Cerro Cantillana, Nature reserve and national park in Paine, Chile.
Cerro Cantillana is a large, flat-topped hill reaching 2,281 m in the Cordón de Cantillana, a small range of the Chilean Coastal Range within Paine commune, southwest of Santiago. Its summit opens views east to the Aconcagua, Marmolejo and Tupungato peaks and the San José volcano, and northeast to Santiago and the Horcón de Piedra summit. The surrounding area forms the Altos de Cantillana nature reserve, in one of the world's five Mediterranean-climate zones.
Protection status came to the reserve in 2008 when Corporación Altos de Cantillana took over management and began conservation work. The organization has developed strategies to maintain the land while controlling human impact on its ecosystems.
The reserve takes its name from the Cordón de Cantillana, the small coastal range whose highest summit, at 2,281 m, is the Alto de Cantillana itself. The mountain lies in the comuna of Paine, southwest of Santiago, and its slopes are worked today by cyclists, hikers and riders on horseback.
Marked trails guide visitors through the area for hiking and wildlife watching throughout the reserve. The terrain is steep and remote, so sturdy footwear and basic supplies are essential for a safe visit.
Guanacos, wild relatives of llamas, roam the slopes alongside Andean condors that soar across the mountain sky. These species show how alive the terrain remains despite its harsh mountain conditions.
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