Laguna del Maule

Laguna del Maule lies high in the Andes, about 150 kilometers from Talca, surrounded by mountains and very close to the border with Argentina. Its dramatic setting and scenic waters make it one of the region’s outstanding natural attractions.

The lagoon is also a remarkable record of Chile’s geological history. Around 20,000 years ago, volcanic lava blocked the upper course of the Maule River, helping form the lake. Today the area has great scientific and landscape value.

Chile is known for its many volcanoes, and Laguna del Maule has an especially fascinating story: it is part of a volcanic complex located at roughly 2,360 meters above sea level.

Recent studies estimate that the most recent eruption in the Laguna del Maule Volcanic Complex occurred about 600 years ago in the Loma de Los Espejos sector.

Beyond its geological importance, visitors are drawn by the beauty of the route and the natural wonders found nearby. During the high season, road access is generally easier, although mountain conditions should always be checked before traveling.

A few kilometers before reaching the lagoon is Valle de los Cóndores, known for its impressive waterfalls—including Cascada Invertida and Cascada Arcoíris—and for opportunities to spot the Andean condor, one of Chile’s emblematic birds.

These landscapes are part of the priority biodiversity conservation site known as “Sector Cuenca Campanario y Laguna del Maule,” identified in the Maule Region’s Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan prepared by CONAMA in 2002.

At 66,836 hectares, it is the largest priority conservation site in the region. Its importance lies in protecting Andean ecosystems, migratory birds around Laguna del Maule and endemic bulbous plant species in Valle de los Cóndores and the Campanario sector.