Conguillío National Park, Chile: Ancient Araucarias, Lava Fields & Rainbow Lakes

Located about two and a half hours north of Pucón, Parque Nacional Conguillío is one of Chile’s finest national parks. Nestled among a chain of stratovolcanoes that prevail in this part of the Andes, the park is centered around the twin peaks of the soaring Volcán Llaima, one of the most active in Chile, which rises over 10,250 feet (3,125 m).

With a wide range of landscapes both barren and fertile, the park is particularly renowned for its vast old-growth forests, having escaped the reaches of the logging industry that decimated other parts of the area. These forests are famous for their towering araucaria trees, whose unique umbrella shape has given the park its nickname, los paraguas.

This species has been around since the age of the dinosaurs, and the trees you see here today are many thousands of years old. Known to the native Mapuche as the pehuén, these trees were sacred to the indigenous people who lived here, and their seeds (piñones) served as a staple of their diet. Words don’t do the views here justice, but we’ll help you out with a short guide to your visit to this incredible park.

Laguna Verde

As you head north from the park’s entrance, you will make your way across extensive lava fields, with a landscape of grey and black, all vegetation having been killed off by millennia of volcanic eruptions. Against this backdrop, the vibrant green color of Laguna Verde is particularly striking. This large lake, like others in the park, was formed when molten lava reached the rolling rivers, damming the flow and leaving behind a lake.

Laguna Arcoíris

Continuing on past Laguna Verde, you will soon find yourself in a completely different landscape, leaving behind the barren rocks of the lava field for a lush, verdant forest in what makes for a remarkable and almost unbelievable transition. After a few minutes driving among the trees, you will reach the stunning Laguna Arcoíris, where you can clearly see the damming process at work, as the lake sits at the edge of a steep hillside of petrified lava. In addition to its dazzling rainbow color, the lake also holds a sunken forest beneath its surface, consisting of native trees killed off by the lava flow but with their trunks intact, sticking up just above the water.

Sierra Nevada

Continue past the lake and you will find yourself in the heart of the old-growth forest, surrounded by soaring araucarias on all sides.

Pull into the parking lot on the right side of the road and find the trail marker for the Sendero Sierra Nevada. First, head downhill to Playa Linda, where you can relax on the shores of Laguna Conguillío or even go for a dip in the chilly water. Then head back up the hill and continue along the trail. If you’re looking for an intense hike, you can head all the way up to the snow-capped mountains of the Sierra Nevada; if you’re looking for something a bit more relaxed, you can stop at Mirador Los Condores for a wonderful view of the volcano back across the lake.

Looking for more places to explore in the region? Check out our guide to Pucón here.