In terms of population and productivity, this is the second most important region of Chile, after the Metropolitan Region. Modern and with a multiplicity of productive activities, as the iron industry and the fishing, the Eighth Region of the Bío Bío is also a great pole of cultural and educational activity.Concepción, the capital of the region, is located at 515 km. south of Santiago. It can be reached by 50-minute regular daily flights for Santiago. Also through the Panamerican South highway. There are buses that leave form the main terminals of Santiago every hour and it usually takes 6 hours to reach Concepción. There are also other buses leaving form other regions.It has a moderate warm climate with intermittent rain, Mediterranean type. The temperature oscillates between the 14º C and the 12.4º C at the coast and cordilleras. The rains exceed the 1000 mm annually and is mainly concentrated between the months of April and November.

Laguna de Laja National Park
It is located at 210 km. south-east of Concepción. It is an area of 11.600 hectares with an altitude of 976 to 2979 m. above sea level. In this area, it is possible to find some sorts of species of flora and fauna in the middle of a pre-Andes landscape full of waterfalls, a volcano, rivers, lagoons, sierra and natural viewpoint places. Among the species of flora are some woods of mountain cypress, araucarias, maiten del Chubut and Radal erano in addition to La maihuencia and cactus which are considered exclusive of the Andes zone of the region. The birds constitute the main population of fauna with 47 species among pajarillos anátidos, rapaces and the condor. We can also find the very important Cordillera partridge and the Andes seagull. Among the most important attractions are the las Chicas and Torbellino waterfalls, both constitute the formation of the Laja river. The rivers of the zone are apt for salmon fishing and the Biobio river is apt for sport activities and adventure due to its many rapids. Also, there is the interesting Velluda and Los Coigües Sierra which are located in the El Chacay sector.

Ralco Natural Reservation
it is located at 114 km. east of Santa Bárbara and at 71 km. from the Ralco village, bordering the Pangue river. It was created to protect the Araucaria Pines of the Ralco Estate. It has superficies of 10.000 hectares with a diversity of native plants and fauna. In the interior of there reservation there are paths of 30 km. which helps to know, among other points of interest, the Mula lagoon, the Quillaicahue valley and the Ralco river.