Salto del Laja and Laguna del Laja: The Waterfall Circuit, Antuco Volcano, the Biobío River Canyon, and the Andean Frontier
The Salto del Laja and Laguna del Laja route covers the Salto del Laja as the most photographically spectacular single waterfall complex in central Chile where the Laja River drops 35 meters over a basalt rim in four parallel cascades, the Laguna del Laja national park crater lake at the foot of the Antuco stratovolcano as the most dramatically volcanic single Andean lake accessible by road in the Biobío region, the Biobío River canyon as the most wild-water rafting accessible single Andean river gorge in central Chile, and the Antuco volcano summit as the most technically moderate single volcano climb in the Biobío Andes.
Concepción Essential: The Biobío River, the Gran Catedral, Parque Ecuador, the Universidad de Concepción Murals, Cerro Caracol, and the Gateway to Chilean Lake District
The Concepción essential route covers the Plaza de la Independencia as the civic heart of the eighth-largest Chilean city, the Gran Catedral de la Santísima Concepción as the most historically significant religious building in the Biobío region, Parque Ecuador as the most pleasantly wooded urban park in the city, the Universidad de Concepción murals as the most politically significant Mexican-influenced fresco cycle in Chile, Cerro Caracol as the most accessible viewpoint over the Biobío River valley, and the Galería de la Historia as the most complete diorama-based regional history museum in southern Chile.
Nahuelbuta National Park: The Araucaria Forest, Angol City, the Purén Mapuche Heritage, and the Coastal Range Wilderness
The Nahuelbuta route covers the Parque Nacional Nahuelbuta as the most biologically significant single araucaria forest in the coastal range of Chile, preserving the most ancient individual specimens of the monkey-puzzle tree in the most dramatically high-altitude coastal mountain setting available, Angol as the most historic single colonial city in the Araucanía region with the most complete single War of Arauco heritage museum, Purén as the most symbolically significant single Mapuche resistance site in Chilean history, and the coastal range wilderness as the most dramatically forested single mountain landscape in southern Chile.
Concepción Bay Colonial Circuit: The Penco Fort, Lirquén Port, the Bahía de Concepción Coastline, and the Yumbel Pilgrimage Shrine
The Concepción Bay colonial circuit covers Penco as the site of the original 1550 Spanish colonial settlement of Concepción and the most historically significant single ruined fort complex on the Biobío Bay coast, Lirquén as the most intact single nineteenth-century port town on the Concepción Bay shoreline, the Bahía de Concepción coastal drive as the most scenic single coastal road in the greater Concepción area, and Yumbel as the most visited single pilgrimage shrine in the Biobío region.
Concepción Interior Day Trips: Cabrero, Yumbel Pilgrimage Town, Coelemu Colonial Church, and the Biobío Pre-Andean Villages
The Concepción interior day trips route covers the agricultural and colonial heritage towns of the Biobío interior including Cabrero as the most forestry-industry-defined single town in the Chilean Central Valley, Yumbel as the most visited single pilgrimage destination in the region with the colonial San Sebastián shrine, Coelemu as the most historically atmospheric single colonial town in the northern Biobío with the most intact eighteenth-century church facade in the region, and the pre-Andean foothills villages as the most authentically agricultural single rural landscape in the Biobío interior.
Lota Coal Heritage: The Chiflón del Diablo Mine, Parque Isidora Cousiño, the Coal Mining Museum, and the Arauco Province Industrial Legacy
The Lota coal heritage route covers the Chiflón del Diablo mine complex as the most symbolically significant single coal mine in Chilean labor history and the site of the most dramatic late-nineteenth-century industrial conflict in the country, Parque Isidora Cousiño as the most formally elegant single aristocratic garden park on the Chilean coast, the Lota Alto mining company town as the most completely preserved single company-town urban fabric in Chile, and the Coronel and Arauco coastline as the most historically layered single industrial coastal landscape in the Biobío region.
Concepción Food Culture: The Mercado Central, Chorrillana and Biobío Cuisine, the Craft Beer Scene, and the Barrio Estación Food District
The Concepción food culture route covers the Mercado Central as the most authentic single fresh produce and seafood market in the Biobío region, chorrillana as the most regionally distinctive single dish of Concepción (french fries topped with caramelized onions and sliced beef), the craft beer scene of Concepción as the most developed single artisan brewing industry in southern Chile, and the Barrio Estación as the most gastronominally diverse single restaurant district in the city.
Talcahuano Naval Port: The Huáscar Ironclad Battleship, the Chilean Navy Museum, the Caleta Tumbes Seafood Market, and the Biobío Estuary Maritime Heritage
The Talcahuano naval heritage route covers the Huáscar, the most historically significant surviving warship from the 1879 War of the Pacific and the only remaining armored turreted warship from the nineteenth century in the Americas, the Chilean Navy Museum as the most complete single naval history collection in the country, the Caleta Tumbes fishing harbor as the most authentic single seafood market in the greater Concepción area, and the Biobío estuary coastline as the most industrially dramatic single waterfront landscape in central-southern Chile.