Concón

Concón

The Chilean town and commune of Concón situated in the Valparaíso region. The commune of Concón covers an area of 76.0 km2. It is an important tourist center famous for its beaches, balnearies and nightlife. Three of its most famous beaches are Playa Negra, Amarilla and Boca. There are 50 hectares of dunes running along and above the coast, of which about 20 hectares are protected, the rest increasingly occupied by high-rise apartment blocks. The Concon dunes were formed about 25 million years ago and are quite unique, since the various climatic and other geographical conditions that led to their formation cannot be reproduced today. The sand dunes do not extend all the way to the Pacific Ocean, but extend towards the ocean, stopping at a cliff that separates the sand dunes from the ocean. The Dunas de Concón was declared a " Sanctuary of Nature" in 1993. The Concón dunes are mostly a tourist attraction, although you can also meet local people sandboarding and walking. Walking, or rather hiking, on the dunes is a challenge, but it is worth it as you can enjoy the phenomenal views once you reach the top. The dune field is located on a sea terrace, more than 30 meters above sea level, and has stable dunes. It is characterized by small areas of scrub vegetation, while the dominant fauna consists of seabird populations, especially migratory birds such as Chorlos and Little Players, as well as resting areas for Sea Lions and Humboldt Penguins.