Conguillio National Park, a dreamy highlight of Chile

The Araucania Region in the south of Chile is one of the most stunning places on earth, I write this without a trace of doubt! To prove my point, I will present the Conguillio National Park to you, a dreamy place to soak yourself with the marvels of untamed nature. Let’s discover the highlight of Chile together.

The National Park

Conguillio National Park is located 148 km away from Temuco in the Araucania Region. Its origins were two different parks that were merged into one, which is why it is so big and has so many activities to enjoy. Its name comes from the Mapudungun "Ko-nqilliu", which means "pine seed in the water" or "between pine seeds". I think it is very fitting as araucarias surround the place.

Rainbow Lagoon

The highlight of Conguillio National Park is Rainbow Lagoon, a see-through lake formed by the damming of the waters of a nearby estuary. The waters flooded a part of the forest and became the stunning lagoon you can see today. This is a must-see of the national park! Deep green and turquoise colors will greet you along the most transparent water, so clear that you can actually see the bottom of the lagoon. Also, the water acts as a mirror that reflects the ever-changing colors of the trees. 

Rainbow Lagoon, Parque Nacional Conguillio

Parque Nacional Conguillio, Melipeuco, Araucanía, Chile

Fishing in the national park

One of the activities you can enjoy in the park is fishing. There are two lagoons where you can enjoy fishing, the Conguillio Lake and the Green Lagoon. One of the most interesting points about fishing here (besides the marvelous view) is that you can do it from a boat or standing at the edge of the water. There are different types of trouts. The spotlight goes to the rainbow trout because its weight ranges from 400 grams to 3 kilos. There is a limit to fishing trouts, you can only take three fish per person.

Conguillio Lake, Parque Nacional Conguillio

Conguillío Lake, Melipeuco, Araucania, Chile

Trekking in the national park

The national park is famous for its trails, it has 13 of them! This activity allows you to appreciate the marvels this place is. The trails will enable you to walk through nature as untamed as it is. The park is considered one of the most preserved natural areas in the world. Fun fact: Conguillio National Park was one of the filming locations featured in the documentary "Walking with dinosaurs". Some of the most famous trails are Sierra Nevada, Las Araucarias, Truful Truful (it lets you see a famous cascade inside the park), and the Rainbow Lagoon Circuit.

Truful Truful Waterfall, Araucania

Melipeuco, Araucania, Chile

Malalcahuello National Reserve 

Malalcahuello National Reserve is not inside Conguillio National Park, but it is only 54 km away. The place is a skiing hotspot, a noted trekking destination, and a haven of relaxation surrounded by nature. The highlight of the national reserve is Lonquimay Volcano. The place has a beautiful mountain valley that has grown thanks to tourism and the Corralco Ski Center, a place I highly recommend to visit if you like snow sports. The view is breathtaking, to say the least, as usual in Chile.

Malalcahuello-Nalcas National Reserve, Araucania

Malalcahuello, Curacautín, Araucanía, Chile

The south of Chile is a place where dreams come true, it gives you a sense of belonging to the history of Earth. Visit it and discover nature and landscapes beyond your imagination. Conguillio National Park is the highlight of tourism in Chile. Here, you can experience nature at its finest and make memories that will never leave your mind and heart.