Domuyo Natural Protected Area

Information

It is a protected area of 92835 hectares where the Domuyo volcano is located, as well as a series of tourist attractions resulting from the volcanic activity in the area. There are trails, thermal rivers, fumaroles and geysers.

Note that the only services available are those at the Villa Aguas Calientes thermal complex and the toilets at the visitor centre on the way to Domuyo. There is no petrol station.

The best time to go is from November to April. To get there, from Varvarco it is a 21.5 km drive along Provincial Route 43 on gravel road (with some corniche sections) to the beginning of the protected area.

The area can be travelled along the same provincial road 43, which is the main road that crosses the area and from where secondary roads lead to different places to visit. All these roads are gravel or dirt roads with some parts of loose stones. Taking as kilometre 0 (zero) the beginning of the natural area you will see:
a) Around kilometre 0 (zero) is the Cajón del Atreuco, where the stream of the same name runs hidden between the mountains forming a kind of tunnel. In this area there are several giant rocks with different geological forms.
b) At kilometre 7.3 of the main route a secondary path opens up on the right. If you go 5.4 km along this road you will come to a fork that leads to 2 sites of interest:
- Los Tachos: if you take a right at the fork, after 1.8 km you reach a car park. From there a pedestrian path goes along the side of a hill bordering the Covunco Stream, and after about 20 minutes you will come across some geysers that look like jets of hot water coming out of the ground. It is important to observe them from a distance and not to get close to the water to avoid accidents.
- Domuyo Volcano: if you turn left at the fork, after 3.8 km you will come to another fork where you take the road to the right. Then it is 4.5 km along a somewhat deteriorated path until you reach the visitor centre. There you will find toilets and an office where you are obliged to register if you are going to do any of the activities. A few metres from there the trail to the base of the volcano begins, which is self-guided, takes about 5 or 6 hours round trip, and it should be taken into account that it may have some crumbling sections that if they are risky, it is recommended not to continue. If you want to climb to the summit of Domuyo, you must be accompanied by an authorised guide.
c) Going back to the main route 43, at km 10.5 you arrive at Villa Aguas Calientes, which is a provincial thermal complex that can be visited. The complex is crossed by the Las Termas Stream, which has high temperature water and a small pool. Before the entrance to the complex the stream continues, and there is an 80 metre path called Saltitos de la Mosca that runs parallel to the water course and reaches some small waterfalls with hot water.
d) At km 13 of the main road there is a path to the right. After 4 km you reach Las Olletas, where you can see fumaroles.
e) At km 21 there is a bridge that crosses the Ailinco Stream and a few metres further on is the Ailinco Chapel.