Hike in Puquén Bio-Park & Cachagua: Day Tour from Santiago

We will pick you up from your accommodation around 8:00 a.m.

We travel north from Santiago along the Pan-American Highway to Los Molles, where El Puquén Nature Reserve protects cliffs, coastal vegetation and unusual geological formations.

Once inside the park we will walk down the trail that traces the cliff's edge and offers spectacular views of the rocky landscape and the Pacific Ocean.
El Puquén Nature Reserve is home to around 300 species of plants and animals, many of them endemic.
In addition to its rich biodiversity, the bio-reserve features geological phenomena, such as perfectly flat terraces formed by natural erosion along the Chilean coast of the Pacific Ocean. From these natural balconies, visitors can observe sea lions and various birds.
Another attraction is formations known as "cold geysers" - narrow vertical caves about thirty meters high. As waves enter these cavities, they create a pressurized burst of water mist that shoots up to ten meters in the air with a powerful sound. One of these "geysers" is particularly impressive and is called Puquen, which means "whale" in the indigenous language of Chile.
Near the "geysers," not far from the shore, is Piquero Island, home to colonies of seabirds such as cormorants, boobies, and gulls.
At the beach's southern end, you'll find another natural formation known for its rich, dark colors and striking shapes - Rocas Negras. Here, the white-capped waves crash against the black rocks, and all you hear is the sound of nature. We will see Lobos Island, a place of a large colony of sea lions.
Research vessels near this region's coast often spot the southern right whale (Eubalaena australis). After the walk, we will return to the Los Molles village to have lunch in one of the fish restaurants.

After the walk, we will return to the Los Molles village to have lunch in one of the fish restaurants.

During this stop, we walk about 1.5 miles along a coastal trail. From the viewpoints, we can see Isla Cachagua Natural Monument, a protected rocky island that shelters seabirds and Humboldt penguins.
In this protected zone, 14 coastal and ocean bird species coexist, forming a fragile ecosystem. Among them, we find the Humboldt Penguin, a bird species endemic to the Humboldt Current, part of the current that bathes most of the Chilean coast and the southern part of Peru.
The walk ends near the calm waters of Playa Las Cujas in Cachagua. We will rest, and then our driver will pick us up to return to Santiago.

Return to your accommodation between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.