Discover the Top National Parks in Chile with GoTravelDaily

Nearly a third of Chile is protected parkland, making this small South American nation one of the best places on earth for active adventures. On a thrill-seeking trip to Chile, you can hike up volcanoes, skirt fjords and glaciers, or navigate the wilds of the world’s driest desert.

However, with 42 national parks to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to begin your journey. Therefore, here’s a detailed look at 10 national parks you won’t want to miss while visiting Chile.

Parque Nacional Torres del Paine

Best park for overnight treks

Easily the most famous park in Chile, Torres del Paine is a dream destination for Patagonia travelers, uniquely located between the Magellanic subpolar forests and the Patagonian Steppe. The five-day “W Trek” and eight-day “O Circuit” are among the most popular hikes, offering epic scenery and well-maintained campgrounds with cozy refugio lodges.

Moreover, visitors can sleep in five-star adventure lodges on the park’s periphery and enjoy day hikes atop glaciers, around moraine lakes, or up to the park’s iconic granite spires. Winter visits provide opportunities to search for pumas while enjoying a respite from the crowds and the reserve’s gusty winds.

Parque Nacional Archipiélago Juan Fernández

Best park for naturalists

Lying 670km (416 miles) off the coast of Valparaíso, this little-visited archipelago is home to 213 species of native flora, of which 135 are endemic. Thus, Parque Nacional Archipiélago Juan Fernández boasts a higher percentage of endemism than Hawaii or even the Galapagos Islands.

There are a dozen trails on the main island, aptly named Robinson Crusoe, crisscrossing primordial forests filled with vibrant tree ferns and giant rhubarb. Most routes begin from the archipelago’s only true town, San Juan Bautista, where lobster dinners are practically obligatory, benefiting from the abundant crustaceans sourced from local waters.

Parque Nacional Nevado de Tres Cruces

Best park for mountaineering

Hardcore mountaineers flock to Nevado de Tres Cruces annually to acclimatize for trips up Ojos del Salado, the highest active volcano in the world and the second-highest mountain in the Western and Southern Hemispheres. Interestingly, the crater lake on this towering 6893m (22,615ft) peak is also the highest body of water anywhere on earth.

For those who lack the time and resources for a summit expedition, hiking to the beautiful blue and green lagoons, arid Andean peaks, and dazzling salt flats in this stunning stretch of the Chilean high plains is a fantastic alternative.

Parque Nacional Queulat

Best park for waterfalls

Imagine a lush forest split by a river of blue ice that flows to a jagged cliff, cascading down into a turquoise lake below. Such scenes await you on the 3km (2 mile) Mirador del Ventisquero Trail leading to the hanging glacier of Parque Nacional Queulat, making it one of the best family-friendly outings in Patagonia.

Most visitors enjoy a stay in nearby Puyuhuapi, a charming town on the edge of a fjord offering homey restaurants, steaming hot springs, and distinctive German architecture inherited from its early settlers. This location serves as a wonderful hub for outdoor adventures.

Parque Nacional Patagonia

Best park for wildlife

Wildlife watching reaches new heights here! Once occupied by large cattle ranches, a section of Patagonian steppe along the Chacabuco River has now become home to one of the world’s most ambitious rewilding projects. Pumas roam the grasslands of Parque Nacional Patagonia in pursuit of wild herds of guanacos, while 10% of the world’s remaining huemul deer find a rare refuge here.

Moreover, birdwatchers will be delighted to spot massive condors, beautiful flamingos, Magellanic woodpeckers, and ostrich-like ñandúes. The exceptional infrastructure developed by Tompkins Conservation and Explora ensures that families can enjoy wildlife experiences while looking forward to a cozy stay at the end of an adventurous day.

Parque Nacional Rapa Nui

Best park for history and mystery

The fascinating mysteries of Rapa Nui – Easter Island, as many know it – have captivated humans for centuries. Questions abound: How did one of the most isolated islands on earth foster such an advanced civilization? How did it rise so rapidly and collapse so dramatically?

Furthermore, how did the ancient inhabitants of Rapa Nui construct the 887 monolithic human statues known as moai, and transport them across the entire island? This park offers some insights, yet no definitive answers, making it a compelling destination for inspiring family adventures. Administratively, Rapa Nui falls under Chilean territory in the Pacific and is best accessed via plane from Santiago (or, for the adventurous, circuitously from Tahiti).

Parque Nacional Alberto de Agostini

Best park in Southern Chile

As one of Chile’s largest and least-visited national parks, Alberto de Agostini appeals to those who appreciate observing untamed nature and abundant wildlife from the comfort of a cozy, well-heated boat. Expedition cruises depart from Punta Arenas toward the glacier-capped Cordillera Darwin in Chile’s extreme south, navigating through narrow fjords filled with whales, penguins, and barking elephant seals.

Many outfitters provide kayaks on board, offering opportunities for close encounters with these southernmost creatures of the Americas. It’s worth noting that the climate remains chilly year-round, thus, visiting during the austral summer is advisable.

Parque Nacional Pumalín Douglas Tompkins

Best park to visit in summer

This rain-soaked park is named after Douglas Tompkins, an American philanthropist who purchased large areas of Patagonia to restore the land to its natural state, ultimately donating it back to the Chilean government. Located in the heart of the Chilean Lake District, Pumalín was his crowning achievement; it is designed like the US national park system, featuring an impressive trail network, a well-thought-out visitor center, and basic lodging facilities.

Summer months (December to March) experience less frequent rainfall, rendering it an ideal time for hikes to breathtaking waterfalls, montane lakes, or the caldera of the Chaitén Volcano. Access to the park is facilitated from the region’s main transportation hub, Puerto Montt.

Parque Nacional Lauca

Best park in Northern Chile

Adventurers aiming to explore the Andean altiplano (high plains) often gravitate toward parks near San Pedro de Atacama, yet the reserves surrounding the indigenous Aymara community of Putre in Chile’s far north are truly spectacular. Lauca is the most accessible park, showcasing twin volcanoes and vast areas of puna (montane grassland) inhabited by alpacas, llamas, and their wilder relatives, vicuñas and guanacos.

The greater Lauca Biosphere Reserve consists of two additional parks accessible via unpaved roads to the south – Reserva Nacional Las Vicuñas and Monumento Natural Salar de Surire. Each park features glimmering salt flats, wild hot springs, and turquoise lagoons frequented by nesting flamingos. Winter visits are encouraged to avoid summer rains that may render roads impassable.

Parque Nacional Conguillío

Best park to visit in the winter

The iconic appearance of the araucaria trees during winter makes this park shine in the coldest months (June-August). These ancient conifers, a species virtually unchanged since the age of dinosaurs, stand tall against the thick snow on the Llaima Volcano, resembling natural fireworks.

Visitors can ski amidst this stunning landscape at the Ski Araucarias resort, and afterwards, unwind at a nearby thermal hot spring. Hiking opportunities in the park lead guests through dense forests, crystal-clear lakes, and vast lava flows left behind by 37 recorded eruptions since 1852.