El Cani Sanctuary

Cani sanctuary is within easy reach of Pucon, a popular resort town and ideal base for hiking in Araucaria. Though small, it holds a mighty place in the hearts of conservationists. The first NGO-protected private reserve in Chile, Cani is home to the Araucaria trees for which the Araucaria region is named, a species virtually unchanged over the past quarter of a billion years. Nestled in the beautiful landscape of a collapsed volcanic caldera, this reserve has rapidly become a centre for environmental education and eco-tourism - with a strong focus on the protection of its incredible pre-historic forests.

Walkers here shouldn't miss the day hike from the gravel path behind the reserve headquarters, taking you through lush vegetation and past beautiful lagoons and climbing up to El Mirador, with its stunning vista across the volcanic Chilean landscape. Signposted detours can take in several more small lakes.

From the information centre the main path climbs steadily through both forests and prairie to the Aserradero shelter, about 2 hours into the walk. This hut provides an excellent place to spend the night: there is a raised sleeping platform which fits up to 30 people, along with a cooking stove and an open fireplace.

Arrows clearly signpost the way from here, leading you to Cani's largest stretch of water - the conversely-named Laguna Seca ("Dry Lake"). Steep slopes thick with trees rise from its shores. In summer the lake's edge is lined with vibrant green vegetation, providing a rich habitat for birds; in winter, it becomes a bleak, frozen scene of ice and snow.

The final major landmark is the scanty shelter at Laguna Negra, and it is here that the waymarks dry out. Head up the hills directly behind the shelter - there are several paths, but they all join further up. This section is by far the hardest part, as you zig-zag steeply to the viewpoint. Once there though, the effort will seem worthwhile.

Directly below you lie the lakes and pools which dot the old caldera: further away, the horizon is dominated by the impressive site of Llaima, Lanin, Quetrupillan and Villarrica - their distinctive, snow-capped volcanic cones rising above the mountainous Patagonian landscape of the Chile-Argentine border. A well-placed campsite at Laguna Negra allows hikers to spend a night nearby, climbing in the evening or early morning to watch sunset or sunrise from this spectacular viewpoint. 

Have a look at TripAdvisor before setting off - there are some reviews of the sanctuary, and particularly of the hike to El Mirador, which may have useful information.