National park · Chile
Queulat National ParkParque Nacional Queulat
Go if you are driving the Carretera Austral: give the hanging glacier half a day (2–3 h walk, CLP 3,000–5,000 entry), arrive before 10:00 in Dec–Mar, and skip it if you have no vehicle and no time for the gravel road.Go if you are driving the Carretera Austral: give the hanging glacier half a day (2–3 h walk, CLP 3,000–5,000 entry), arrive before 10:00 AM in Dec–Mar, and skip it if you have no vehicle and no time for the gravel road.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
1,541 km² (595 sq mi)595 sq mi (1,541 km²)
approximate
Established
1983
Best months
Nov–Mar
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 6Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
- South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
- South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
- South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
- Chile ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Chile's National Migration Service or a Chilean consulate; keep the entry slip or digital record you receive.
- Chile ↗Torres del Paine: campsites and refugios on the W and O treks must be booked in advance, and the park requires an entry ticket bought ahead; check the official park (CONAF) channels.
- Chile ↗Chile strictly controls food imports: declare fruit, meat, dairy, seeds and honey on arrival, or throw them away before customs.
At a glance
- Country
- Chile
- Area
- 1,541 km² (595 sq mi)595 sq mi (1,541 km²)
- Official CONAF figure; older sources give about 1,541 km² (check).
- Established
- 1983
- Best months
- Nov–Mar
- Permits
- For some areas
Queulat National Park protects a strip of temperate rainforest, fjords and glacier country along the Carretera Austral in Chilean Patagonia, founded in 1983. Its single draw is the Ventisquero Colgante, a hanging glacier that sheds ice onto a green lagoon below a steep rock face. The park is reached only by road: Ruta 7 is gravel here, Puyuhuapi is the nearest service town about 20 km north of the glacier turn-off, and the whole visit is a half-day stop on the long drive between Chaitén and Coyhaique. Rain falls in every month, so plan the glacier walk around the weather rather than the calendar.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1983.
Size and age
1,541 km² (595 sq mi)595 sq mi (1,541 km²) · national park since 1983
Official CONAF figure; older sources give about 1,541 km² (check).
Why go
- The Ventisquero Colgante hangs over a rock face and drops ice into the lagoon below with a loud crack.
- Temperate rainforest, fjords and glaciers on one stretch of the Carretera Austral.
- The short Laguna Témpanos walk is 15 minutes from the car park, so even a rushed road day gets a glacier view.
- Birds here are tame and easy to photograph; foxes and pumas are rare sightings.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarBest
- AprGo
- MayCaution
- JunAvoid
- JulAvoid
- AugAvoid
- SepCaution
- OctGo
- NovBest
- DecBest
- JanWarmest, longest days; rain any week
- FebDriest stretch; busiest
- MarFewer cars, still open
- AprWet, quiet, autumn colour
- MayHeavy rain; some services close
- JunShort days, rain, snow possible
- JulWettest month; ice on trails
- AugCold and wet; little open
- SepImproving; trails muddy
- OctShoulder season, fewer people
- NovLong days, good light on the glacier
- DecPeak season; go early
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tame forest birds (easy to photograph)Oct–Apr | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
| FoxesAll year · Rare; usually at dawn or dusk. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| PumasAll year · Very rarely seen; no reason to change plans. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Ice falls from the hanging glacierNov–Mar · Loud cracks and falling chunks are normal; watch from the marked viewpoint. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Puyuhuapi
Drive south on the Carretera Austral (gravel here) to the signed spur road, then 2 km (1.2 mi) to the car park.Drive south on the Carretera Austral (gravel here) to the signed spur road, then 1.2 mi (2 km) to the car park.
30–40 min
From Puerto Cisnes
North on Ruta 7 to the Queulat Pass and the glacier turn-off.
1–1.5 h
From Coyhaique
North on the Carretera Austral; the last section is gravel and slow in rain.
4–5 h
From Chaitén
South on Ruta 7 past Puyuhuapi; long gravel day.
5–6 h
From Anywhere on the route
Long-distance buses on the Carretera Austral drop passengers at the park turn-offs if asked.
