Things to do in Ocoa

Ideas for planning your visit

Ocoa lies 110 km from downtown Santiago and 90 km from Valparaíso: about an hour and a half to reach the only national park in this part of the country.

What follows are ideas, not packages. Nothing is sold or booked here: you arrange each stop directly with the people who run it, and every stop links to their Instagram. What you will find are the facts you need to make the day work.

Three ways to shape the day

All year round

A full day trip

What to keep in mind

The planetarium show starts around 21:00 and does not depend on when it gets dark, so this works in any season. It does end late, though: driving back the same day puts you in Santiago at about 23:45. Staying in the valley is the comfortable alternative.

  1. 07:30 Leave Santiago
    About an hour and a half on the road.
  2. 09:00 Enter the park
    The Ocoa sector opens at 9:00. Buy your ticket in advance at pasesparques.cl: at the park they only check it.
  3. 09:15 El Palmar Circuit
    4.9 km, 2 h 27 min, low difficulty. The palm grove at the foot of Cerro La Campana.
  4. 12:00 Lunch and an afternoon in the valley
    Agritourism experiences, booking required.
    Quincho Las Rosas
  5. 15:00 A massage, if you like
    Wellness therapies, booked by WhatsApp.
    Elun Nahuel
  6. 17:00 Sunset with a beer
    Open Tuesday to Sunday, 12:00 to 21:00.
    Cerveza Preece
  7. 19:00 Dinner
    Open Wednesday to Sunday, 16:00 to 22:30.
    El Ocoino
  8. 21:00 Planetarium show
    There are no shows every day: the upcoming dates are posted on their Instagram. Check before planning the day.
    Planetario Ocoa
  9. 22:15 Head back, or stay
    You would reach Santiago around 23:45. If you would rather not drive at that hour, the valley has places to sleep.
    Domos Ocoa

Unhurried

One night in the valley

Why this version is easier

With no drive home after the show, the night does not drag on, and the trail waits for the next morning — walked on rested legs rather than straight out of the car.

  1. Day 1 · afternoon Arrival and lodging
    Geodesic domes in the valley, booked through their website.
    Domos Ocoa
  2. Day 1 · afternoon A massage at the domes
    Elun Nahuel comes to Domos Ocoa; book ahead by WhatsApp.
    Elun Nahuel
  3. Day 1 · afternoon Sunset with a beer
    Until 21:00, Tuesday to Sunday.
    Cerveza Preece
  4. Day 1 · evening Dinner
    Wednesday to Sunday, from 16:00.
    El Ocoino
  5. Day 1 · 21:00 Planetarium show
    A short way from your lodging. Confirm the date on their Instagram: there are no shows every day.
    Planetario Ocoa
  6. Day 2 · morning El Palmar Circuit
    4.9 km, 2 h 27 min. Entering at 9:00 leaves the afternoon free for the drive back.

For walkers

A full day of hiking

What to keep in mind

The Waterfall Circuit is 13.3 km and 6 h 39 min at medium difficulty, with 470 metres of ascent. It fills the whole day: you need to enter as the park opens and plan to be out before it closes. After that, driving back to Santiago is not a good idea.

  1. 09:00 Enter the park
    Right at opening, with no time to spare.
  2. 09:15 Waterfall Circuit
    13.3 km to the 25-metre La Cortadera waterfall.
  3. 16:00 Back to the valley and a rest
    After seven hours on foot, the sensible thing is to stay.
    Domos Ocoa
  4. 19:00 Dinner
    Wednesday to Sunday, from 16:00.
    El Ocoino
  5. 21:00 Planetarium show
    To close the day without driving again. Check on their Instagram that there is a show that day.
    Planetario Ocoa

Before you come

The park opens at 9:00 in Ocoa

Tickets are bought at pasesparques.cl before you come; at the park they only check them. On Fridays it closes at 16:00 instead of 17:00.

Wednesday to Sunday are the best days

The park closes on Mondays, and so does Cerveza Preece. El Ocoino opens Wednesday to Sunday.

The planetarium does not run every day

Planetario Ocoa posts its upcoming show dates on Instagram. Confirm before building your day around it.

The best season for walking

After the first autumn rain and until October, to avoid intense heat and sun exposure. The planetarium, by contrast, runs all year.

Two trails are closed

The El Quillay Circuit and the Granizo - Ocoa Crossing are closed because of fallen trees after heavy rain, with no reopening date. The itineraries on this page use open trails only.

Each place is booked separately

None of these ideas is a package. The links go to each business's Instagram, and phone numbers are on Tourism in Ocoa.

See the businesses in the valley See the trails