This reserve is located in the foothills of the central area to the southeast of Santiago, commune de Pirque. It comprises 13,185 hectares with altitudes ranging between 850 and 3,500 m. Stands out as the last refuge of the sclerophyllous forest (hard sheet) in the central area. This type of forest is mainly formed by species such as peumo, litre, lun and quillayes.
This reserve is situated in the pre-Andean mountain range of the central zone southeast of Santiago, in the vicinity of Pirque. It comprises 13,185 hectares (29,007 acres) of land with varying altitudes between 850 and 3,500 m (2,788 and 11,480 ft) above sea level.
The park's main attraction and focus is the Clarillo river, which supplies water to the nearby residential areas of Pirque and Puente Alto. This reserve is the last refuge for the sclerophyllous forest in the central zone. This type of forest is formed mostly of species such as peumo, litre, lun and quillayes. The park is also a refuge to animal species, and the endangered woodpigeon is one of them. Another is the Chilean iguana, which at first glance looks like an overfed lizard.
To get to Río Clarillo you can rent a car in Santiago, where you can stay in one of our hotels. Check other tours in the area.
Río Clarillo National Reserve Basic Information
Location: Región Metropolitana, 45 km (28 mi) southeast of Santiago and 23 (14 mi) from Puente Alto.
How to get there: Santiago-Río Carrillo: by private or public road transportation. Leave Santiago heading south by Avenida Vicuña Mackenna. In Puente Alto, the avenue changes its name to Avda. Concha y Toro. Turn right on the T-junction and continue for 2 kms until you see the signs leading to the reserve.
When to go: Year round
Climate: The dry season is approximately 7 months, and the wet period is mostly in the winter months. The temperature in January hovers around 24°C (75°F) and in July drops to 11°C (52°F).
Río Clarillo National Reserve Infrastructure and Services
Administration office: The administration office is located 200 mts away from the main entrance. You can also contact them via email at clarillo@gmail.com. Rio Clarillo has a staff of one administrator and seven park rangers.
Facilities: Arboretum (tree display) and an Agrometeorology Station.
Information and Environmental Education Center: It is mainly used for environmental education lectures. The educational centers that require logistic support need to make a reservation one month in advance. It is located one km away from the main entrance.
Picnic Areas: In Río Clarillo there are seven picnic areas, one of which has facilities for people with special needs (Los Quillayes area).
Grocery Store: TrayKen: It is located at "El Maitén" area. It offers groceries, meals, natural products and souvenirs. It is located 100 mts away from the main entrance.
Attractions in Río Clarillo National Reserve
What to see:
Several natural phenomenon have shaped the landscape of this reserve, creating contrasting features that, along with its varied vegetal formation, make this reserve a must for nature lovers.
You can see mountain chains, with peaks such as El Indio, El Agujerado, Cotón, Palomo Volcano, Alto de Los Arrieros, and Los Punzones, amongst others. There is also a number of waterfalls, the main ones being Ranchillos, Maitenes, El Relvo, El Indio, Cotón, Los Panques and El Baúl. The lagoons of Los Piuquenes, Agua de la vida, and Agua de la Muerte are spots that you cannot miss. If you still have time and energy, you should definitely visit the Río Cipreses Glacier and the streams of Piquenes, El Baúl, Los Arrieros, and Medina.
What to do:
Trekking: all areas.
Wildlife observation: all areas.
Environmental Information: in the administration post there is a museum and an information center.
Trails
Quebrada Jorquera: 800 mts, which can be covered in 40 miutes. It has a lookout and twelve information stations.
Aliwuen Mahuida: 1.800 mts, wich can be covered in 1,5 hours. This trail has one lokoout and stations that will allow you to observe the representative flora and fauna of Río Clarillo.
Arboretum: 1000 mts that you can cover in 45 minutes. It will let you observe a variety of endangered vegetal species. Its entrance point is 1 km away from the reserve's main access.
Sendero de Chile: 12 kms starting at the "Paso de la Virgen" area, to then move to the "Rincón de los Bueyes", passing by several landscapes, where you can see representative species of the sclerophyll vegetation. You can go through this trail from September to April, depending on the weather conditions. Covering this trail takes approximately six hours.
Río Clarillo National Reserve Natural Heritage
Flora: According to Gajardo (1983), this reserve is part of the Región ecológica del Matorral, Sclerophyill forests and the high Andean steppe. The vegetal species present in the park include the Litre (Lithraea caustica), Peumo (Cryptocarya alba), Quillay (Quillaja saponaria), Frangel (Kageneckia angustifolia), Colliguay (Colliguaja integerrima), Espinillo (Adesmia arbórea), Guindillo (Valenzuelia trinervis), Pingo-pingo (Ephedra andina), with flowers such as Alstroemerias, Calandrinias, Calceolarias, Chloraeas, Clarkias, and Mutisias. At higher altitudes you can find the Mountain Cypress (Austrocedrus chilensis) and the Frangel (Kageneckia angustifolia). In damp environments, associated to water courses, there are species like Persea Lingue, Peumo, Chequén (Myrceugenella chequen), Canelo, Chilean Willow Tree (Salix chilensis), Maquicillo (Azara petiolaris), Maqui (Aristotelia chilensis), and Quilo (Muehlenbeckia hastulata).
Fauna: The animal species present in this reserve are associated to the local flora, altitude, and hydric systems. The mediterranean climate has allowed for the presence of a temperate climate fauna, characterised for a lesser diversity, shape and, colors. Some of the birds you can find are the White-throated Teerunner (Pygarrhichas albogularis) and the Thorn-Tailed Rayadito (Aphrastura spinicauda). Most of the mammals are of neoarctic origin, the main ones being the canines, mustelidaes, and felidaes.
Hydrography: The reserve's hydric system is made up by two major basins: Los Cipreses and el Horno. They join to form the Clarillo River, which runs for 8.6 kms. Some minor streams are El Maitén, and Rincón de los Bueyes, all of which are exorreic. The Clarillo River feeds on rainwater during winter and ice melting in summer.
Geomorphology: Clarillo river takes up a well defined basin going from north to South and passing by a granitic formation called Andean Batholith. The predominant rocks found in the area are igneous and diorite.
Recommendations
The weather in the Metropolitan Region is temperate with rains in winter and very dry summers. The average annual temperature is around 20 ° C. In winter is around 8 ° C and in summer temperatures easily surpass 30 ° C. It’s important to be well hydrated and apply sunscreen
Do not litter on parks or streets. Taking care of our environment is everyone's responsibility. Avoid fines by following the rules.
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