
City in Araucanía, Chile
Photo: Puconino, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Snowcapped Villarrica (2861 m) looms majestically over Pucón at 2,840 meters (9,318 feet) above sea level. Climbing to the top is non-technical and, on clear days, easy. Thousands of people make the climb each year, most of them in January and February, taking in the spectacular views of Volcans Llaima, Choshuenco, Quetrupillán, Lanin, and Lonquimay in the horizon. Crampons, ice axe and/or trekking poles and warm windproof clothing are essential equipment year round. To be allowed to climb without a guide you must register with Conaf (in town), have your equipment checked and show proof of membership in a mountaineering organization in your home country. Most people start from the skiing area, where you can take the ski lift for the first 300 m. You can also start from near the refugio, at the Mirador Los Craters. From there the climb is longer, but for those carrying skis or snowboards, that means more riding when descending. Getting to the ski area or Mirador Los Craters is easy hitchhiking. Taxis in Pucón will gladly take you there as well. Most of guided excursions begin at around 07:00 but some agencies offer an earlier 05:00 start and you will get to reach the volcano alone with your team, avoiding the big crowds that arrive later. Agencies will provide equipment and transportation and cost around. Most guides won't go further up after 14:00 so get up early and don't waste too much time on your way up. Be sure to check how much money you'll get back if the climb is canceled due to bad weather.
Alternatively to the over-commercialised Volcano Villarrica, you can also visit Quetrupillan (2,009 m) right behind it and shoot some great pictures of Villarrica and Lanin, which is even higher, at the border. This trek only requires registration with CONAF and a fee of CLP$5,000. The trails starts from S-939, which is a side road of 199-CH between Pucón and Curarrehue. The latter is served by a bus. The trails here can be 2-5 days in length, depending on your route. From Quetrupillan it is possible to go back on the southern side of Volcano Villarrica or heading further southeast, which however can be quite muddy. Likewise you can start north at the foot of Volcano Villarrica and circle it west, south and east to head further to Quetrupillan. To find the trails, consult OpenStreetMap, which many mobile Apps like OsmAnd or Mapy.cz use. However, the trail circling Volcano Villarrica is not visible there. So, either way it is a good idea to obtain some non-committal information beforehand from the CONAF office in Pucón.
A very beautiful and worth a visit national park in close reach of Pucón. Unfortunately, it seems you need to be in and out again between 09:00 and 15:00, which is quite a shame for the price you are supposed to pay and the beauty of the park. They have a camp ground at the entrance of the national park though. Nevertheless, it seems that the eastern entrance and western entrance do not have any restrictions enforced, and an official camp ground is available in the centre of the trail. To find all the trails and potential camp grounds, consult OpenStreetMap, which many mobile Apps like OsmAnd or Mapy.cz use.
Caburgua–Termas
Distance: 19.8 km, hilly to mountainous. Duration: 2-3 days. Grade: Easy to medium (climb to the mountain top viewpoint at 1,750 m can be difficult). Recommended: comfortable clothes and shoes for walking.
In case you are looking for an inexpensive, more exciting and more challenging alternative to the overrun and over-commercialised Huerquehue National Park, check out this trail in the northern part of the national park. Great mountain slopes, wide grasslands, impressive forests with immense trees, and picturesque views of the mountains itself and surrounding ones and volcanoes.
1) You start in Caburgua from where you take the road along the eastern side of the lake until you reach the beginning of the trail. Camp the first night here or continue into the park where you can find further camping opportunities. 2) The next central spot of the trail is the Renahue Camping area, from here you hike up to Mirador Renahue (Pass of decision). And you either continue further south into the rest of the Huerquehue National Park (and back later) or straight up the mountain to about 1,750 m for picturesque views of the three closeby volcanoes of the region (Villarrica, LLaima, and Lanín). 3) Back at Renahue Camping area, the trail continues towards the termas at its eastern end—take the northern part of this trail, details for the termas see below. Take a dip into their refreshing and heating waters, and put up your tent or continue a little further for a free camp site.
