Acantilados Federico Santa María

Acantilados Federico Santa María is a nature reserve along the Pacific coast featuring steep limestone cliffs that rise directly from the ocean. The protected area displays layered rock formations that reveal how coastal geology has shaped this dramatic shoreline over millennia.

The area was donated to the Chilean state in 1915 by the Valparaíso Welfare Board, named after philanthropist Federico Santa María. This gift marked an early effort to protect the region's natural coastal landscapes.

The reserve functions as an educational center where students research local flora species and their adaptations to coastal conditions.

Access is from the main entrance at Laguna Verde through pathways that cross the reserve. Wear sturdy shoes as the terrain is uneven and coastal winds are common throughout the year.

The cliffs mark the southern limit where Tupa plants grow and the northern boundary for several specialized coastal plant species. These botanical boundaries make the reserve an important site for understanding how plant populations are distributed along the South American Pacific coast.