Wildlife in Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park

Information

Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park is a protected area that offers excellent opportunities to observe typical wildlife of the Patagonian Andean forest. One of its great advantages is that it includes sectors such as Ensenada, Saltos de Petrohué and Petrohué which are easily accesible even by public transport, and also feature trails that allow visitors to explore its diverse natural environments.

To spot common birds of this region, a good option is to start with the trails in the Saltos del Petrohué area. The Saltos del Petrohué and Los Enamorados trails are low difficulty and allow for sightings of species that tend to appear near tourists such as the Patagonian sierra-finch (Phrygilus patagonicus) and the white-crested elaenia (Elaenia albiceps). Also frequently seen are the thorn-tailed rayadito (Aphrastura spinicauda) which moves among the shrubs, the green-backed firecrown (Sephanoides sephaniodes) which is the representative hummingbird of Patagonia, the dark-bellied cinclodes (Cinclodes patagonicus) which follows watercourses and several other species.

On the other hand, the trails in the Petrohué sector allow for longer walks through minimally modified environments. Along these routes it's possible to spot less common birds such as the Magellanic tapaculo (Scytalopus magellanicus) which can be seen among dense vegetation.

In this park it's common to encounter a chilla (Lycalopex griseus), a fox which tends to appear calm and unafraid of park visitors.