National park · Chile
Alerce Andino National ParkParque Nacional Alerce Andino
Enter Alerce Andino National Park for a day hike: pay the entry fee (check) at Chaica gate, drive 2 h from Pucón, hike the Laguna Sargazo loop (3 km (1.9 mi), easy) in summer; avoid rainy season (May–Oct) for better trail conditions.Enter Alerce Andino National Park for a day hike: pay the entry fee (check) at Chaica gate, drive 2 h from Pucón, hike the Laguna Sargazo loop (1.9 mi (3 km), easy) in summer; avoid rainy season (May–Oct) for better trail conditions.
- 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
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
393 km² (152 sq mi)152 sq mi (393 km²)
approximate
Established
1982
Best months
Dec–Mar
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 8Above 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.
- Southern Chile ↗Long-distance buses are the default between towns; buy at the terminal or online a day ahead in high season.
- Southern Chile ↗Rain is normal year-round south of Valdivia; pack a shell, not an umbrella.
At a glance
- Country
- Chile
- Area
- 393 km² (152 sq mi)152 sq mi (393 km²)
- Approximately 393 km² (39,300 ha) of highland forest, lakes and streams.
- Established
- 1982
- Best months
- Dec–Mar
- Permits
- For some areas
Alerce Andino National Park protects Chile's Patagonian alerce forests, over 50 alpine lakes and remote mountain scenery, forming the northernmost point of the Route of Parks trail.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Special national sitePart of Chile's Route of Parks trail.
Size and age
393 km² (152 sq mi)152 sq mi (393 km²) · national park since 1982
Approximately 393 km² (39,300 ha) of highland forest, lakes and streams.
Why go
- Explore highland lakes and Patagonian alerce forests.
- See waterfalls, cliffs and deep caves in a remote Andes setting.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarBest
- AprGo
- MayCaution
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepGo
- OctGo
- NovGo
- DecBest
- JanWarm, long daylight.
- FebWarm, less rain.
- MarSpring, still mild.
- AprIncreasing rain.
- MayRainy, trails muddy.
- JunCool, frequent rain.
- JulCold, wet.
- AugCold, wet.
- SepSpring, improving.
- OctCool, less rain.
- NovMild, early summer.
- DecSummer, best trail conditions.
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patagonian alerce (Fitzroya) forestAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Puma, grey fox, colocolo possumAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Swans (black‑necked, coscoroba)Nov–Apr | yes | yes | yes | yes | 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 Pucón
Drive 2 h north on Route 199, then follow signs to Chaica entrance.
2–2.5 h
Open the page →
From Temuco
Bus to Pucón (≈2 h), then rent a car or take a local shuttle to the park.
4–5 h total
From Puerto Montt
Fly to Temuco or drive 8 h via Route 5 and 199.
≈8 h drive
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Chaica sector | Main entrance, ranger station, basic campground. | Open with entry ticket. |
| Sargazo sector | Northern entrance, campground, trailheads to Laguna Sargazo. | Open with entry ticket. |
| El Chucao restricted area | Backcountry camping zone, limited to hikers with permits. | Permit required. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
4 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 coordinates based on park entrances near Pucón; for navigation use official CONAF maps.
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 (Chaica or Sargazo gate) | CLP 3,000–5,000 | person | Check current price on CONAF site. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Backcountry camping permit or guide
Park rules
- Camping
- Only in designated sites; backcountry camping needs a permit.
- Fires
- Open fires prohibited; use provided grills where available.
- Pets
- Dogs not allowed on trails.
- Drones
- Not allowed without CONAF permission.
- Litter
- Carry out all waste.
Where to stay
Near the park
Pucón town
Hotels, hostels and cabins 20 km (12 mi) from park.Hotels, hostels and cabins 12 mi (20 km) from park.
In the park
Chaica campground
Basic sites with picnic tables and pit toilets.
Safety
Rain and mud medium
Cold nights low
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
- Main entrance areas reachable by car with short walks.
- Trails are unpaved and steep in places; not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Stay in designated campgrounds and pack out all waste.
- Support local guides and ranger programs.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Alerce Andino National Park?
Entry is around 3,000–5,000 CLP per person at the gate; check the latest price with CONAF.
What are the best hikes in Alerce Andino National Park?
Laguna Sargazo loop (easy, 3 km) and the trail to Salto Río Chaicas waterfall (easy, 1 km) are popular; longer backcountry routes require a guide.
When is the best time to visit Alerce Andino National Park?
December to March offers the driest, warmest conditions for hiking; avoid May–October when rain makes trails muddy.
Can I camp anywhere in the park?
Only in designated campgrounds (Chaica, Sargazo) or with a backcountry permit at El Chucao.
Is a guide required for day hikes?
No for short marked trails; a guide is needed for backcountry routes or camping outside designated sites.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Ask about Alerce Andino National Park
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