New Trails and Infrastructure in Cantalao Natural Park: Making Way by Walking

Cantalao Natural Park, located in the foothills of the Peñalolén commune, is an ideal natural setting for exploring and admiring the unique native Mediterranean forest. Therefore, the Ministry of the Environment, through the Environmental Protection Fund (FPA), allocated resources to develop a large Environmental Education Center to facilitate and enhance the dissemination and learning of this valuable ecosystem. The project was awarded to the Cosmos Foundation for execution, with the ongoing collaboration of the Cordillera Park Association.

Existing infrastructure and its renovations

After two months of gathering information and assessing the ground and existing facilities in Cantalao Natural Park, we have defined the infrastructure that will be implemented in this first phase of the Cantalao Natural Park Environmental Education Center.

This involves the restoration of one of the six ammunition dumps where the Army—which owns the park land—formerly stored weapons and ammunition. We will now convert it into a multipurpose hall for exhibitions and conferences. Similarly, the former Army stables will house the Reception, Administration, and Services Center for Cantalao Natural Park. Immediately after, a section will be opened for the Environmental Education Demonstration Circuit, which will include a nursery and greenhouse; an organic garden; a composting center; and a clean-up point.

In addition, the Environmental Education Center will feature an amphitheater located in a naturally conditioned space, as well as a meeting place and viewing platform on an existing esplanade, ideal for this purpose. Finally, a parking lot will be located at the park entrance, suitable for the flow of buses carrying visiting delegations.

Moving forward and making progress: new paths

Cube Rocks, Altar Rock, and Entrequebradas Lookout are some of the names given to the places we’ve discovered in Cantalao Natural Park as we explore it, searching for new trail options. These are landmarks with great natural appeal, nestled within a lush quillay forest or affording privileged views of the Santiago hills and valley. For this reason, they will be included in the trails we will include in the Park’s Master Plan, to be opened in the medium or long term as part of the Environmental Education Center’s attractions, which will be implemented this year.

Cantalao Natural Park currently has three operational trails—El Litre Guayacán Trail, Torres Trail, and Alto Cantalao Trail—through which one can access the central zone’s pre-Andean sclerophyllous forest, which is of great conservation value.