Torres del Paine

Torres del Paine National Park

Puyehue National Park


Parque Nacional Puyehue was created in 1941, currently covering an area of 107,000 hectares, forming part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It is located 80 Km. East of the city of Osorno, between Los Lagos and Los Rios Regions, considered the entrance to the Northern Chilean Patagonia.

Formerly, this part of Chile was inhabited by some Huilliche communities, the southernmost branch of the Mapuche ethnic group. Many of the legends had their origin in that ancestral period. Due to the large quantity of natural attractions that it contains, Parque Nacional Puyehue is one of the most emblematic and important national parks in Chile and a growing number of tourists visit it every year, supported by a solid tourist infrastructure in the midst of the beautiful, untouched nature of the region.


How to get to Puyehue National Park

The season of the year with the largest number of tourists is between December and the beginning of March, although any time is good to visit the park. In Summer are ideal outdoor activities such as excursions to the main attractions, Salto del Indio, Salto de la Princesa, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, etc., visiting the Raihuen Crater or the Casablanca Stratovolcano. In Winter, you can enjoy the practice of skiing at Antillanca Mountain Resort and the contrast with a session at Aguas Calientes or Termas de Puyehue Thermal Baths.

To get to the Nature Sanctuary you have to take the CH 215 International Route, entirely paved, this road joins the city of Osorno in Chile with the tourist city of San Carlos de Bariloche in Argentina. At km 76 is the U-215 fork that leads to Aguas Calientes and Antillanca. There are bus services with daily departures to Puyehue from Puerto Montt, capital of Los Lagos Region, these departures increase their frequency in summer.

Administrative Headquarters: There are two administrators, Turistica Aguas Calientes, website www.termasaguascalientes.cl located 4 km. from the International Route and in the area of Anticura, in charge of the Comunidad Indígena de Ñielay Mapu, website www.anticura.com 
 
Main Features, Flora and Fauna

The heavy rainfalls of Southern Chile give origin to the evergreen forests, typical of this part of the country. The Park's topography is the consequence of glaciations and volcanic activity which gave form to the andean massif. There are numerous lakes of great beauty and valleys such as those of rivers Gol-Gol and Chanleufu. Among its main attractions are the beautiful cascades: Salto Del Indio, Salto de La Princesa, Los Novios, and magnificent lakes such as El Encanto, Toro, or Rupanco, one of the most beautiful in Chile, to name just a few. The volcanic zone becomes more evident in Antillanca, highlighting the Casablanca Stratovolcano, several craters and the volcanic groups of Fiucha and Sarnoso. On the north side, are Puyehue Volcano and Caulle Volcanic Complex, with the presence of recent lava flows, thermal waters and geysers.
The exuberant forest is composed of a variety of species. In the lowest places you can find Ulmo and Coigüe along with Olivillo and Tineo. The undergrowth is abundant in bushes, lianas ferns, mosses and lichens, which give rise to a great floristic richness. At higher altitudes, are found Tepa and Mañío woods along with large Coigües, a species that at high parts becomes predominant. Near the vegetational limit, extend Coigüe de Magallanes and Lenga Forests.

 
Among the mammals are the Puma, the South American Gray Fox, the Huron (Ferret), the Coipo (Coypu), Wildcats, Vizcachas, the Monito del Monte (Little Monkey of the Bush) and the Chingue (Skunks), while among the birds highlight the Pato Correntino (Torrent Duck), the Carpintero Negro (Magellanic Woodpecker), Torcazas (Eared Doves), Black-throated Huet-Huets, the Aguilucho (Red-backed Hawk), Condors, the Choroy (Slender-billed parakeet), Hualas (Great Grebe), the Chercan (House Wren), and Bandurrias (Buff-necked Ibis).

Best Attractions in Puyehue

* Antillanca Ski Center and Mountain Resort 
* Moncopulli Auto Museum
* Hotel Termas Puyehue Wellness & Spa Resort


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