Chile : National Parks Guide : Conguillio

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The Conguillio National Park was declared a ‘protected area’ in 1950, and is located 148 kilometers (92 mi) northeast of Temuco, IX Region of the Araucania. Located in the southern foothills of the Andes, there are two main peaks in the park: Llaima Volcano (3,125 meters or 10,250 ft. above sea level) and the mountainous ridge of the Sierra Nevada (2,554 meters or 8,377 ft. above sea level). The continuous activity of the volcano, due to its two craters, has influenced the morphology of this area for millions of years, creating (in some cases), lakes, lagoons, rivers and heaps of slag, and influencing the native flora and fauna.

Exploring this park thoroughly requires plenty of time, since there is so much to discover, to learn and many places to visit. If your time is limited, however, perhaps the alternative suggestions will meet your needs. Since the park possesses a network of well marked paths and trails, visiting these beautiful and interesting places is safe and easy.

As you enter the park by the ‘Captren Lagoon’ sector (the road from Curacautin), there is a trail that borders the whole lagoon, approximately two kilometers (1.25 mi) long. It is a light walk, suitable for all kinds of people. It is possible to fish in the lagoon, but forbidden to swim or ride a boat since it is a bird sanctuary, and this kind of interference may harm the species dwelling in it.

Following the main path for five kilometers (3 MI) brings you to the ‘Conguillio Lake’ sector, where the CONAF Administration Post and the Environmental Information Center and services are located. There is also another path, ‘Los Carpinteros’, 5 kilometers (3 MI) long, which leads through araucaria, coehue and lenga forests, before reaching Captren Lagoon. On this trail, you can visit the ‘Mother Araucaria’, a fine specimen of this species whose trunk measures 2 meters (6.5 ft) in diameter.

Another place worth visiting, at least part of it, is the Sierra Nevada. Following the main route, you will get to Rainbow Lagoon. 15 meters (50 ft) from the lagoon, via a marked path, is the House of the Colonist.

In Rainbow Lagoon, there is an abrupt transition between the vegetation and volcanic slag. The route continues through the so-called ‘Valley of the Moon’, that, like its namesake in the north, is dry and desolate, but not as spectacular. On one side in the distance, you can observe the hills that surround the valley, blanketed with vegetation, and on the other side, the dominating presence of Volcano Llaima, that appears within reach from here.

The Laguna Verde (Green Lagoon) makes its appearance, rather, you stumble upon it. This lagoon is much bigger (with a surface area of 175 hectares or 385 acres) and the color of the water is obviously green as it empties underground through the Truful-Truful river. Near the park entrance of the Truful-Truful sector, the river boasts a spectacular waterfall called ‘Saltos del Truful – Truful’, which in mapudungun means ‘from spring to spring.’

The best time to visit the park is between spring and summer when the weather is mild and the roads are in excellent condition. During winter, however, the ‘Las Araucarias’ Ski Center earns a good reputation. Located on the west side of the Llaima Volcano, (opposite the Conguillio Lake), it has two ski lifts, a cafeteria, ski lessons, equipment rental and simple accommodations in the shelter.

NATURAL HERITAGE

Located in the southern foothills of the Andes, there are two main peaks in the park: Llaima Volcano (3,125 meters or 10,250 ft. above sea level) and the mountainous ridge of the Sierra Nevada (2,554 meters or 8,377 ft. above sea level). The continuous activity of the volcano, due to its two craters, has influenced the morphology of this area for millions of years, creating (in some cases), lakes, lagoons, rivers and heaps of slag, and influencing the native flora and fauna.

The more recent bodies of water that exist, whose origins date back between 100 and 600 years ago, were created from constant volcanic activity. Lava blockage impeded the free flow of the rivers, thus forming the lake system we have today: Conguillio Lake and the Captren, Verde (green) and Arco iris (rainbow) Lagoons. Signs of this violent formation are the submerged tree trunks, which can especially be seen in the Captren and Rainbow lagoons.

In a park where the araucaria tree reigns, there lives a wide variety of animals as well. Among the predatory mammals, the pumas and foxes (chilla and culpeo), are the biggest; then we find the quique (a kind of weasel) and the güiña (type of wild cat). Among the birds, there is a wide variety of ducks, condors, "traros", eagles, and ringdoves.

Regarding vegetation, the most important are the araucaria forests. There are some areas in the park, not easily accessible, where the pure forests of this species are almost 1,200 years old. It is important to note that this species is considered mature at 200 years old, and develops its characteristic ‘umbrella’ aspect when it is 500 years old. After the larch tree, the araucaria is the second longest living tree in Chile. The pine nut, its seed, is the base food or form of nourishment of the Pehuenche people (pehuen = araucaria or its seed, and che = people), who used to live only in areas where there were pehuén or araucaria trees.

Not only can you visit these incredible forests, but there are some other very interesting species in the park. Coehues, oaks and evergreen beeches, are found all over the park; some others, such as lengas, ñirres, hazel trees, maytens, cypresses of the cordillera and lleuques, are located in the Conguillio and Truful – Truful area.

CULTURAL HERITAGE

The area is inhabited by the Pehuenche People, and this is reflected in the physical objects found here but perhaps more so in the huge numbers of Araucan names given to places and important geographical irregularities. Llaima in Araucan means ‘resurrected or reappeared’; Conguillio means ‘water with feathers’, and Truful – Truful means ‘from spring to spring.’

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