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. This hiking route has medium difficulty and covers a total of 5 kilometers (3.1 miles).

The hike will lead us to an area located at 1,765 meters (5,790 feet) above sea level, where the Navidad crater is found. This pyroclastic cone began forming on December 25, 1988, following a fissure eruption that lasted 13 months.

As we ascend the northeastern flank of Lonquimay, we'll enjoy panoramic views of the Navidad crater, a 190-meter (623-foot) cavity open to the northeast. The lava flow from this eruption extended more than 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) and was 60 meters (197 feet) thick.

We'll take a break next to the crater for an energy bar, candy, and an isotonic drink. After the snack, we'll begin the descent hike and explore other areas of the volcano.

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