La Campana Park Hike: Chilean Palm Forest & Darwin's Route

Three hours climbing through Chilean Palms to Ocoa Hill, then descent through a relict oak forest

A full-day hike through La Campana National Park from Santiago traces the path Charles Darwin walked in 1834, crossing the Chilean Palm Forest and Coastal Mountain Range with a professional guide. You climb three hours through sclerophyll forest and Jubaea chilensis palms to Ocoa Hill, rest and eat lunch with views, then descend toward Olmué through a Santiago oak forest before returning to your hotel.

The experience

La Campana National Park sits an hour and a half from Santiago and was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1985. The hike begins at the northern sector and crosses the protected area heading south toward Olmué, where your driver waits to take you back to the city. The route follows the same lands Darwin explored nearly two centuries ago, moving through flora shaped by the Chilean mediterranean climate and set against the Coastal Mountain Range.

The first stage is three hours of climbing on a trail surrounded by sclerophyll species and Chilean Palms among other native growth. You reach Ocoa Hill pass, an excellent spot for lunch and rest where the views open across the landscape. After eating, the descent begins toward the traditional town of Olmué, passing through a Santiago oak forest (one of the northernmost relict oak trees of its kind), before the final stretch back to transport.

The guide carries trekking poles, binoculars, a first aid kit and a box lunch for each person. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and the guide speaks English or Spanish depending on your group. A minimum of two people per booking is required, and the operator asks that you advise any dietary needs when you reserve.

What’s included

• Trekking poles.
• National Park fees.
• professional guide.
• first aid kit.
• binoculars.
• comfortable transport.
• box lunch per person.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

Book up to20h before

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (14 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 13 years) · Infant (1 to 5 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Coigue Expeditions

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English or Spanish, so choose the language that matches your group. Moderate physical fitness is needed for the three-hour climb and full-day duration, and the hike is suited for ages 13 and up.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

4 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (14 to 17 years); Child (6 to 13 years); Infant (1 to 5 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Chilean Palm Forest like on this hike?

The Chilean Palm Forest is part of the sclerophyll ecosystem characteristic of the Chilean mediterranean climate. Jubaea chilensis palms grow among other native species along the trail, and the forest sits within the Coastal Mountain Range protected by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve since 1985.

How much climbing is involved in the first part of the hike?

The first stage is three hours of hiking uphill through the trail surrounded by palms and sclerophyll forest, ending at Ocoa Hill pass where you stop for lunch and rest before the descent begins.

What happens after lunch at Ocoa Hill?

After lunch and rest at Ocoa Hill, you descend toward the traditional town of Olmué, passing through a Santiago oak forest (a relict species found at the northernmost edge of its range), before reaching the transport waiting to return you to Santiago.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to and from the park?

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Santiago are included in the booking. The driver meets you at Olmué at the end of the hike to return you to your hotel, and the transfer time from Santiago is approximately an hour and a half depending on traffic.

What should I bring on this hike?

Bring personal clothing suitable for hiking and the Chilean climate. The guide provides trekking poles, binoculars, a first aid kit and a box lunch per person, so you don't need to carry those items yourself.