naturaleza – Patagonia Costa

Sea, mountains, wetlands, rivers, lagoons, larch forests, and a diverse fauna are what Patagonia Costa offers.

Undoubtedly, the sea is the main character. Here begins the first archipelago at the end of the world, with almost unexplored islands, winding channels, and tranquil bays, where one can spot cetaceans and a variety of birdlife.

Inland, the pre-mountain forests stand out. Among these, the Alerce Andino National Park is prominent, which, along with the Llanquihue National Reserve and the Lahuen Ñadi Natural Monument, invites visitors to contemplate the last remnants of larch trees.

Another essential place to visit are its 4 Nature Sanctuaries, which preserve this vibrant nature of Patagonia Costa.

Vibrant Nature in
Patagonia Costa

Alerce Andino National Park

Located 40 kilometers from Puerto Montt, it features an extensive network of trails leading to larch forests approximately 2,500 years old. In addition to this endemic conifer, the nearly 40,000 hectares of the Park are home to other species such as coigüe, lenga, mañío, and canelo.

The main representatives of its birdlife are the condor, the black woodpecker, the hued hued, the kingfisher, the torrent duck, and the upland goose. Its forests are also inhabited by mammals such as the pudú, the puma, the güiña, the skunk, the monito del monte, and the gray fox.

The Park has three entrances named Correntoso, Sargazo, and Chaicas. All three sectors have trails and picnic areas. Inside, one can also discover the beautiful lagoons of Sargazo, Caiquenes, and Triángulo.

NOTE: Entry is through a private condominium, so you need to call Conaf (+56 9 85702388) to open the access gate.

Lahuen Ñadi Natural Monument

You don’t need to walk miles and miles through inhospitable terrain to see larches. Just 13 kilometers from Puerto Montt and near El Tepual airport is the Lahuen Ñadi Natural Monument, one of the few remnants of Alerces located in the central valley.Its 200 hectares can be considered a true conservation miracle, having survived roads, agricultural estates, subdivisions, and urban centers.

It's a place to disconnect from the city, observing "young" Alerces (the oldest being about 1500 years old), a wide variety of fungi, and abundant birdlife, including notable species such as the chucao, black woodpecker, hued hued, and thorn-tailed rayadito.

The site features two trails.One is an inclusive 600-meter trail for people with limited mobility, providing access to the oldest larch on the site, and a 2-kilometer trail that is very easy to do with the whole family. Additionally, there is a multisensory pavilion aimed at students and children with special educational needs and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), incorporating three modules (visual, auditory, and tactile) with content about flora, fauna, and fungi, and environmental care.

"Bosque fósil de Punta Pelluco"
Nature Sanctuary:

Another must-visit site is the Maullín river wetlands, located at the western end, facing the Pacific Ocean. Recognized worldwide for their contribution to biodiversity conservation, these ecosystems welcome hundreds of migratory birds seeking refuge and food..

The Sanctuary includes various types of wetlands such as tidal flats, marshes, rivers, estuaries, floodable meadows, grasslands, lagoons, hualves, and peat bogs, which constitute ideal habitats for 152 species of wild birds of which 17 are migratory.

"Bosque fósil de Punta Pelluco"
Isla Kaikué-Lagartija

Also known as Lagartija Island, Kaikué Island (Island of the Birds in Mapudungun language), is a natural refuge for more than 24 bird species and a nesting site for seven species of seabirds, including the imperial cormorant, the kelp gull, the flightless steamer duck, and the Humboldt and Magellan penguins.

It was declared a Nature Sanctuary by the National Monuments Council. Through some local tour operators, visitors have the opportunity to sail around this fascinating islet (landing is not permitted) to observe and photograph its rich biodiversity.

"Bosque fósil de Punta Pelluco"
Parque Katalapi

The Katalapi Park Nature Sanctuary is a place focused on environmental education, created to support scientific research related to the native forest and at the same time to teach children, youth, and adults to love, know, and value nature.

Katalapi is a private initiative by the Corcuera Vliegenthart family, who have owned and directed the park since 1994. In 2020, thanks to the family's initiative, the Park was declared a Nature Sanctuary and is managed by the Katalapi Park Foundation.

It has 28 hectares of native forest, located just 18.5 km from Puerto Montt, along the Austral Road, between the sea and the Alerce Andino National Park, in the Quillaipe mountain range sector.

More than just seeing or walking through a forest, this Nature Sanctuary is the perfect way to live and love our forests, understanding how flora, fauna, and fungi interact in perfect harmony and need each other.

To visit, a reservation must be made at least 24 hours in advance (https://www.parquekatalapi.cl/), as all visits are guided by environmental educators, who teach the dynamics and interactions of the forest.

"Bosque fósil de Punta Pelluco"
Nature Sanctuary

Between Pelluco and Coihuín, 5 km southeast of Puerto Montt, lies the "Punta Pelluco Fossil Forest" Nature Sanctuary.

Over 100 fossilized remains of larch and Guaitecas cypress make up this paleobotanical site that is nearly 50,000 years old. Scientists presume that this forest was buried by the ashes of a Pleistocene volcanic eruption, with the bases of its trunks (stumps) and their extensive roots surviving.

The remains of the trunks are visible only at low tide..