Chile Guide
The Central Valley
Reserva Nacional Radal Siete Tazas
Of all the natural phenomena in Chile, the Siete Tazas, 73km southeast of Curicó, must be one of the most extraordinary. In the depths of the native forest, a crystal-clear mountain river drops down a series of seven waterfalls, each of which has carved a sparkling taza – literally, a "teacup" – out of the rock. The falls are set within the Conaf-administered RESERVA NACIONAL RADAL SIETE TAZAS (April– Nov 8.30am–6pm; Dec– March 8.30am–8pm; CH$1500, camping CH$7500 for up to six), reached by a poor dirt road from the village of Molina, 18km southwest of Curicó – be sure to fill up with petrol there. Busy on summer weekends, this park is practically empty the rest of the year. Also within the reserve are forests, several hiking trails and the Velo de Novia ("Bride's Veil"), a 50-metre waterfall spilling out of a narrow gorge. Conaf has a small hut on the road towards the Siete Tazas, but for more information (about the geology of the area and the native trees in the surrounding forest), you need to go to the administrative office at Parque Inglés, 9km further east, at the end of the dirt road.
Hostería La Flor de la Canela ( 
75/491613; Price: CH$15000-25000) offers small but adequate rooms with either private or shared facilities, near the administrative office, and they also serve tasty breakfasts and food. You can also camp in the area, including at Radal Eco Adventure, 1km before the town of Radal, on the right ( 9/3338719; CH$12,000 for up to five people); they also offer treks and a wealth of local information. For privacy, great swimming, horse rides and accommodation ranging from camping (CH$11,000 for up to six people) to cabins (CH$30,000 for up to six people), try Valle de Las Catas, a private ranch located inside the park ( 2/5353649, 
vallelascatas@entelchile.net, 
www.sietetazas.cl ); it's halfway between Parque Inglés and the Siete Tazas, close to the Puente de Frutillar. You can get to the Siete Tazas on public transport from Curicó with Buses Hernández ( 75/522346), which has two services daily throughout the year. The best time of year to visit this park is from December through March, as the winter months are frequently snowy. In summer, the area is quite hot and, given the altitude, an easy place to get sunburnt.