellado Trek

The Pellado trek above the tree line is chock-full of lava flows, glaciers, volcanoes, mountain lagoons and what is maybe Chile's most beautiful waterfall. From a small lagoon that is usually iced up, you can climb three big 3,000 m peaks - San Pedro (3,621 m), Pellado (3,121 m), and San Pablo (3,325 m).

Belloto Trail

Those who hike through the quiet old Southern Beech forests of the Bellotos El Melado nature preserve might both wonder about and rejoice in the fact that hardly anyone else seems to have discovered the unsullied beauty of this valley and its natural features. The preserve is home to the last stands of the highly threatened Belloto species of the Nothofagus tree. An easy trekking route accompanies Río Ancoa. At its source, it cascades down the northern slope of the snow mountain El Toro.

Longaví Trek

This demanding mountain trek includes the circumnavigation and ascent of 3,240 m Nevado de Longaví. No doubt it deserves its place among the ten most beautiful tours in Chile. Virgin forests and glaciers, a quiet camp on the bank of Laguna Achibueno and stands of rare cypress trees south of the snowy Toro Massif more than compensate for the exertion.

Valle Aguas Calientes

Close to the famous, but very touristy hot springs of Chillán, there is a valley with hot springs that steal their thunder. The Valley of Aguas Calientes is only an easy day tour over a 2,000 m pass away.

Nevado de Chillán

Do not miss this tour if you are into wildly cracked lava landscapes with glaciers, craters, and parasite cones. Over all this towers the partially glaciated 3212 m Nevado de Chillán. The icing on the cake is the ascent via the glacier.

Antuco Volcano

Between dark blue Laguna del Laja and glaciated Sierra Velluda, the perfectly shaped sugarcone of the volcano Antuco juts up, falling only a few meters short of the 3,000 m mark. The southern route is the most interesting one since it runs on a small glacier. From the top, you will have a great view of the moonscape created by volcanic action.