La Campana Summit Hike

Climbing La Campana Mountain means following in the footsteps of Charles Darwin, who explored this peak more than 180 years ago. The hike begins at the southern entrance of La Campana National Park in El Granizo, near the town of Olmué (Valparaíso Region). From here, we start along the “El Andinista” trail, which passes through a Mediterranean evergreen forest of boldo, litre, belloto, molle, and canelo trees.

After about two hours, the vegetation opens to reveal sweeping landscapes, including glimpses of the Pacific Ocean on the western horizon. Higher up, Santiago oak (Nothofagus macrocarpa) becomes more common as the trail ascends in long switchbacks. At 1,260 m (4,150 ft), we reach an old quartz mine, a wide clearing and perfect rest stop before the final push.

The last hour is steeper and more demanding, leading us through granite outcrops to the summit at 1,920 m (6,300 ft). At the top, hikers are rewarded with one of the best viewpoints in central Chile: the Andes Mountains rise dramatically to the east, the Pacific Ocean stretches out to the west, and in between lies a panorama of valleys, forests, and towns. On clear days, it is even possible to spot Mount Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Americas, along with the coastal cities of Valparaíso and Viña del Mar.