Chile

Los Ríos

Volcanic

Arboreal

Serpentine

River in Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve ❘ Alexis Gonzalez/Getty Images

Termas Geometricas natural hot springs ❘ Mark Green/Alamy

Monkey puzzle or araucaria trees ❘ Ian Watt/Alamy

Reserva Biologica Huilo Huilo ❘ Courtesy Reserva Biologica Huilo Huilo

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Wooden planks criss-cross rivers and hot springs to forested dwellings.

Conservation projects support local endangered species, including deer, pumas, Darwin frogs, and the llama-related guanacos.

Los Ríos (The Rivers Region) in Chile is as tranquil and nature-filled as its name suggests. But this stunning district is criminally overlooked by travelers seeking out the Atacama Desert to the north, the capital of Santiago, or Patagonia in the south.

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Los Ríos is home to two national parks, snow-capped volcanoes rising above swathes of forest, and serpentine rivers that gush from Andean glaciers to the Pacific Ocean. Ancient evergreen araucaria trees adorn the area—bare, towering trunks and spare, needled branches have earned them the nickname “monkey puzzle.”

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At the foothills of the Andes is Huilo Huilo, a breathtaking private nature reserve that spans 400 square miles and hosts both research and tourism. Conservation projects there support local endangered species, including the huemul (an endemic deer), as well as pumas, Darwin frogs, and the llama-related guanacos.

Darwin frog ❘ Courtesy Reserva Biológica Huilo Huilo

Huilo Huilo is also home to one of Chile’s most fascinating hotels: Montaña Mágica. A global reference for ecotourism done right, Montaña Mágica strives to protect its ancient forest home and also disguises itself as a moss-ridden "mountain.” With a water fountain that "erupts" from the top of the building each day and a rickety rope bridge to access the entrance, it makes for a storybook stay. If the Montaña Mágica is booked up, the neighboring Hotel Nothofagus is another enchanting option that resembles an enormous, seven-story treehouse.

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Downstream of Huilo Huilo is Mocho Choshuenco National Reserve, where two rushing rivers snake around the mesmerizing, snow-capped Mocho Volcano. You can kayak on the site's numerous rivers and lakes, go fishing, and even climb the volcano.

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Where there are volcanoes, there are often hot springs. One of the largest concentrations of thermal waters is the Geometric Springs in Villarica Sur National Park. More than 60 sources of natural hot waters feed 20 baths carved along a steep and wild ravine, accessible by thin wooden walkways that zig zag across the water.

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Rivers eventually lead to the sea, and Chile’s long coastline is never far away. Visit the regional capital, Valdivia, a picturesque city on the ocean, where Bavarian architecture and beer meet Chilean crab pies and bustling local markets. Or follow the Valdivia River to the quaint coastal town of Niebla, where you can support local and artisanal fishermen with a fresh seafood lunch at one of the town’s numerous little eateries.

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— Charis McGowan