Navidad Crater Hiking Route

Climb the Lonquimay volcano to admire its spectacular Navidad crater on this hiking route from Malalcahuello. The views will leave you speechless!

Navidad Crater Hiking Route

We'll begin the activity meeting at 7:30 am at Kilometer 0 of the Lonquimay Volcano Crossing in Malalcahuello. The hike is of medium difficulty and covers a total of 5 kilometers (3.1 miles).

The hike will take us to an area located 1,765 meters (5,790 feet) above sea level, where the Navidad crater is situated. This pyroclastic cone of Lonquimay began forming on December 25, 1988, after an eruption that lasted for 13 months.

As we ascend the northeastern flank of Lonquimay, we will enjoy panoramic views of the Navidad crater, a 190-meter (623-foot) cavity. This area witnessed a lava flow that extended over 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) and reached 60 meters (197 feet) in thickness.

We will take a break next to the crater to have an energy bar, a candy, and an isotonic drink. After this snack, we will start the descent hike and explore other areas of the volcano.

Finally, at 12:30 pm, we will conclude the trek by returning to the meeting point.