Outings and excursions · Los Ángeles

Alto Biobío and Ralco National Reserve: monkey puzzle trees and Pehuenche culture

Photos: Mono / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

From Los Ángeles, via Santa Bárbara, into the Andes: monkey puzzle forests, Callaqui volcano and Pehuenche communities.

Photo: Mono, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

From Los Ángeles, the road to Santa Bárbara continues into the Andes to the commune of Alto Biobío, whose capital is Ralco. This is the land of the Pehuenche people, part of Mapuche culture, who live on both sides of the Andes.

Ralco National Reserve

Created in 1987 to protect centuries-old monkey puzzle and lenga forests, it covers some 12,400 hectares with views of Callaqui volcano. Foxes, pumas and condors live here, and you can hike, mountain-bike and birdwatch.

Pehuenche tourism

Local communities welcome visitors: a chance to share their home-made bread, their barbecues and their bond with the land, trees and water.

Tips

  • The best season is summer, from December to March.
  • Check road conditions and services before setting off.
  • Visit communities respectfully and through their own tourism offers.

Plan your trip

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