As the summer season kicked off in Chile, I dedicated December to exploring unfamiliar mountain valleys. Eager for solitary communion with nature, I scoured maps and discovered my ideal spot for wild camping and walks.
Laguna Canicura, a big lake in the Alto Bio Bio region, is a mere 3-4 hours' trek from the road. Choosing the perfect tent spot, I embarked on lightweight day trips around.
Route on AllTrails:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/chile/bio-bio/sendero-laguna-canicura
Starting Point:
37°46′28.81″S 71°42′09.52″W
Due to its weekend popularity, I recommend planning your trek on weekdays. I set out on a Sunday, encountering around 50 people, but by the time I reached the lake, most had departed, allowing me to relish nature with just a couple of distant tents.
No fees or registrations are required to enter the trekking zone (as of December 2023). Despite signs declaring "Privado" (private property) along the route and occasional fences, the hiking community quietly ignores them, forging paths around.
Ample tent sites and fire pits dot the lake's shores; dry branches ensure a cozy night fire. Despite weekend crowds, litter is nearly absent. The water, both in the lake and river, is crystal clear. Swimming in the lake is an absolute delight, and some brought packrafts or SUPs, offering incredible mountain views from the water.
From the lake, you can embark on at least three challenging radial routes to surrounding peaks and small lakes, each demanding both technical and physical prowess but rewarding with breathtaking views.
Links to a few routes from the Laguna Canicura campsite:
- Laguna Nelquihue https://www.alltrails.com/trail/chile/bio-bio/laguna-nelquihue
- Cerro Pirquinco https://www.alltrails.com/trail/chile/bio-bio/laguna-canicura-cerro-pirquinco
- Laguna Granito https://www.alltrails.com/trail/chile/bio-bio/laguna-granito-desde-laguna-canicura
Mobile signals are absent at the lake but work well on the western mountain slopes.
The place captivates from the first glimpse, emerging from the forest into a sunlit clearing with the enchanting scene of the lake's azure waters framed by steep rocks. Ascending a mountain reveals the landscape's full beauty.
Initially planning a 2-night stay at Laguna Canicura, the experience was so captivating that I extended to three. Always pack extra food :) Day and night, I felt completely secure. Chile lacks large dangerous wildlife; only Pumas in the south, generally uninterested in humans.
I cherish group and duo mountain hikes, but solo journeys uniquely allow for silence, immersing oneself in the surroundings without the chatter of daily thoughts and conversations.
Laguna Canicura, a big lake in the Alto Bio Bio region, is a mere 3-4 hours' trek from the road. Choosing the perfect tent spot, I embarked on lightweight day trips around.
Route on AllTrails:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/chile/bio-bio/sendero-laguna-canicura
Starting Point:
37°46′28.81″S 71°42′09.52″W
Due to its weekend popularity, I recommend planning your trek on weekdays. I set out on a Sunday, encountering around 50 people, but by the time I reached the lake, most had departed, allowing me to relish nature with just a couple of distant tents.
No fees or registrations are required to enter the trekking zone (as of December 2023). Despite signs declaring "Privado" (private property) along the route and occasional fences, the hiking community quietly ignores them, forging paths around.
Ample tent sites and fire pits dot the lake's shores; dry branches ensure a cozy night fire. Despite weekend crowds, litter is nearly absent. The water, both in the lake and river, is crystal clear. Swimming in the lake is an absolute delight, and some brought packrafts or SUPs, offering incredible mountain views from the water.
From the lake, you can embark on at least three challenging radial routes to surrounding peaks and small lakes, each demanding both technical and physical prowess but rewarding with breathtaking views.
Links to a few routes from the Laguna Canicura campsite:
- Laguna Nelquihue https://www.alltrails.com/trail/chile/bio-bio/laguna-nelquihue
- Cerro Pirquinco https://www.alltrails.com/trail/chile/bio-bio/laguna-canicura-cerro-pirquinco
- Laguna Granito https://www.alltrails.com/trail/chile/bio-bio/laguna-granito-desde-laguna-canicura
Mobile signals are absent at the lake but work well on the western mountain slopes.
The place captivates from the first glimpse, emerging from the forest into a sunlit clearing with the enchanting scene of the lake's azure waters framed by steep rocks. Ascending a mountain reveals the landscape's full beauty.
Initially planning a 2-night stay at Laguna Canicura, the experience was so captivating that I extended to three. Always pack extra food :) Day and night, I felt completely secure. Chile lacks large dangerous wildlife; only Pumas in the south, generally uninterested in humans.
I cherish group and duo mountain hikes, but solo journeys uniquely allow for silence, immersing oneself in the surroundings without the chatter of daily thoughts and conversations.