Alicahue, Rural settlement in Valparaíso Region, Chile.
Alicahue is a rural settlement in the Valparaíso Region located at about 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) elevation in a mountainous area. The village sits roughly 35 kilometers inland from Cabildo and is surrounded by mountain terrain.
The area contains traces of ancient settlements, including remnants of the Inca Trail dated to 1426. These stone artifacts bearing geometric and animal-shaped designs indicate pre-Columbian presence in this mountainous landscape.
The name Alicahue comes from the Mapudungun language and means 'dry-another-place', reflecting the local climate and indigenous heritage of the region. This linguistic connection shows how the land and its people have been intertwined for centuries.
The village is a remote mountain community with basic schools, medical posts, and a small permanent population of around 450 residents. Plan extra travel time in this high-altitude location, as conditions in the mountains can be demanding.
The Alicahue Valley contains a mesomorphic ecosystem with plants and animals found nowhere else in the region. Hunting is prohibited in this protected area until 2029, preserving this rare natural space.
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