After 2KM on the road after Los Alamos (to El Medano) you pass 2 shops, better food selection than in El Medano. They have accommodation also.
=Transport to and from Route=
*The last settlement on the trail is ==Parque Ingles about 10 km after Radal. This is also the last opportunity to spoil yourself with a good meal in a restaurant and to buy some goodies. On the trail that follows are only two occasionally used puestos; one at the Termas de Azufre (GPT01-WP020) and a second one at the Base Camp Descabezado Grande (GPT01-WP024). The first 20 km from Radal to El Bolson are a popular hiking destination for national tourists. Some go up to the Laguna las Ánimas but few continue beyond this point. The Base Camp Descabezado Grande is frequently visited by national and international tourists coming from Vilches Alto. Also horseback tours often stop and rest here. Hardly any hikers take the scenic trail from the Base Camp Descabezado Grande via the Laguna Caracol to the hydropower station Cipreses. It’s a hidden gem. ==
*The trail starts in the tiny village Radal near the cascade "Siete Tazas". During the main season in January and February several buses go from Molina and Curico to Radal and some even go all the way to Parque Ingles. Outside of the main season there is only one daily bus from Molina to Radal leaving in the afternoon from the rural bus station in Molina.
Update 12 Feb *2020 / Frank: In summer there are 6 buses a day Molina-Parque Ingles.
Mon-Sat they leave Molina @ 10:20, 11:30, 12:40, 3PM, 6:15PM, 8:15 PM Sunday Molina- Parque Ingles 7:45, 9:30, 2PM, 7:30PM, 10PM 2 hours to Parque Ingles, buses leave from terminal near main plaza in Molina. Parque Ingles-Molina 7:10, 11, 1PM, 3:45PM, 4:45PM, 6:30PM Mon-Sat Sun. 10:30, 1:30PM, 3:30PM, 5:45PM, 6:45PM
*Bus Termas El Medano - Talca
7 am in front of Los Cipreses - someone has to call in advance for the bus to go all the way to el Médano - loads of tourists there, though, so someone might have called. Other connections should be at 9:15 and 17:20 (one at 1620 l3aves from further downstream). The other way around, the buses leave Talca at 7, 13, 15 and 19, according to the schedule at Talca bus station.*2019/ Martina & Ivo
Monday to Thursday: Molina-Radal: 17:00 // Radal-Molina: 07:30
This trail section finished at the Route 115 to Talca. Big road with many carsFriday: Molina-P. Ingles: 17:00 // Radal-Molina: 07:30
* 2023-FebSaturday: Molina-03 to 2023-Feb-08 P.Ingles: 11:30 / 6 days/ Hiking 13:30 / SOBO / RR + Descabezado SOBO / Louis, Rémi & Noé P.Ingles-Molina: 18:00
From Los Cipreses only one bus at 7amSunday: Molina-P. We hitchiked to El Colorado where plenty of buses are going down to Talca for 2 000 CLP (+ 400 CLP per bag)Ingles: 09:00 // P.Ingles-Molina: 15:30 / 17:00
*2023-Jan-16 to 2023-Jan-25 / days / Hiking / NOBO / OH 06-02 & 06-03 Laguna Maule to Vilches w/ volcans / Natalie & Tomáš
Buses from Talca to la Mina go at; 7:00am, 1:00pm (only to la Suiza), 3:00pm and 7:00pm.
Vilches: bus clearly did not follow the posted schedule so if you are there just ask the many locals around what time the bus comes, we caught the 1230 bus.
* 2022-Jan-10 to 2022-Jan-15 / 6 days / Hiking / SOBO / RR / Veronika & Jo
- There is no bus to Talca from ==Los Cipreses on saturdays or sundays. We asked at the shop and got a ride to Colorado from the brother-in-law of the shopkeeper for 15000 CLP. / El Medano ==
* 7 am in front of Los Cipreses - someone has to call in advance for the bus to go all the way to el Médano - loads of tourists there, though, so someone might have called. Other connections should be at 9:15 and 17:20 (one at 1620 l3aves from further downstream). The other way around, the buses leave Talca at 7, 13, 15 and 19, according to the schedule at Talca bus station.
*2019-Dec-8 This trail section finished at the Route 115 to Talca. Big road with many cars (hitchhiking possible)
Monday to Thursday: Molina-Radal: 17:00 // Radal-Molina: 07:30
Friday: Molina-P.Ingles: 17:00 * 2023 // Radal-Molina: 07:30Louis, Rémi & Noé
Saturday: Molina-PFrom Los Cipreses only one bus at 7am.Ingles: 11:30 // 13:30 / P.Ingles-Molina: 18:00We hitchiked to El Colorado where plenty of buses are going down to Talca for 2 000 CLP (+ 400 CLP per bag)
Sunday: Molina-P.Ingles: 09:00 // P.Ingles-Molina: 15:30 / 17:00
* 2023 / Natalie & Tomáš
Buses from Talca to la Mina go at; 7:00am, 1:00pm (only to la Suiza), 3:00pm and 7:00pm.
Vilches: bus clearly did not follow the posted schedule so if you are there just ask the many locals around what time the bus comes, we caught the 1230 bus.
* 2022 / Veronika & Jo
- There is no bus to Talca from Los Cipreses on saturdays or sundays. We asked at the shop and got a ride to Colorado from the brother-in-law of the shopkeeper for 15000 CLP.
== Vilches ==
* 2023 / Natalie & Tomáš
bus clearly did not follow the posted schedule so if you are there just ask the many locals around what time the bus comes, we caught the 1230 bus.
=Permits, Entry Fees and Right-of-Way Issues=
