Reserva Nacional Lago Peñuelas

About 25 kilometers southeast of Valparaíso [1], fronting directly on the highway to Santiago [2], misleadingly named Lago Peñuelas is really a late-19th-century reservoir that supplies Valparaíso [1] and Viña del Mar [3] with drinking water. The reserve covers 9,260 hectares and supports substantial populations of waterfowl, other birds, and terrestrial fauna native to the region.

Surrounded by both native sclerophyllous (glossy-leaved) woodland and plantations of eucalyptus and other exotic species, Lago Peñuelas (Ruta 68, Km 95, tel. 0322/291282) is open 8:45 a.m.–5 p.m. daily except Monday; admission costs US$3.

Buses between Santiago and the coastal cities can drop visitors directly at the entrance, on the north side of Ruta 68.