Hualpén: Lagoons, Coastal Landscapes and Culture

Around Hualpén, wetlands and native coastal forest are just as much in view as beaches and places with a rich cultural history. Viewpoints and trails offer different perspectives on the water, vegetation and birdlife. At the same time, the surrounding area and the municipality tell stories of a former whaling industry, collections from different regions of the world, and the coastal culture of Caleta Lenga. When choosing a holiday rental, it is therefore worth considering in advance whether nature, the coast or cultural discoveries should be the focus of your trip.

Lagoons, Forest and Coastal Landscapes

The Santuario de la Naturaleza de la Península de Hualpén covers 2,662 hectares and stretches across the entire peninsula. Near Hualpén, Laguna Verde is a specific destination for nature observation: this freshwater body is about 290 metres long and 85 metres wide. Its dimensions may vary depending on water levels and rainfall. Native trees such as Boldo, Litre, Huillipatagua, Arrayán, Avellano, Peumo, Piñol, Maqui and Huayo grow around the lagoon.

From Mirador Laguna Verde, you can observe the wetland and forest. The Ruta Laguna Verde, entre miradores also passes through the wetland and offers views from several viewpoints of the lagoon, the characteristic forest vegetation, the birds that live there and nesting sites of the Garza Cuca (Ardea cocoi). Wildlife observations are not always the same. Nearby is also Humedal Piedra del Agua, a biological corridor with hydrophilic vegetation where more than 50 bird species have been observed.

Cerro Pompón in Parque Museo Pedro del Río Zañartu offers a different perspective on the coast. Views are described from there of continental waters meeting the sea, as well as cliffs, beaches, coves, tombolos, marshland and spits. Playa desembocadura del río Bío Bío is an approximately 750-metre-long black-sand beach overlooking the Pacific. It is not suitable for swimming; visitors go there to enjoy nature, fish, take photographs and have picnics. Its approximate length and the clear restriction on swimming help distinguish this stretch of coast from beaches suited to other activities.

Trails and Beaches on the Peninsula

In the Comuna de Hualpén, the Ruta Hiking por el Bosque Nativo Centenario is a low-intensity loop through coastal sclerophyll forest. Stops along the way explain the flora and fauna characteristic of the Península de Hualpén; visitors can observe various species and ecosystems along the route. Another guided route passes through native forest and the meadows of Parque Pedro del Río Zañartu before descending to Playa Rocoto.

For a different kind of coastal experience, a hiking trail leads through native forest to Playa Ramuntcho. Along the way, it offers open views of the Pacific before descending to the beach. The calm waters of Playa Ramuntcho are suitable for swimming, snorkelling and kayaking; small coastal caves line its shore. Outdoor activities such as hiking and cycling are also mentioned more generally along the peninsula’s coast. The trails, beaches and observation spots described here therefore represent different travel interests, not a single tour.

Chome also brings landscape and history together: the remains of the former Ballenera Trinidad recall the area’s industrial past. People hike in the surrounding hills to enjoy panoramic ocean views. Caleta Lenga is considered a typical, touristically attractive neighbourhood and an area for artisanal fishing. These coastal places offer a different focus from the lagoon and forest.

Culture, Collections and Cuisine

Near Hualpén, the Casona Museo preserves objects that Pedro del Río Zañartu brought to Chile after travelling across various continents, including collection pieces from the ancient world and objects from Asian cultures. The Casona was built in the 1870s and used as a residence until 1934—that is, for more than 50 years—after which it was used as a museum. Parque Museo Pedro del Río Zañartu was declared a Santuario de la Naturaleza and a Monumento Nacional in 1976. Its collections also include a collection donated by Violeta Parra in the 20th century.

The coast’s culinary scene is particularly evident in Caleta Lenga. The 2022–2026 municipal cultural plan described the area as an active gastronomic and tourist centre in the Región del Biobío, noting that it had more than twenty restaurants specialising in seafood. This figure comes from the planning period at the time and may have changed. The plan also describes a Fiesta del Changai in Caleta Chome in January, with about 25 stalls, free seafood tastings and artistic and musical events. As current editions and visitor arrangements have not been confirmed, check before travelling whether and when the event will take place.

The Fiesta de San Pedro is also part of the coastal culture described here. The municipal cultural plan names 29 June as the feast day in the Caletas Lenga, Chome and Peroné; the celebration includes boats decorated with flags and a tribute to San Pedro, the patron saint of fishermen. If you would like to plan your stay around it, check the current event dates before travelling.

When choosing where to stay, you can weigh up the different options: wetlands and forest, beaches and coastal activities, or culture and seafood. Some of the places described are near Hualpén, while others are in the Comuna or on the peninsula.

Discover more destinations: Talcahuano, San Pedro De La Paz, Coronel, Concepción, Tomé

Back to the main travel overview: Provincia Concepción.