Outings and excursions · Ovalle
Bosque Fray Jorge: a southern forest in the semi-arid north
Photos: Bachelot Pierre J-P / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Near Ovalle, a relict forest that survives thanks to the coastal fog. A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1977.
In the commune of Ovalle, in the Coquimbo Region, Bosque Fray Jorge National Park protects one of Chile's most surprising ecosystems: a relict Valdivian-type forest, with olivillo and canelo trees, in the middle of a semi-arid landscape.
The camanchaca
The secret is the camanchaca, the coastal fog: as it condenses on the hills facing the sea, it creates a humid microclimate that keeps the forest alive, hundreds of kilometres from the southern forests.
Protected
The park was created in 1941, and in 1977 UNESCO declared it a Biosphere Reserve.
Tips
- Bring a jacket: fog and wind make the forest area chilly.
- The road has gravel stretches; check entry times.
- Stay on the marked trails.
