Trails of Lihué Calel National Park

Information

This park has trails distributed throughout different sectors of the park that allow visitors to discover its main attractions. To walk them, there is a specific timetable for each one and it is compulsory to register beforehand with the park rangers.

These are the following:
a) Namuncurá Trail: it is easy and takes about 30 minutes round trip. It starts at the campsite and goes all the way to the base of the Cerro de la Sociedad Científica (a hill). It is a good option for those interested in birdwatching, as many species frequent the area.
b) Climbing path to the Cerro de la Sociedad Científica: it starts at the base of the hill, which is where the Namuncurá trail ends. It is of high difficulty (for people in good physical condition), takes 3-4 hours round trip, and has signs indicating the way. You reach the top of the hill at 590 metres above sea level, where there is a metal chair. You have the option of returning the way you came up, or going down to the Valle de las Pinturas (with the latter option there is a long way back to the recreational area).
c) Circuito Valle de los Angelitos (Valley of the Little Angels Circuit): it is a vehicle route that goes through a valley, where you can appreciate the steppe terrain and hills on both sides. It starts at the recreational area and ends at the Valle de las Pinturas and La Casona trails. You should go slowly because there may be wildlife crossing, and the path has loose stones.
d) Valle de las Pinturas, El Chenque and La Casona trails: it is a circuit that starts with the Valle de las Pinturas trail, where there is a site with cave paintings made by native hunter/gatherer people that used to live in the area. It then connects with the El Chenque circular trail, which has signs that tell of a hill where the aborigines buried their dead bodies. And finally comes the La Casona trail, where the ruins of a large house of an estancia that used to exist in the area are located. If you are only going to do the section up to the paintings, it is a short journey, but if you are going to do the whole tour on foot, you have to take into account that it takes several hours.