Barbara Meneses
Getting to Know the Mountain Range to Learn How to Take Care of It
Tourism
Heritage
Flora
by Barbara Meneses
Bárbara Meneses is a nature tourism guide, designer, and landscape architect, born and raised in San Clemente. With over 15 years of experience exploring the Maule mountain range, she has specialized in native flora and in conveying, through experience and emotion, the value and necessity of protecting this territory.
January 13, 2025
Bárbara Meneses knows every valley and every corner of the Maule mountain range. For her, this territory has been a school, a home, and a calling. From the native flora and volcanic landscapes to the cultural memory that resides in the hills, her work as a guide seeks to create experiences that connect people with the environment, promoting responsible tourism based on knowledge, emotion, and the preservation of heritage.
Below, we have an interview with Bárbara, who tells us a little about her story, her interests, and her connection to the Maule Andes.
Barbara in the Melado Valley, with a kid goat in her arms. David Cossio.
A Life Linked to the Maule Mountain Range: Beginnings and Formation
How did your relationship with the Maule Andes begin?
My connection to the Maule Andes began at a young age. I've lived in San Clemente since I was born, so I grew up in the countryside surrounded by animals and nature. We also took family outings to different places, like El Médano, Vilches, Parque Inglés, and others. Later, I joined the Boy Scouts and we went on summer and winter camps in the mountains. From my youth until now, I've practiced various outdoor sports, such as trekking, mountain bike, kayak, mountaineering, so I've always loved the outdoors, exploring beautiful places and enjoying our heritage.
What made you become a tour guide?
It was an opportunity that arose naturally. I had just finished a diploma program in native ornamental flora at the University of Talca, as I am a professional designer and landscape architect. I learned a great deal about native flora in that program, and I loved it! Around that time, the Sendero de Chile Foundation arrived in Talca and, in conjunction with Sernatur (the Chilean National Tourism Service), opened a call for applications to become a nature tourism guide, so I applied and completed the training. It was months of preparation and learning, with many hours of classroom study and field trips. I passed the exams, and for the past 15 years, I have been guiding and showcasing this beautiful region.
You know a lot about native flora. Where does that interest come from?
From a young age, my mother taught me about respect and love for plants and animals. Over the years, I continued studying and exploring until I completed a diploma in landscape design that completely captivated me. Today, it's one of my greatest motivations: finding special, endemic flora and sharing them responsibly, in order to protect and preserve these treasures of the Maule region.
Barbara on a guided tour in Alto Maule.
Mountain Heritage: Exceptional Species and Sites
Is there a plant, tree, or flower with which you have a special connection?
I think there are several that I have a special love for. The violas, of which there are so many, so beautiful and diverse, which are found throughout our country. The Anemone moorei, which is a very rare flower endemic to the Maule region, with only a few recorded populations. Bipinnula apinnula, This is a beautiful orchid endemic to our Maule mountain range, and I recently found it in Parque Inglés, making it the northernmost population discovered so far. As for the trees, the pitras and laurels of the range are some of my favorites, along with the ruiles and queules, which are our endemic trees with very small populations and are constantly threatened by wildfires and forest fires that have decimated them.
Viola turritella. Joao de la Cruz.
Anemone moorei. Felipe Ponce.
Bipinnula apinnula. Felipe Ponce.
You've traveled through areas with incredible geology. Which geological landscape impresses you the most?
One of the most impressive areas of the Maule mountain range is the Planchón-Peteroa Volcanic Complex, highly active and featuring craters with fumaroles and intensely colored lagoons, as well as nearby glaciers. It's a strange mix of minerals, incredibly hot fumaroles, and turquoise ice cascading down the slopes. Another area I love includes the Hornitos volcanoes, the Quillayes maar, the Caracol and Turbia lagoons, the Resolanas and Quizapu craters—a place where you feel small and awestruck by the breathtaking landscape that surrounds you. Finally, there's the Alto Maule region, with its unique rock formations; Laguna del Maule and Carilauna, and the small town of Lo Galaz (better known as La Ciudadela). It's difficult to choose just one place with so much beauty and geological significance in this territory.
Cones from the Hornitos. David Cossio.
Crater of the Quizapu volcano. In the background, the Cerro Azul volcano. Geoffrey Morier.
Carilauna Lagoon. David Cossio.
Yeah If you had to choose only one place in the Maule Andes to return to eternally, which would it be?
Oh, that's a tough one! But I'd choose the Laguna del Maule area, since it's a territory constantly threatened by energy-generating industries, mining, and mass tourism. It needs protection and people to care for it, so I'd happily spend an eternity there helping with its preservation, care, and enhancement.
You've seen many archaeological remains on your routes. Which find or site has made the biggest impression on you?
