Contao Farm – Mañihueico is a large-scale private estate located in the commune of Hualaihué, in the Province of Palena, Los Lagos Region. With a total area of 25,150 hectares, it stands as one of the most extensive and complete private properties available in southern Chile, offering a unique combination of connectivity, biodiversity, water resources, and forest value. Its scale, location, and natural features make it a strategic asset for conservation initiatives, ecotourism projects, sustainable development, scientific research, or carbon offset programs through carbon credits.


Location and Access


The property is located approximately 50 kilometers southeast of Puerto Montt, with mixed land and maritime access via the Carretera Austral. From the city, the route covers 40 km to Caleta La Arena, followed by a 30-minute ferry crossing to Caleta Puelche, and then 15 additional kilometers to the estate entrance.
The area also benefits from air access, with three airstrips suitable for twin-engine aircraft — Contao, Hornopirén, and Hualaihué — located between 4.5 and 43 kilometers from the property.
Additionally, five piers within a 6.5–67 km radius provide convenient maritime connectivity.


Topography


The estate’s topography is predominantly mountainous, featuring two major valleys: Río Contao Valley and Río Cisnes Valley. At the center of the property lies the Volcán Apagado, inactive for over 10,000 years.


Rivers and Lagoons


One of the property’s greatest assets is its abundant water resources.
Seven rivers originate and flow through the estate, including the Río Contao, whose 21 km course lies 90% within the property. Other rivers include Cisnes, Mañihueico, Zambo, La Manga, Punión, and Los Patos.
Altogether, the property features 133 km of riverbanks, not counting numerous smaller creeks, springs, and tributaries.
Two natural lagoons totaling approximately 8 hectares are also part of the landscape, some hosting wild populations of rainbow trout, brown trout, and Coho salmon.


Forests


The property encompasses over 12,000 hectares of native evergreen forest, comprising species such as ulmo, mañío, tepa, canelo, tineo, lingue, ciruelillo, and coigüe.
In addition, there are around 9,000 hectares of alerce (Fitzroya cupressoides), including extensive pure alerce stands, significantly enhancing the property’s ecological and scientific value.


Infrastructure


Fundo Contao – Mañihueico includes approximately 110 km of internal roads, of which 35 km form the main road connecting directly to the Carretera Austral.
The remaining roads branch into different sections of the property.
Its single controlled access point from the highway provides a high degree of privacy, territorial control, and security, ideal for conservation or exclusive development.


Potential Activities


The property’s setting is ideal for outdoor and nature-based tourism, including:


Trekking along its numerous trails and ravines


Mountaineering around the volcanic peaks


Horseback riding through interior valleys


Sport fishing and fly fishing for trout and salmon


Wildlife and bird watching, perfect for nature observation and photo safaris


Its proximity to the coast and local piers also enables sea kayaking, coastal fishing, and other recreational activities, making Fundo Contao – Mañihueico a site of extraordinary touristic and ecological potential.