Corcovado National Park

Corcovado National Park is located along the coastline and the Gulf of Corcovado in sourthern Chile. The park encompasses an area of 1,135 square miles (2,940 sq km).

The park protects a diverse ecosystem that includes the majestic mountains, alpine lakes, Valdivian temperate rainforest, and rivers that traverse across the park and into the gulf.  The primary two rivers are the Corcovado River and Tic Toc River which both feed into the Bay of Corcovado.

Corcovado volcano is one of the iconic attractions of the park and serves as the namesake for the park.  Yanteles is an additional stratovolcano located about 19 miles (30 km) further south.

The national park is renowned for the 82 different lakes found throughout the borders.  Most of these lakes are nestled amonst the Valdivian temperate rainforest or deciduous high-mountain shrubbery as the elevation increases.  The collective ecosystems create exquisite habitats for both marine and terresterial wildlife.

Some of the most popular marine wildlife includes sea lions, seals, and the adorable penguins where each leverages the warm coastline and the blue waters of the bay.  The coastline is also blanketed with a variety of seabirds and shorebirds that are only a complement to the other bird species that nest or migrate through the park's borders.

The marine life features chances to see blue, humpback, pilot, and sperm whales.  River otters are found the larger rivers.  Other terrestrial wildlife includes kodkod, pudu deer, Chiloe fox, opossum, and the cougar or puma.  

Photos

Corcovado National Park Photo Gallery

Highlights

There are many different highlights of the park, particularly depending on the visitor's interests.  However, the majestic mountains and the namesake volcano are often at the top of the lists.

Corcovado Volcano

Corcovado Volcano is a stratovolcano reaching a summit of 7,500 feet (2,300 m).  It is situation approxmately 16 miles (25 km) further south of the Yelcho River.  Cinder cones blanket the sides of the eroded summit.

Serveral lakes are found along the base of the volcano adding to the aesthetics of the landscape.  The picturesque lookout of the volcano is witnessed from several places along the gulf serving as a striking backdrop. 

Yanteles Volcano

Yanteles Volcano is an indivudal stratovolcano that is about 19 miles (30 km) further south of the iconic namesake volcano.  The renowned volcano is also locally called Volcan Nevado.

The summit of the volcano reaches a height of 6,699 feet (2,042 m).  It covers an area of 84.5 square miles (32.6 sq km) creating a massive volcano.  Large glaciers cover significant parts of the mountain.

Things To Do:

Hiking is one of the most common activities, but the park provides opportunities for much more.  There is sailing, canoeing, and rowing on some of the riverways.  Fishing is a popular activity, particularly on the Corcovado River.

Park Protection

Corcovado National Park was created to protect the biodiversity of both flora and fauna found in the estuaries, lakes, and surrounding pristine forests.  This established protected area represents the country's commitment to invest and protect the animal life from the summits of the majestic mountains down to blue wonders of the oceans.

The blue whale nurses in the waters off the coastline of the park beckoning the Chilean government to extend the park borders into the waterways of the nursing whales.