La Campana National Park

Charles Darwin climbed Cerro La Campana in August 1834 during the Beagle voyage and wrote about the view from the top - the Andes on one side and the Pacific on the other - and a plaque near the summit marks it. The climb is still done, about eight kilometres and 1,400 metres of ascent to 1,880 metres, and it is hard work rather than technical. The park's other significance is botanical: the Ocoa sector holds one of the last large natural stands of the Chilean wine palm, a species reduced to a fraction of its range by centuries of felling for palm honey, since tapping it kills the tree. The park is a UNESCO biosphere reserve.

Highlights

• Darwin's climb of 1834 - marked near the summit.
• 1,400 metres of ascent - to 1,880 metres, hard but not technical.
• One of the last large wine palm stands - in the Ocoa sector.
• A species felled for its sap - tapping the palm kills it.

When to go

September to November and March to May; summer is very hot and fire risk is high. A full day.

Practical notes

The summit climb is long, steep and unshaded, with a scramble near the top, and entry closes early to keep people off it late. Water must be carried. The park closes sectors in high fire risk conditions.

Nearby

Olmue is below; Valparaiso and the coast are west.

Key facts