I've seen countless ancient remains, and it's always exciting to discover something new or visit sites with petroglyphs or rock art. The thought of standing where our ancestors walked 9,000 years ago blows my mind. Just imagining life there back then... wow, it's captivating. It's hard to choose, but what has affected me most in this field was finding the Mellico petroglyphs destroyed. It broke my heart, a sorrow I never thought I'd feel for rocks and their drawings. It still affects me to remember it, because even though four years have passed, the petroglyphs haven't been returned to their original location, and the relevant institutions still haven't provided a concrete solution that would allow progress in their recovery and protection.
Mellico petroglyphs, destroyed after an intervention with machinery. David Cossio.
Passions: Splitboarding and Mountain Living
He splitboard It's one of your greatest passions. What do you get out of exploring the Maule Andes on a board, using only your own strength? Is there a particular descent or ascent that stands out as an unforgettable moment?
Hiking through the mountain range with my splitboard It gives me a profound sense of freedom and autonomy. I don't use snowmobiles and I rarely go to a ski resort, since what I seek is to be able to move using my own body's strength and cultivate the perseverance and patience that the mountain teaches me with every step. Going on treks and exploring snow-covered territories is a dream, and I eagerly await each winter. I don't know if there's one run in particular that I love, because when you find powder snow on a run, it's a truly indescribable feeling; how the board flows, the lightness with which you descend… You really float. I suppose it must be like flying. For this reason, whenever these conditions are present, the happiness and enjoyment are incredible. That said, one of my favorite places is the Hornitos area and the entire valley of the same name; it's a marvel, since you can ski down into the crater of the volcano, and that's not something very typical. It's a special and incredible place to enjoy and camp for a few days.
Have you ever had a moment of fear or deep reflection up there? What does the mountain teach you about life?
The mountains always teach us something; on every outing, you learn invaluable lessons. I feel that these landscapes invite you to reflect; they show you how small you are, to take things calmly and humbly, to analyze everything around you. You become very observant. The mountains bring out the best and worst in you, depending on the moment… For me, it's an opportunity for self-discovery, for cultivating patience, perseverance, teamwork, self-improvement, learning to read the terrain, to observe the environment and its signs, to be cautious and respectful of the immense territory before you, to cultivate mental and physical strength. I believe that once you head to the mountains, you never return the same person; something deep within you changes.
Hiking in the Maule Lagoon.
The Craft of Guiding: Emotion, Learning, and Connection with the Land
What do you enjoy most about guiding in the mountains?
I enjoy every place I visit. I love seeing the wonder on children's faces when we see a condor, a tiny flower, or a magnificent geological formation. I love seeing adults rediscover their inner child, exploring and enjoying the journey. I'm so glad to feel that I contribute to conservation through guided outings, that I can instill a love for our surroundings, and that people will become more aware of the importance of preserving ecosystems and our heritage. I love sharing with the people who live in these places, the lands, and their inhabitants, who have so many stories and lessons to share! I am immensely happy in nature; I enjoy every outing and every moment spent there.
What has been your most exciting or meaningful experience with a group?
I've had several moving experiences guiding groups and individuals, but I believe one of the most significant was leading a family who lost a child up there. I accompanied them to the site, and they performed a beautiful farewell ritual—very emotional, sad, and full of hope all at once. It was deeply touching for me, and I was incredibly grateful for their trust and affection in allowing me to be part of such an intimate and special goodbye.
What do you always try to convey to visitors?
I try to convey the love, care, and gratitude we should have for nature, the land, and its people. The idea that "to know is to protect" is very true, and I try to put it into practice on my outings and in my social media posts; I use these opportunities to touch people's hearts so that, through emotion and knowledge, we can better protect and care for nature, move responsibly through it, learn from it, and preserve it in the best possible way for future generations.
What do you think makes a "good guide"?
Be authentic, respectful, demonstrate love for your work and dedication, be an outdoor educator, and thus contribute to the care of the places and their people. Be kind and always willing to help. Provide safety and share knowledge about the places we visit. Encourage people to experience nature, explore, and always offer a helping hand and support in these remote locations.
Field campaign of the Pillanmapu Geopark Foundation to the Achibueno Canyon, guided by Bárbara and David Gangas. David Cossio.
Vision for the Future
Looking ahead, what do you dream for the future of the Maule mountain range and those who live there, travel through it, and love it as you do?
I dream that the entire Maule mountain range will be a vast National Park, protected by the State. That projects that destroy this treasure we possess and have yet to truly appreciate will have no place here. I dream of resources to carry out diverse research across all scientific disciplines: archaeology, flora, fauna, fungi, geology, and so on, so that we can gather all the valuable information this territory holds. I dream of the establishment of educational infrastructure, with shelters in certain locations that allow visitors to explore this incredible place. I dream of schools having open-air classrooms so that children can develop other skills and become interested in protecting and caring for nature, thus preserving these ecosystems for future generations.
Barbara descending from the Descabezado Grande Volcanic Complex.
One Response
Thank you for your interest in this magnificent territory. Your arrival here has marked a turning point in its appreciation and understanding of the local heritage. I will always be eternally grateful for your dedication, concern, and love for these little-known and undervalued corners. Long live the Pillanmapu Geopark! I love you all so much ❤️✨🌿