13 Beautiful National Parks in Chile

Chile is a long and narrow country in South America that borders the Pacific Ocean and the Andes Mountains. It is also home to the highest volcano in the world and much of its landscape was formed by volcanic activity. Chile features some incredibly stunning and diverse topography, including glaciers, gorges, and waterfalls. It has 46 national parks which aim to preserve and protect the landscape and the native wildlife. However, these wild areas are also a fantastic place to visit and explore. So, let’s take a journey through the most beautiful national parks in Chile!

1. Radal Siete Tazas National Park

The Radal Siete Tazas National Park is located in Curicó Province and spans a vast 10,200 acres. Its namesake is the Siete Tazas — or Seven Cups — which is seven consecutive pools of water each with a waterfall along the Claro River. The area is particularly popular with kayakers as the waterfalls pose a uniquely challenging experience. There are also numerous hiking trails so that visitors can fully explore the park and the stunning scenery. It is also home to several rare species of plants and animals, including a subspecies of burrowing parrot.

2. Queulat National Park

Next is the Queulat National Park which is located in the Aysén region and features several mighty glaciers, with the longest being seven miles long. Queulat also features rugged mountain terrain and stunning evergreen forests. Hiking is the most popular activity in the park, with its two ice fields being an exhilarating half-day hike. It’s also a paradise for birdwatchers, with species such as the Chiloe wigeon and the Magellanic woodpecker being present.

3. Pan de Azúcar National Park

The Pan de Azúcar National Park was established in 1985 and is located in the Norte Grande region. It is a small park, spanning just 169 square miles, but features two ecosystems which are highly important to the native wildlife. One ecosystem consists of a coastal desert in the Taltal area, while the other is a steppe desert in the Sierra Vicuña Mackenna region. The national park is home to several many animals, including seals, otters, guanacos, and Humboldt penguins.

4. Torres del Paine National Park

Located in southern Patagonia and spanning a vast 448,280 acres is the Torres del Paine National Park. Torres del Paine is easily one of the most beautiful national parks in Chile as it has several different ecosystems with features such as lakes, mountains, and glaciers. It has three peaks of the Paine mountain range which are approximately 8,500 feet high and are a great place for both hiking and rock climbing. Torres del Paine is one of the most popular national parks in the country as is part of the End of the World scenic route. There’s a vast array of animals in the park, including pumas, guanacos, south Andean deer, and eagles.

5. Bernardo O’Higgins National Park

The largest national park in Chile is the Bernado O’Higgins National Park which spans an incredible 8,712,691 acres. It includes a vast array of stunning features, such as glaciers, fjords, mountains, and forests. The park is part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field and includes the Pio XI Glacier which spans 488 square miles. As well as exploring these fascinating areas, there’s also plenty of local wildlife to see, including Andean condors, otters, and the endangered Chilean huemul (south Andean deer).

6. Puyehue National Park

Another beautiful national park in Chile is the Puyehue National Park which is located in the Andes. It is one of the most popular national parks in Chile due to its volcanoes, hot springs, and vast forests. There are three main regions in the park, with the Aguas Calientes area boasting hot springs and numerous hiking trails. The Anticura region is the home of the Puyehue volcano, several waterfalls, a strawberry field, and an ancient forest. Finally, the Antillanca region features the Las Gaviotas River, Rupanco Lake, and the Antillanca ski area.

7. Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park

The Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park is located in the Los Lagos region of the country and joins the Puyehue National Park as well as the Nahuel Huapi and Lanín National Parks in Argentina to form a vast protected area of more than 5,700 square miles. The main features of the park are the Todos los Santos Lake and the Petrohue Waterfalls. However, it also includes part of the slopes of several volcanoes and several areas of the park have been formed by volcanic activity. There are several hiking trails across the park, as well as a campsite.

8. Nahuelbuta National Park

One of the best places in Chile to spot wildlife is the Nahulbuta National Park which is located in the La Araucanía region. It is home to a vast array of animals, such as mountain lions, foxes, Chilean deer, and numerous species of birds. It is also one of the most accessible national parks, with a variety of hiking trails and roads for you to explore. Nahuelbuta also features several ancient monkey puzzle trees, with the oldest being around 2,000 years old.

9. Chiloé National Park

The Chiloé National Park is located on Chiloé Island. It features the foothills of the Chilean Coastal Range, as well as rainforests, sand dunes, and peat bogs. Although there is a vast array of animals on the island, many of which are endemic, Chiloé National Park is most famous for its whales. Pygmy blue whales are the most common in the area, with several of their regular foraging grounds being close to the island. However, there are also humpback, sei, fin, and blue whales in the area.

10. Alerce Andino National Park

Another national park in the Los Lagos region is the Alerce Andino National Park which spans 970,000 acres. Alerce Andino is best known for its many stunning lakes and its vast temperate rainforests. The forests are home to the millennial alerce trees from which the park gets its name. Hiking is the main activity within the park and there are many well-marked routes of varying lengths and difficulties. However, it is also a paradise for birdwatchers, with the lakes attracting many different species, including black-necked swans.

11. Conguillío National Park

Another beautiful national park in Chile is the Conguillio National Park which is located in the Araucaria region. It is home to the Llaima Volcano which is 10,630 feet high and one of the tallest and most active volcanoes in the country. Conguillio National Park also features the Sierra Nevada Volcano, vast forests of monkey puzzle trees, and several stunning lakes. The lakes are particularly popular as fishing and swimming spots. There are plenty of hiking trails around the park and several lookout spots on the volcanoes. There’s also a ski center on the slopes of Llaima, meaning there’s something to do in the park even in the winter.

12. Lauca National Park

Located in the Andean mountain range, the Lauca National Park is undoubtedly home to some of the most stunning mountains and volcanoes in Chile. Although these are the main attractions, they also feature the headwaters of the Lauca River and a lacustrine area formed by the Chungará and Cotacotani Lakes. Lauca National Park is also teeming with wildlife, including more than 140 species of birds such as puna ibis, Chilean flamingoes, and Andean condors. It is also home to llamas, guanacos, north Andean deer, and mountain lions.

13. La Campana National Park

The La Campana National Park is located in the Cordillera de la Costa and features one of the last forests of Chilean palm trees in the world. It also features several mountains, including the Cerro la Campana which stands at 6,170 feet and was climbed by Charles Darwin. However, if hiking and climbing aren’t your thing then there are also the ruins of several ancient settlements to explore.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Filip Fuxa/Shutterstock.com