Chile Travel Issues Guide for National Parks and Reserves

New Visitor Guide for Chile's Protected Areas

Chile's Servicio Nacional de Turismo (SERNATUR), operating as Chile Travel, released a comprehensive guide to the country's national parks and natural reserves on 9 September 2026. The publication aims to assist visitors by detailing Chile's diverse protected natural settings and offering practical advice for planning trips.

According to Chile Travel, the nation maintains 109 state-protected wild areas, managed by the National Forest Corporation (CONAF). This network comprises 46 national parks, 45 national reserves, and 18 natural monuments, complemented by additional private reserves that contribute to conservation efforts across the country. The guide outlines these areas and presents selected destinations across Chile's various regions.

Visitor Planning and Entry Protocols

The newly issued guide from Chile Travel advises prospective visitors to meticulously plan their itineraries and verify entry requirements before travel. Many of Chile's national parks and public reserves mandate online ticket purchases through PasesParques.cl. In contrast, private conservation areas manage their own distinct ticketing and reservation systems.

Further recommendations from Chile Travel include checking seasonal operating conditions, securing accommodation and campsites well in advance, particularly for popular locations, and adhering strictly to local regulations concerning fires, pets, and drone usage.

The state-protected wild areas collectively span 18.8 million hectares, which represents 21% of Chile’s total national territory.

Highlighted State and Private Conservation Sites

Among the prominent destinations featured in the guide is Torres del Paine National Park, situated in the Magallanes Region. This park is noted for its mountains, glaciers, lakes, and diverse wildlife, offering activities from short walks to multi-day "W" and "O" trekking circuits, alongside boat excursions to Grey Glacier.

Chile Travel states that adult daily admission for domestic visitors to Torres del Paine is CLP $9,400, while international visitors pay CLP $32,400. Another area highlighted is Conguillío National Park in the La Araucanía Region, known for the Llaima Volcano and ancient araucaria forests.

Here, visitors can follow marked trails through volcanic terrain, lakes, and petrified lava formations, with the Sierra Nevada trail providing extensive views.

Expanding Ecotourism for Asian Travellers

The guide also spotlights significant private conservation areas, including the Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve in the Los Ríos Region, which encompasses over 100,000 hectares of temperate forests.

Tantauco Park, located on Isla Grande de Chiloé, is another featured private site, covering almost 118,000 hectares and providing 150 kilometres of marked trails, alongside opportunities for camping, boating, and kayaking.

For Asian travellers, the availability of such detailed and centralised information from SERNATUR simplifies planning for complex nature-based trips to South America.

As demand for ecotourism and remote natural exploration grows across Asian markets, this updated guide can facilitate increased visitation by providing clear entry protocols and destination specifics, potentially driving more long-haul bookings from regions like Northeast and Southeast Asia in the coming year.