The land, provided by the Maratue P, has trails, infographics and viewpoints.

In the Valparaiso Region there are several places of great natural beauty, and Quirilluca is one of them. The park, located on the coast, a few kilometers from the center of Puchuncavi, is home to multiple species of native flora and fauna, accompanied by beautiful landscapes, cliffs and access to the Quirilluca and Luna beaches. Puchuncavi is a commune that is home to important environmental attributes. Countryside, native forest and beaches are intertwined with a mixture of rural and urban life, forming a landscape in which more than 18 thousand inhabitants live, with important seaside resorts such as Ventanas, Horcon and Maitencillo.

In the middle of this environment is Parque Quirilluca, located about five kilometers from the center of the town of Puchuncavi. This park has an area of more than 125 hectares, on the coastal edge of the commune, between the towns of Campiche to the south and Maitencillo to the north. Enabled by the Maratue project, the land has trails, infographics and viewpoints, which can be accessed on foot, by bicycle or from the parking lot, which also allows you to reach Luna and Quirilluca beaches, considered the “beach of the Puchuncavi residents”.

Among the natural attractions are the Quirilluca cliffs, a geosite where the main nesting area for piqueros (blue-footed boobies) in the central zone is located, and the Acorn Forest, a sclerophyllous forest that shelters specimens of the northern acorn, a species declared a National Monument. If you are lucky, from the viewpoints of the cliffs you can see chungungos (marine otters) swimming among the rocks. “The commune of Puchuncavi carries the stigma of being a “sacrifice zone”, however, there are places of great environmental importance and landscapes that should be preserved. Parque Quirilluca is a good example of how a place can be cared for and at the same time receive delegations, students and visitors who seek to investigate, learn about and admire it,” said Franco Venegas, Social-Environmental Manager of the Maratue project.  “This place, which for a long time was exposed to excessive garbage, hunting, fires, extraction of firewood and eggs from seabird nests, is now being properly cared for, being this area a complement and part of the growth of the commune. This care, however, is everyone’s task, both locals and tourists”, he added.

For her part, Marina Cisternas Gaete, President of the J. Kennedy neighborhood association of Puchuncavi, said that “for Puchuncavi residents, Quirilluca is part of our history and is also important for local tourism. Together we must take care of its landscapes and ensure its conservation for future generations of the commune and the region. The park has multiple signage where visitors can find information about the northern acorns, the piqueros (blue-footed boobies), migratory birds that nest in the northern part of the cliffs, the geosite Quirilluca Cliffs and the ravine where a stream flows into Quirilluca Beach. For more than five years the Maratue project has been studying and monitoring the environmental attributes of the area, highlighting the census of piqueros and chungungos (marine otters).

“We keep a record and study each place and species in the park. Thanks to this we have been able to identify and monitor the health of the 197 specimens of northern acorns in the forest, in addition to a database on the population dynamics of the piqueros that nest on the cliffs between October and April,” Venegas explained.

Visiting Parque Quirilluca does not require an entrance fee. Only in summer, from December 15 to March 15, there is a fee associated with the use of parking.  Vehicles from the municipality of Puchuncavi are free of charge.

From route F-30 E, the access is located in front of the town of Las Catitas. The vehicular gate is open between 10 a. m. and 6 p. m. and in summer hours until 8 p. m., while there is no time restriction for pedestrian and bicycle access. Parque Quirilluca is a good example of how to take care of a place and at the same time receive delegations,” Franco Venegas said, Socio-Environmental Manager of the Maratue project.

Visiting Parque Quirilluca does not require an entrance fee. Only in summer, from December 15 to March 15. The park has multiple signs where visitors can find information. Throughout the park you can…