Biobío Voyage Tips and guide

Biobío and Ñuble regions are in Southern Chile.

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Map of Biobío

• -36.6067-72.10331 Chillán — a popular destination for skiing and hot spring bathing in the nearby Andes Mountains
• -36.133333-72.7833332 Cobquecura — at the coast, and has several beaches and places to make excursions (like Calvario Hill)
• -36.616667-71.8333333 Coihueco — popular for its wood carvings and loom weaving, and folklore festival (see below)
• -36.826944-73.0502784 Concepción — the second largest city of Chile is a city rich in culture, history and beauty
• -37.0879-72.43855 Monte Águila — a small city known for its railway industry
• -36.733333-72.4666676 Quillón — a commune home to the Avendaño Lagoon, for water-skiing, swimming, sailing, and rowing, and famous for its Carnival
• -36.648415-72.4033777 Quinchamalí — popular for its pottery and cherry festival (see below)
• -36.282722-72.5408618 Quirihue — a small typical Chilean town with a small market during the week and a large one during Saturdays. It is quite nice to see how life runs besides the typical touristy places. Try out the restaurant between the two large green supermarkets on opposite sides in the centre.
• -36.55-71.559 San Fabián de Alico — a commune that has beautiful landscapes and is an excellent locality for excursions, camping and fishing.

• -38.365-73.9151 Isla Mocha — a sparsely populated island 40 km (25 miles) off the coast
• -36.8561-71.64422 Los Lleuques — a cordillerano bath next to the Rengado River and which has beautiful places surrounded by mountains
• -36.863333-71.3766673 Nevados de Chillan — ski resort on a group of volcanoes southeast of Chillán
• -36.7-71.94 Pinto — an agricultural area with some beautiful rural areas where native flora and fauna can be found, 24 km southeast of Chillán

Biobío Region is the second-most populated region in Chile, and home to the country's third largest city, Concepción. It is an earthquake zone, and has been hit by many earthquakes, including the most powerful earthquake ever recorded (in 1960) and the great earthquake of 2010.

Ñuble Region, to the north of Biobío Region, is the smallest region in Chile in terms of area.

From Santiago head south by Route 5 (Pan-American Highway).

• Carriel Sur International Airport ('CCP ^IATA) in Concepción is the main airport in the region

Terrasur between Santiago (Alameda) and Chillán, covers almost 400 km in less than 5 hours. It is one of the only inter-city services that still operates in the country. The seasonal once-weekly night train between Santiago and Temuco stops at Chillán and Laja.

Ñuble and Biobío are well served by buses from other parts of Chile. EME Buses run services from Santiago to a large array of destinations in both regions, while many other companies also run buses through the area, especially to Chillán, Concepción, and Los Ángeles.

Ñuble and Biobío are both well connected and interconnected by a number of highways, including the following:

• Route 5 (Pan-American Highway) runs north to south through both regions, via Chillán and Los Ángeles.
• Route 152 (Autopista del Itata) serves as the main connection between Chillán and Concepción, and, as a consequence, as Concepción's main connection to the rest of Chile as a whole.
• Route 146 runs between Concepción and the town of Cabrero on Route 5. This highway is mainly used by traffic from Concepción towards the south, including Los Ángeles.
• Route 156 (Ruta de la Madera) is an alternative route between Concepción, and Los Ángeles and the south.

A number of bus companies operate services between the cities in the area, as well as to more rural towns. EME Buses connect much of Ñuble and Biobío, while Linatal is a popular choice along the Chillán-Concepción corridor (it's also the cheapest option, with tickets one way generally costing 3,000 pesos or less, around US$3). Other bus companies also operate routes across the regions.

Between the towns on a more local scale, micros (small local buses, which look more like minibuses) are the best, and cheapest, option. Beware that space is limited, so do not take these with luggage unless absolutely necessary.

Some examples of useful connections include:

• For San Carlos, micros from Chillán cost 1,500 pesos.
• From Concepción, micros run to Lota (the Coronel-Lota micro service is referenced in some Chilean national poetry!), Santa Juana, Hualquí, Tomé, Dichato, and Coelemu.
• Los Ángeles has micros to Laja, which are convenient for those wishing to connect to the railway network there.

