A trip through Bío-Bío can focus on mining heritage, art, Mapuche-Lafkenche culture, volcanic landscapes or winemaking traditions. Options range from the Circuito Lota to hiking trails, swimming areas and skiing. When choosing accommodation, it is therefore worth first deciding what you want to focus on during your trip and selecting the places that suit it. Culture, nature and regional cuisine each offer a distinct way to experience the region.

Mining Heritage, Art and Mapuche Culture

The Circuito Lota is a tourist route through the area’s mining heritage, bringing together local memory and the nature that shaped the unique city of Lota. In Cañete, the Museo Mapuche Ruka Kimvn Taiñ Volil presents the history, textiles, silversmithing and worldview of the Mapuche-Lafkenche people of Arauco Province. Mining heritage in Lota and Mapuche-Lafkenche culture in Arauco therefore offer different focal points.

The Pinacoteca in Concepción is a painting and art museum with the most complete collection of Chilean painting in the country. Another way to experience the region’s culture is REC, a free music festival in Parque Bicentenario. International, national and local bands publicly express the region’s musical identity there. The options thus range from mining history and visual art to music.

Landscapes and Activities

Lago Lanalhue lies between the communes of Cañete and Contulmo, in the Cordillera de Nahuelbuta and along the Cordillera de la Costa. Its shores are home to a rich variety of native flora and fauna. Parque Nacional Laguna del Laja is shaped by the Antuco and Sierra Velluda volcanoes and features volcanic ash soils.

The Centro de Esquí Antuco is located in the park and has two slopes for snowboarding and skiing. Check its current operating status before your trip. Reserva Nacional Nonguén offers five hiking trails. At Embalse Angostura, Parque Angostura has two free public swimming areas. The beaches of Quilaco and Santa Bárbara have public restrooms, a pier and lifeguards. Since operations may be seasonal, it is advisable to check that the swimming areas are open before visiting.

Winemaking History and Regional Cuisine

The winemaking history of the Biobío Valley goes back more than 400 years. Jesuit missionaries planted the first País grapevines in historic villages such as Millapoa, Yumbel and San Rosendo. San Rosendo is considered the birthplace of South America’s oldest Malbec; it has 160-year-old vines and award-winning wines. País and Malbec highlight different aspects of the region’s winemaking history: the early planting of País is associated with several historic villages, while San Rosendo is particularly known for Malbec.

In Alto Biobío, visitors can learn about Pehuenche customs and experience a cuisine in which piñón, the fruit of the araucaria tree, is an important ingredient. Alongside wine, cultural traditions and a specific ingredient of regional cuisine thus stand out as distinct travel interests.

Discover more destinations

Concepción Province, Arauco Province, Ñuble Province, Biobío Province, Bulnes, San Carlos, Quilleco, Laja, Yumbel, Ñiquén, Cabrero, Hualqui

For the main travel overview: Chile.