Outings and excursions · Alto Palena
Lago Palena National Reserve: a horseback adventure to the border
Photos: Nicolas Binder / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
More than 41,000 hectares of forest and a lake shared with Argentina, reachable only on horseback or on foot, in summer.
About 24 km from Palena, in the south-east of the Los Lagos Region, Lago Palena National Reserve protects some 41,380 hectares of forest, rivers and the lake of the same name, on the border with Argentina. It is one of the most remote and pristine corners of southern Chile.
Getting there
There are no permanent roads. From Palena a gravel road leads to the California valley, and from there a trail suitable only for horses: about 25 km in total, around 6 hours in the saddle. Another route goes via El Tigre and El Azul.
What to do
Fishing, horse riding, kayaking and wildlife watching. A trail of about 7 km reaches the border.
Before you go
- Entry requires CONAF authorisation and a guide.
- It can only be visited in summer; CONAF keeps rangers there from December to March.
- Book the horse ride with local operators in Palena.