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Ventisquero Colgante sector | Glacier viewpoint trail, Laguna Témpanos, campsite and the boat landing. | Open with a ticket; 2 km (1.2 mi) spur road off Ruta 7.Open with a ticket; 1.2 mi (2 km) spur road off Ruta 7. |
| Portezuelo sector (Queulat Pass) | Bosque Encantado trail, ranger house and the pass itself. | Open with a ticket; separate trail fee. |
| Lago Risopatrón | Long lake with a narrows, crossed by the unpaved Ruta 7. | Roadside; no facilities. |
| Padre García waterfall and Salto del Cóndor | Two roadside waterfalls on the southern part of Ruta 7. | Short walk from a small car park. |
Sketch map
- 1Ventisquero Colgante car park · Gate≈-44.437, -72.504Approximate; start of the glacier trail and the campsite.Map ↗
- 2Laguna Témpanos · Trail≈-44.460, -72.526Approximate.Map ↗
- 3Queulat Pass (Portezuelo) · Trail≈-44.626, -72.451Approximate; Bosque Encantado starts at the ranger house.Map ↗
- 4Padre García waterfall · Viewpoint≈-44.578, -72.410Approximate; roadside stop on Ruta 7.Map ↗
- 5Lago Risopatrón · Viewpoint≈-44.242, -72.511Approximate; on the unpaved Ruta 7.Map ↗
- 6Puyuhuapi · Town≈-44.325, -72.559Approximate; nearest services and lodging.Map ↗
Take the points offline
6 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions along the Carretera Austral, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry (adult, high season) | CLP 3,000–5,000 | person | 2026 estimate; CONAF rates change and are lower for Chilean residents (check). |
| Bosque Encantado trail | CLP 3,000 | person | Charged on top of park entry; bag drop CLP 1,000 (check). |
| Boat to the end of Laguna Témpanos | CLP 5,000 | person | Small fishing boat, 4–6 people; kayak hire about CLP 10,000 (check). |
| Camping at the glacier trailhead | CLP 5,000–10,000 | person | 2026 estimate; hot shower and water at the plot (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Camping permit or guide
Backcountry no permit
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- CLP 3,000–5,000
- CLP 3,000
- CLP 5,000
- CLP 5,000–10,000
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on CONAF — Parque Nacional Queulat before you go.
Park rules
- Stay on marked trails
- Rainforest off-trail is dense and easy to get lost in; the glacier face sheds ice and rock.
- No fires
- Fires are banned in the park; use a stove at the campsite.
- Carry out rubbish
- Bins are scarce; take everything back to Puyuhuapi or Coyhaique.
- Drones
- Not allowed without CONAF permission (check).check
- Pets
- Not allowed on the trails; leave dogs in the vehicle or at your lodging.
Where to stay
In the park
Camping PN Queulat
Wooded plots at the glacier trailhead with hot showers, water and a table; the only beds-free option inside the park.
Near the park
Puyuhuapi
Guesthouses and small hotels on the fjord, 20 km (12 mi) north of the glacier turn-off.Guesthouses and small hotels on the fjord, 12 mi (20 km) north of the glacier turn-off.
Near the park
Puerto Cisnes
Basic hostels and shops south of the park, useful before or after the pass.
Safety
Rain and mud high
Gravel road driving medium
Falling ice and rock near the glacier medium
Cold and short daylight in winter medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Laguna Témpanos and the car park are the easiest stops, with short flat walking.
- The Mirador Ventisquero Colgante trail climbs about 250 m on rough, often wet ground; not suitable for limited mobility.
- No wheelchair-accessible trails are marked in the park (check).
Visiting lightly
- Pay the CONAF fee at the gate; the money goes to trail and ranger upkeep.
- Do not feed or approach the birds, however tame they look.
- Take boat and kayak trips only with operators working from the lagoon landing.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Queulat National Park?
About CLP 3,000–5,000 per adult in high season (2026 estimate), paid at the ranger gate; Chilean residents pay less. The Bosque Encantado trail adds about CLP 3,000, and a boat on Laguna Témpanos about CLP 5,000 per person. Rates change, so check at the gate.
What are the best hikes in Queulat National Park?
The Mirador Ventisquero Colgante trail (2–3 h return, about 250 m of climb) is the main one. Laguna Témpanos is a 15-minute flat walk from the same car park. Bosque Encantado at Queulat Pass takes about 3 h and costs extra. The Padre García waterfall is a 200 m roadside walk.
When is the best time to visit Queulat National Park?
December to March: long days, the most reliable weather and everything open. November and October are quieter with good light on the glacier. The park is very wet year-round and from June to August you get short days, mud and some closed services.
Do I need a car to visit Queulat?
Yes for practical purposes. The park sits on the Carretera Austral, which is gravel here, and the glacier trail starts 2 km down a spur road. Long-distance buses can drop you at the turn-offs, but you then have no transport between sectors.
Can I see the hanging glacier without hiking?
Yes. Laguna Témpanos is about 15 minutes on foot from the car park and gives a clear view of the glacier above the lagoon. Boat and kayak trips from the lagoon get you closer in season.
Where should I sleep near Queulat National Park?
Inside the park there is only Camping PN Queulat at the glacier trailhead. Otherwise use Puyuhuapi, about 20 km north, or Puerto Cisnes to the south; both have guesthouses and basic shops.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go