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Site under development Estimates come from global weather models and have not yet been validated by a meteorologist. Do not use them as your only reference for safety decisions.
AlertaParques
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Preparation guide

To help you prepare a trip to a Chilean national park. It does not replace official communications from CONAF, SENAPRED or SERNAGEOMIN.

In the mountains the weather can change quickly, and our estimates update only once an hour. A “No model alert” level does not mean it is safe to go: prepare anyway.

Before you go — gear by difficulty

Low difficulty

  • Extra warm layer (even on clear days)
  • Closed-toe shoes with non-slip soles
  • Water: at least 1.5 litres per person
  • Energy snacks (nuts, energy bars)
  • Sunscreen SPF 50+ and sunglasses
  • Charged phone with offline map downloaded
  • Emergency whistle

Medium difficulty

  • Waterproof jacket or poncho (in your pack, always)
  • Water: at least 2 litres per person
  • Headlamp with spare batteries
  • Basic first aid kit: bandages, painkillers, adhesive tape
  • Physical park map (do not rely on your phone alone)
  • Extra food for 1 day beyond your planned trip
  • + everything for low difficulty

High difficulty

  • Technical layering system: thermal base + fleece mid-layer + waterproof shell
  • Waterproof boots with ankle support
  • Trekking poles
  • Compass and the knowledge to use it
  • Emergency bivouac bag or aluminized thermal blanket
  • Lighter and emergency candles
  • Water: at least 3 litres + purification tablets
  • + everything for medium difficulty

Extreme difficulty

  • Sleeping bag rated to at least −10 °C
  • Crampons or microspikes in winter conditions
  • Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) or satellite communicator
  • Helmet for areas with fall or ice risk
  • Windproof goggles for exposed sections
  • Planned communication: someone expecting news from you at an agreed time
  • Alternative route and turnaround time decided before departure
  • + everything for high difficulty

How to read AlertaParques levels

They are global weather model estimates for one point and one hour. Use them to prepare and to ask park rangers the right questions, not to decide that it is safe to go.

No model alert

Models do not exceed our thresholds. This does not mean the trail is safe.

Still carry full gear and check with park rangers.

Caution

At least one estimated variable exceeds a caution threshold.

Assess your experience and your return plan. If in doubt, do not go in.

Danger

At least one estimated variable exceeds a danger threshold. Check with CONAF before entering.

The prudent choice is not to start. If you are already in, find shelter and consider turning back.

Exact thresholds per trail and their limits are in Criteria.

What to do if the weather changes inside the park

Signs to act on: darkening sky, sudden temperature drop, rising wind, intensifying rain, sudden fog or thunder.

  1. 1

    Stop. Do not keep moving.

    Moving without clear visibility makes things worse. If you do not know exactly where you are or where you are going, stay put.

  2. 2

    Layer up immediately — before you feel cold.

    Put on your outer shell before you need it.

  3. 3

    Find shelter from the wind.

    A rock, a slope, a patch of dense vegetation. Wind increases heat loss.

  4. 4

    Assess whether you can retreat.

    Going back the way you came is usually better than a shortcut. If you cannot retreat safely, stay at your shelter.

  5. 5

    Call for help and give your position.

    Call 136 (Socorro Andino, mountain rescue), 131 (SAMU) or 133 (Carabineros) with your exact location or the trail name. If you have a PLB or satellite device, activate it.

  6. 6

    Stay visible and warm while you wait.

    Use your thermal blanket or bivouac bag.

Hypothermia — signs and first aid

Recognise it early and call for help. What follows is general guidance and does not replace medical care.

Warning signs

Early

  • Uncontrollable shivering
  • Cold, pale skin
  • Clumsiness, frequent stumbling
  • Slow or slurred speech

Severe

  • Shivering stops
  • Confusion, drowsiness
  • Very slow movements
  • Loss of judgement

First aid

  1. Call for help right away: 136 (Socorro Andino) or 131 (SAMU). Do this before trying to rewarm the person.
  2. Move them to a place sheltered from wind and rain and wrap them in blankets or a thermal blanket.
  3. Handle them gently and move them only as much as needed. Keep them horizontal if possible.
  4. If their clothes are wet, remove them and replace with dry clothing.
  5. Do not apply direct heat (e.g. hot water) and do not massage or rub their limbs.
  6. If they are conscious and can swallow, give warm drinks without alcohol or caffeine.
  7. Follow the emergency operator’s instructions while help arrives.

First-aid source: Spanish Red Cross, “En guardia contra el frío” (checked 7 October 2026). Emergency numbers: Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

If you are going to a volcano

  • Check the volcano’s technical alert beforehand at SERNAGEOMIN (green, yellow, orange or red) and respect any restricted areas set by SERNAGEOMIN and SENAPRED. Alerts change: Villarrica went from green to yellow in September 2026.
  • If you visit or climb an active volcano, notify Carabineros or park rangers ( SENAPRED).
  • On volcanoes, modelled wind can be far lower than real wind near the summit. In the cases we reviewed (Llaima 2026, Villarrica 2025), the model estimated ~40 km/h gusts while rescue helicopters could not operate because of the wind. See methodology.

Wind in Patagonia

  • In November 2025, five hikers died of hypothermia on the Torres del Paine O Circuit, between Los Perros camp and John Gardner Pass, during a snow and wind storm. The press reported gusts of 150 km/h or more ( BioBioChile, ExplorersWeb).
  • For that event, the historical model we use estimated gusts well below those reported. In Patagonia, treat our wind estimates as a floor, not a ceiling.
  • CONAF reopened the Paine Massif Circuit with a protocol that sets thresholds for wind, precipitation and temperature and allows earlier preventive closures ( CONAF, January 2026). Ask at the ranger station about conditions before crossing an exposed pass.
  • Before you set off, decide a cut-off time for crossing the pass and a turnaround time. If you are late or the wind is already hard on the way up, turn back: that is the decision that gives you margin.

Emergency numbers

Source: Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Emergencies in Chile · 130: MINSAL. Checked 7 October 2026.

SENAPRED — regional offices

Administrative offices, not emergency lines. In an emergency, call the numbers above.

Source: senapred.cl/regiones (checked 7 October 2026).

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