At the foot of the Calbuco volcano, within the Llanquihue National Reserve and just 1.5 hours from Puerto Varas, begins a journey that combines pristine nature, recent geological history, and direct experience with one of the most active volcanoes in southern Chile.<\/p>\n
The starting point is located in the Blanco River valley, from where a well-marked trail climbs steadily toward the upper limit of the Valdivian forest. Over approximately 8 kilometers and more than 750 meters of elevation gain, the trail follows the course of the river, crossing it in some sections depending on the time of year, and allows you to enter an ecosystem dominated by centuries-old alerces, coig\u00fces, tepas, and ma\u00f1\u00edos, whose constant humidity gives rise to a dense and lively undergrowth. This first section stands out for its sounds, colors, and aromas: the presence of chucao, rayadito, huet-huet, and comesebo is common, as well as the occasional sighting of foxes and small mustelids that inhabit these temperate forests. <\/p>\n
As we gain altitude, the landscape changes noticeably. The forest canopy gradually opens up and the trail begins to traverse more mineral terrain, where the traces of the 2015 eruption are clearly visible: ash deposits and volcanic blocks, fragmented lava tongues, fallen trees that now coexist with the process of natural regeneration and new pioneer species colonizing the substrate. This contrast between the deep green of the forest and the grayish landscape of volcanic materials gives the trek a unique dimension: moving forward is like traveling through a biological transition that shows, step by step, how the mountain is reconfigured after each eruptive cycle. <\/p>\n
After about 3 hours of walking, you reach the R\u00edo Blanco Refuge, built by the Fundaci\u00f3n Deporte Libre and located on a natural balcony right on the edge of the forest. From there, the views open up towards the R\u00edo Blanco valley, the slopes of Calbuco and, in clear conditions, it is possible to catch a glimpse of Lake Chapo by climbing a few extra meters. <\/p>\n
There is a variation to this route which, instead of reaching the refuge, branches off before the last section of the forest to go directly into the Blanco River valley. This alternative, slightly shorter and with a little less elevation gain than the full climb to the refuge, offers a different and complementary experience: the trail leaves the main path and ascends through active volcanic terrain in the process of regeneration, combining sections of loose rock, small ravines, and watercourses descending from the slopes of Calbuco. The route culminates in front of a series of waterfalls that emerge abruptly from walls of consolidated lava, forming a natural amphitheater of remarkable scenic beauty. Choosing this variant allows you to discover another angle of the volcano and the valley, with more direct contact with the mineral landscape and the erosive force of water, making it especially attractive for those seeking a demanding but somewhat shorter day, without losing the feeling of immersion in the mountains. <\/p>\n
The return trip follows the same route, allowing you to appreciate the climb in a different light. This trek is physically demanding but accessible to anyone in good physical condition, and it is an exceptional opportunity to experience firsthand the regenerative power of nature, the living presence of the mountains, and the ecological richness of the temperate rainforests. It is ideal for those seeking a moderate challenge in a remote setting, with volcanic history in plain sight and a deep immersion in one of the most iconic landscapes of southern Chile. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A hike among ancient Alerce trees, a mountain river and traces of eruptions. The trail leads us to the edge of the forests of southern Chile, where a refuge historically nestled on the slopes of Calbuco welcomes us with breathtaking views immersed in nature. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":23346,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"actividad":[106],"zonas_de_chile":[113,112],"temporada":[145],"locacion":[166,165],"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[75,18],"product_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-23331","1":"product","2":"type-product","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"zonas_de_chile-lakes-region","7":"zonas_de_chile-south","8":"temporada-all-year-round","9":"locacion-llanquihue-national-reserve","10":"locacion-puerto-montt-en","11":"product_cat-trekking-and-excursion","12":"product_cat-trekking-y-excursiones","14":"first","15":"instock","16":"shipping-taxable","17":"purchasable","18":"product-type-simple"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/huellandina.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product\/23331","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/huellandina.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/huellandina.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/product"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huellandina.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23346"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/huellandina.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23331"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"actividad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huellandina.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/actividad?post=23331"},{"taxonomy":"zonas_de_chile","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huellandina.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/zonas_de_chile?post=23331"},{"taxonomy":"temporada","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huellandina.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/temporada?post=23331"},{"taxonomy":"locacion","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huellandina.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/locacion?post=23331"},{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huellandina.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_brand?post=23331"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huellandina.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_cat?post=23331"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huellandina.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_tag?post=23331"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}