Unfortunately, due to the loss of state subsidies in 1978, much of the railways in Ñuble and Biobío closed down in the 1980s and 1990s. Most still lay abandoned, and some have little to no trace whatsoever. However, there has been a concerted effort by successive governments in the 21st century to reinstate services on existing stretched of track.

Current railway links in Ñuble and Biobío:

• The Estación Central-Chillán train from Santiago can be used for travel between Chillán and San Carlos.
• The Biotren network links Concepción to Talcahuano, Hualquí, San Pedro and Coronel. It is often incorrectly described a metro-like service, but in reality functions more like a regular suburban commuter rail service. Services run somewhat inconsistently on the Talcahuano-Hualquí line, while the Concepción-Coronel line runs hourly off-peak and twice hourly at peak hours.
• Corto Laja is the official name for the stretch of line between Hualquí and Laja. Services run between Talcahuano and Laja 4 times a day in each direction. In everything but name, this is an extended part of the Biotren network.
• The once-weekly seasonal night train between Santiago and Temuco is the only connection between Ñuble and Biobío by train, at Chillán and Laja respectively. It is not worth the effort for such a short distance (by Chilean standards).

• -36.131413-72.8082231 (Islote) Lobería. Sea lions and seals seek their luck on this smallish island 100 m off the beach in front of Cobquecura. Great and without the usual expensive tour to see a place like this. If you have an optical zoom instead of just your smartphone, you will be in for some nice pictures.  (updated Jul 2023)
• -36.094167-72.8136112 Iglesia de Piedra / Stone Church (Santuario de la naturaleza Islote y Loberia Iglesia de Piedra) (6 km north of Cobquecura). A large rock formation at the beach which is hollow inside, causing the common name. The size is quite impressive and you can climb up for an impressive view of the coast.  (updated Jul 2023)

Other places of interest are the Market and Fair of Chillán, one of the more beautiful and important artisan centers of Chile. Murals by Siqueiros were donated by the Government of Mexico. There is also Bernardo O'Higgins Monumental Park in the locality of Chillán Viejo.

Among the activities characteristic of Ñuble are crafts, in particular in the localities of Quinchamalí (considered like one of the country's more important places of artisan production of white clay pottery), Coihueco (characterized by the wood carvings and loom weaving), Ninhue and San Fabián de Alico.

• Surfing – Everything between Cobquecura and -35.833333-72.63333310 Pelluhue , like Curanipe, Cardonal, Tregualemu and Buchupureo are exceptional surfing destinations and mirror the shape and conditions of the Californian coast on the northern side of the continent. This region is still a hidden gem and receiving a lot of state sponsoring for development. However, beaches and breaks are far from overrun and you can find many lone opportunities to try out your board.
• Spas of Chillán – A winter and, more importantly, summer tourist complex of the region, located among millenarian forests and inexhaustible thermal water sources.

Ñuble has a variety of these, like the following outstanding ones:

• Rodeo – A celebration huasa that takes place Sep–Feb.
• Agro-Expo – In -36.55664-71.5498911 San Carlos , an agricultural, cattle and artisan exhibition, with strong accent on dairying.
• Carnival of Quillón – A traditional celebration with artistic spectacles and dances.
• Celebration of the Vendimia – A celebration of autumn in -36.694249-72.4064612 Santa Cruz de Cuca.
• Festival of Creole Roots – In Coihueco, it revives folkloric traditions.
• Gathering of Folkloric Roots – In -36.533333-72.43333313 Portezuelo in the month of November brings together an important group of singers, artisan and cultural singers and expressions of rural sectors of Ñuble and the country.
• Celebrations of the Cherry and Esquila – Accurs in December in Quinchamalí, with typical folkloric activities, meals, exhibitions and tasting of cherries, jams and liqueurs.
• Cardal – In the commune of -37.116667-72.01666714 Yungay takes place in the sliqueurs.