You can access Llanquihue National Reserve by the route towards Correntoso and then by taking a detour to the Chapo Lake; it’s 24.8 miles away from Puerto Montt, from which only 6.2 miles are paved. There’s an excursion trail of 4.9 miles long that gets to the Calbuco volcano, and which has access to a viewpoint, from where you can appreciate a large part of the valley.

The vegetation of Llanquihue National Reserve corresponds to the “evergreen” forestal type, standing out species such as tepas (Laureliopsis philipiana), mañíos (podocarpus nubigena), coigües (Nothofagus dombeyi), tiacas (Caldcluvia paniculada) and lumas (Myrceugenia fernandeziana). At the inferior strata predominates the quila (Chusquea quila).

In regards to the mammals of Llanquihue National Reserve there are pumas (Felis concolor), guiñas (Felis guigna), pudúes (Pudu puda) and the gato montés (Felis silvestris), among others. And the birds that predominate besides the condor (condor) are the upland gooses (caiquenes), Harris’s hawks (peucos), the hued hued (huet huet) and hawks (halcones).

At Llanquihue National Reserve the following activities can be practiced: mountaineering, an activity destined to the ascension of mountains, which may include or not areas with snow and rock, but without technical climbing steps and up to a maximum limit of 16,404 feet of altitude; trekking, walks that can last many days, by mountains and natural spaces organized by stretches in order to see the landscape, fauna, flora and the communities that live in these areas from an anthropological point of view; fauna and flora observation, a contemplative trip to observe animals and woods in wild areas; bird Watching, observing birds, their movements, behavior and habitat; excursions and photography, taking pictures inside or outside authorized places, and canopy.

In Llanquihue National Reserve there’s an excursion trail going towards the Calbuco Volcano that starts at the Warden’s station of the Blanco River (Río Blanco). It runs for 4.9 miles until reaching the rustic shelter on the hillsides of the volcano, giving access to a viewpoint 15 minutes away from the shelter.

Amongst the most important attractions of Llanquihue National Reserve, stands out

Calbuco Volcano
(Blue waters)

The Calbuco Volcano (Volcán Calbuco) is located in the Andes in the southern area between the southeast bank of the Llanquihue Lake (lago Llanquihue) and the Chapo Lake (lago Chapo) in Llanquihue National Reserve. The Calbuco Volcano reaches an altitude of 6,610 feet above sea level, and it’s about 4,921 feet above the level of the local peaks. Due to its altitude and huge and extensive mass, the volcano entirely dominates the panoramic view in the nearby areas of Puerto Montt.

Its summit region is composed by a platform close to 4,921 feet of extension covered by ice and snow. The highest point, its southern peak, is known as "The Pyramid", due to its triangular shape formed by group of rocks.

The Calbuco volcano is easily accessed from Puerto Montt, by the valley of the Blanco River, in the area of the Chapo Lake. It counts with a rustic shelter built by CONAF, which is easy to reach after hours of walking among forests and streams.

In 1893 a violent eruption destroyed the superior part of the volcano, giving it its typical truncated profile. The geological data registered since 1972 reveal that the Calbuco Volcano is one of the volcanoes most potentially explosive and dangerous of the area. Pyroclastic flows, gas columns up to 12.4 miles of altitude and large lava flows have been observed. Its last activity cycle was observed on August 12, 1996, having fumaroles the entire day. Its structure presents marked features of erosion and a triangular morphology of a truncated cone, due to an “avalanche volcanic depression" of 1.2 miles of diameter opened towards the Northeast.

The vegetation of Llanquihue National Reserve corresponds to the “evergreen” forestal type, standing out species such as tepas (Laureliopsis philipiana), mañíos (podocarpus nubigena), coigües (Nothofagus dombeyi), tiacas (Caldcluvia paniculada) and lumas (Myrceugenia fernandeziana). At the inferior strata predominates the quila (Chusquea quila).

In regards to the mammals of Llanquihue National Reserve there are pumas (Felis concolor), guiñas (Felis guigna), pudúes (Pudu puda) and the gato montés (Felis silvestris), among others. And the birds that predominate besides the condor (condor) are the upland gooses (caiquenes), Harris’s hawks (peucos), the hued hued (huet huet) and hawks (halcones).

At Llanquihue National Reserve the following activities can be practiced: mountaineering, an activity destined to the ascension of mountains, which may include or not areas with snow and rock, but without technical climbing steps and up to a maximum limit of 16,404 feet of altitude; trekking, walks that can last many days, by mountains and natural spaces organized by stretches in order to see the landscape, fauna, flora and the communities that live in these areas from an anthropological point of view; fauna and flora observation, a contemplative trip to observe animals and woods in wild areas; bird Watching, observing birds, their movements, behavior and habitat; excursions and photography, taking pictures inside or outside authorized places, and canopy.

In Llanquihue National Reserve there’s an excursion trail going towards the Calbuco Volcano that starts at the Warden’s station of the Blanco River (Río Blanco). It runs for 4.9 miles until reaching the rustic shelter on the hillsides of the volcano, giving access to a viewpoint 15 minutes away from the shelter.

Amongst the most important attractions of Llanquihue National Reserve, stands out

Calbuco Volcano
(Blue waters)

The Calbuco Volcano (Volcán Calbuco) is located in the Andes in the southern area between the southeast bank of the Llanquihue Lake (lago Llanquihue) and the Chapo Lake (lago Chapo) in Llanquihue National Reserve. The Calbuco Volcano reaches an altitude of 6,610 feet above sea level, and it’s about 4,921 feet above the level of the local peaks. Due to its altitude and huge and extensive mass, the volcano entirely dominates the panoramic view in the nearby areas of Puerto Montt.

Its summit region is composed by a platform close to 4,921 feet of extension covered by ice and snow. The highest point, its southern peak, is known as "The Pyramid", due to its triangular shape formed by group of rocks.

The Calbuco volcano is easily accessed from Puerto Montt, by the valley of the Blanco River, in the area of the Chapo Lake. It counts with a rustic shelter built by CONAF, which is easy to reach after hours of walking among forests and streams.

In 1893 a violent eruption destroyed the superior part of the volcano, giving it its typical truncated profile. The geological data registered since 1972 reveal that the Calbuco Volcano is one of the volcanoes most potentially explosive and dangerous of the area. Pyroclastic flows, gas columns up to 12.4 miles of altitude and large lava flows have been observed. Its last activity cycle was observed on August 12, 1996, having fumaroles the entire day. Its structure presents marked features of erosion and a triangular morphology of a truncated cone, due to an “avalanche volcanic depression" of 1.2 miles of diameter opened towards the Northeast.