Isidora Cousiño Park in Lota, Chile
Isidora Cousino Park, or better known as “Lota Park” is a botanical park in Lota, Chile. Lota is located south of Concepcion in Chile’s VIII Region and sits on the Pacific Ocean.
Lota Park offers a peek into a private garden of Isidora Goyenechea, who lived here in the late 1800′s. The park features plants, statues, and design imported from Europe.
You can gain admission to the park for an entrance fee of 1,600 pesos (about $3.40 USD).
Guides dress in period clothing to make you feel like you have traveled back in time to view the historic garden.
The Isidora Cousino Park features 36 statues, beautiful fountains, ponds with ducks, geese and other bird varieties, a plant conservatory that houses the unique breadfruit, a family restaurant so you can rest, located in a house built in 1864.
The French-style palace, demolished in 1964, was built between 1885 to 1898 and was never actually used by the family. But it speaks of the splendor and wealth of the time.
Other interesting sites are the area of the tomb of Carlos Cousino (Isidora’s son), a grotto of mirrors, and the site of a former suspension bridge.
Check out the Chinese-themed area where Isidora liked to have tea with her guests. Multiple viewpoints let you view the park lighthouse, the Gulf of Arauco, Port of Lota, and the island of Santa Maria.
The park is very safe to visit. It is fenced and has guards 24 hours a day plus parking. It has bathrooms in various places.
Have you been to the Lota Park? What did you like the most?
Picture by Sara Moreno
Posted June 19th, 2013 in Destinations | Add Your Comment »
