Huerquehue National Park Chile

Huerquehue National Park Chile A beautiful, pre-Andean park with an area of 12,500 hectares (27,500 acres), characterized by its mountainous geography and crystalline lakes and lagoons. Easily accessible in the summer, this park offers the visitor a wide range of recreational options, from simply admiring nature to camping and sport activities. There are some incredible views from the park, like the Pucon river to the Villarrica volcano. If you are lucky enough, you may even catch a glimpse of the majestic condor.

Plan your visit

Huerquehue National Park Basic Information

Location
Región de la Araucanía, 145 km southeast of Temuco. 33 km east of Pucón.

How to get there
Santiago-Temuco by air (any season), public or private transportation, from Temuco to Pucón buses or private vehicles. Santiago-Pucón by air is only possible in the summer. Pucón-Paillaco by public transportation. To get to the park, leave Pucón by the road to Caburgua. At kilometer 20 on the right is the turn towards Paillaco. After this point you will arrive at Lake Tinquilco, and after another two kilometers you will arrive at the park entrance.

When to go
Year round

Business hours
Mondays to Sundays from 8:30 to 18:00 hrs (high and low season)

Other nearby attractions
Villarrica National Park, Caburgua, Lake Caburgua.

Activities
Fishing, swimming, mountaineering, trekking, wildlife observation, horseback riding, cultural tours, photography.

Climate
There are two types of climate: a warm climate with less than four dry months, and an icy climate, caused by the altitudes. The most rainy months are between May and September, with an annual rainfall index of 2,045 mm. (80 in).

Services
Rangers, accommodation, trails.

Admission fees
Adults
Chileans: CLP 2.500
Foreigners: CLP 4.000

Children
Chileans: CLP 1.000
Foreigners: CLP 2.000

Elderly
Chileans: CLP 1.250
Foreigners: CLP 2.000

Children under 6 years: free

People with special needs:children fee

Services

Huerquehue National Park Infrastructure and Services

Administration Office

It is located in the Tinquilco Sector.
Phone numner: (02) 1960242
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Park Ranger Station

The park has two stations, one located in the administration area (the park's entrance), and a second one next to Los Lagos Trail.

Además el Parque cuenta con dos guarderías, una ubicada en el sector administración (a la entrada al Parque) y la segunda adyacente al Sendero "Los Lagos", in the Nido de Águila sector.

Camp Sites

21 sites available and 6 picnic areas.

Chileans: CLP $10.000 (USD $20)

Foreigners: CLP $ 15.000 (USD $30)

Recommendations

Help Conaf to protect the park's natural resources by considering the following recommendations:

Protect the vegetaton.
Protect the fauna, its nesting areas, and the natural refuges.
Camp and picnic only in authorised areas.
If you have doubts, contact a park ranger or the area administrator.
You will need a gas or coal stove for camping.

Attractions

Attractions in Huerquehue National Park

What to see
The park has amazingly beautiful areas, such as lakes Verde and Toro, Cañadón del río Renahue, Nevados River Valley, hills Quinchol and Araucano. With strong and steep gullies, the highest peaks are hills Araucano (2.000 mts), San Sebastián (1.800 mts), Picos de Caburga (1.600 mts), and Lolle (1.800 mts).

There are also lagoons like Avutarda, Pehuén, Los Patos, Seca, Huerquehue, and Los Cóndores; rivers like Renahue, Lefincul, and Liucura; and streams like Playa Blanca, Pichiblanco, Follico, El Puma, and La Cascada.

This park is a good alternative to visit with your family, since it is a very varied space, with a privileged location, near the tourist complex Villarica-Pucón-Licanray.

What to do

Excursions: everywhere in the park.
Wildlife observation
Environmental information: environmental information center.

Trails

Los Lagos: 8.8 kms, 7 hrs round trp.
Quinchol: 5 kms, 4 hrs round trip.
Los Huerquenes: 20.7 kms, 2 days.
San Sebastián: 8 kms, 10 hrs round trip.
Ñirrico: 0.8 kms, 1 hrs round trip.

Nature

Natural Heritage in Huerquehue National Park

Flora
According to the classification proposed by Gajardo (1996), Huerquehue National Park is located in the region of the Andean-Patagonian Forests, and within it, in a sub Parque Nacional Huerquehue Chile -region called Araucanía Mountain range. The park also belongs to the region of deciduous forests, and within it, to the sub-region of the Andean deciduous forests. The first sub-region features the High-Andean deciduous forests with araucaria, while the second has the mixed Andean deciduous forest. The araucaria (Araucaria araucaria), which is currently considered vulnerable, is the most outstanding species.

Fauna
The park protects several species, some of which are:

Mammals
Kodkod (Endangered)
Pudús (Vulnerable)
Long-clawed mole mouse (Rare)
Andean fox (Not sufficiently known)

Birds
Peregrine falcon (endangered)
Chilean pigeon (Vulnerable)
Black woodpecker (Vulnerable)
Condor (Rare)
Black necked swan (Endangered)

Amphibians
Darwin's frog (Vulnerable)

Hidrography
In general, the basins in this area are exorheic, both lentic and lotic.
The largest water courses are the rivers Renahue Blanco and Quinchol. Besides, there are several permanent, minor courses. There are 20 lagoons, most of which are smaller than 7.5 ha. The most important water sources are the lakes Toro (27,5 ha) and Verde (32.5 ha), and the lagoons Chica, Los Patos, Huerquehue, Escondida, Seca, Clara, Las Avutardas, Angelina, Los Cóndores, among others. Those water bodies belong to the hydrographic basin or Toltén river.

Cultural Heritage in Huerquehue National Park

The Araucaria

The Araucaria is a common species in this park. Its distribution coincides with the distribution of the Pehuenche people, who have historically used the piñón (araucaria seed) as a source of food. Some pottery and clay remains have been found in this area, indicating that there was once a certain degree of ocupation.