The Upper Cautín and Biobío

From Victoria, 58 kilometers north of Temuco [1] on the Panamericana, a smooth and scenic two-lane highway parallels the branch railroad that once ran from Púa to Curacautín [2], Lonquimay [3], and the upper Biobío, a little-visited and underappreciated area north of Parque Nacional Conguillío [4].

Blessed with its own native forests, rushing rivers, and volcanic grandeur, the upper Biobío is, along with Conguillío, part of a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve declared to protect its remaining araucaria stands.

In addition to the main road, this area is also accessible via a shorter paved alternative that heads northeast from Lautaro (30 kilometers north of Temuco [1]). From the upper Biobío, it’s also possible to loop back around on good gravel roads to Melipeuco [5] (Conguillío’s southern gateway) or back to Temuco [1].