Startling aquamarine lakes surrounded by verdant old-growth forests ensure wonderful Parque Nacional Huerquehue is one of the shining stars of the south and a standout in the Chilean chain of national parks. The 125-sq-km preserve, founded in 1912, is awash with rivers and waterfalls, alpine lakes and araucaria forests, and a long list of interesting creatures, including the pudú (the world’s smallest deer) and Arañas Pollitos, tarantula-like spiders that come out in the fall.
The trails here are well marked and maintained and warrant multiple days of exploration, but a day trip from Pucón, about 35km to the southeast, is a must for those in a bigger hurry. Stop off at Conaf’s Centro de Informaciones Ambientales at the entrance for hiking maps and park info.