There are many camp sites along the trail, as you can see on OpenStreetMap. There are regular buses from Pucon to Caburgua for 800 pesos. Leaving again from the end of the trail (at the termas) is more complicated—in case you intend to hitch-hike, get out of the trail on a Saturday or Sunday when you will also get some weekenders traffic. Otherwise, there is not much local traffic towards Temuco from the termas and waiting/walking for 6 hr is not uncommon. The other road east back to Pucon, however, seems to be more frequented by cars. Or you decide to hike back, taking the southern loop of this trail and then head south via Mirador Renahue through the main touristy part of the national park. Or you come in from the north east, i.e. termas, (with bus or hitch) to begin with. There are sometimes stray dogs along the trail, especially near houses—read Chile#Stay safe for behaviour advice.
Download coordinates: GPX, KML.
5 natural pools next to the river, water around 35-45ºC with a beautiful setting, especially during winter (snow around you).
They have a couple options to stay in, a guest house that has two separate rooms sleeping a total of five people and a small cabana for two. They are very cosy self-catering and slightly out of town, they will come and pick you up. Also outstanding horse riding and trips from there. Getting there is fun, you head over a small bridge on a dust track and then follow the river until you find their property.
Fly fishing wading and drift boat excursions on the Rio Trancura, Licura, San Pedro & all Lake District rivers since 1993. Single day or multiple day guide trips. Fly fishing equipment available. Accepts credit cards.
Climbing Volcanoes and Mountains
Great tours and experienced guides for climbing, scaling, repelling or hiking the mountains and the most spectacular active volcanoes in the south of Chile.
Amity Tours
Amity Tours has programs exploring the ancestral roots of the region with local specialized guides. They offer hiking trips in the national parks, road cycling, volcano-climbing, horse-back riding, insight into the local flora and fauna, ethnic discovery, trips to hot springs, and skiing on active volcanoes.
A good vegetarian restaurant.
Mouthwatering Argentinian barbeque. Book ahead in summer.
Some of the best brick oven pizza in town. Also has a full bar with international TV sports.
Upscale restaurant at Hotel Antumalal with views over the lake. Prior reservations only, no walk-ins.
Amazing Peruvian food - try the fish.
Great place, good food (tacos!) and music.
Not that central but very friendly and comfortable. Ask to pay in US dollars with the online price to save the VAT.
Warm and friendly hostel, excellent place for meeting others in the inviting communal areas. Facilities include a well-equipped kitchen, several fireplaces, free Internet and tea and coffee all day. The owners and staff are friendly and have a wealth of information. It has dorms and private rooms (even one with private fireplace).
Cozy and intimate hostel, with manicured grounds and an outdoor pool.
This lovely little hostel is in a quiet neighborhood a short walk from town. Close to the beach on the lake, lots of common space, including a cozy fireplace for winter and hammock for the summer, this hostel offers great, personalized service. The friendly staff can help you with travel arrangements.
Owned by Chilean-born Australians.
A large hotel on the lake shore with great views of the lake or volcano. It is likely the oldest and most famous hotel in town and it shows. While clean, the rooms, bathrooms and facilities are very dated. The staff speak a little English.
Hotel and spa nestled in 5 ha of private gardens on the Villarrica lake edge. The unique setting merges natural beauty with style and personalized service.
Nice place for a nice price. The cabañas are really great.
Excellent place with views of the lake for an excellent price (2 bedroom, 1 bath cabañas).
Exchanges US dollars at more competitive rates than all the other little money exchanges in town and is also less critical of the quality of your bills. You need a passport to exchange money.
By plane
Pucón's airport operates only during summer (for regular flights); the flights from Santiago are expensive.
By train
Trains run to Temuco in summer (Dec-Feb), and only to Chillan at the rest of the year. Buses are better value.
By car
Driving from Santiago takes approximately 8 hours and involves the passing of seven road tolls on the ruta 5, 1,600 pesos each. The road from the turnoff to Pucón is paved and in good shape.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Temuco · International · ZCO
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Pucon and Chile.
The Gringo trail is a term for places in Latin America visited by gringos, that is, people from North America or Europe. It is the Western Hemisphere's equivalent of tropical Asia's Banana Pancake Trail.
Wikivoyage
For destinations named "Hot Springs", see the Hot Springs disambiguation page. Hot springs are natural features resulting when ground water is heated (sometimes far beyond the level of human endurance) by geothermal…
Wikivoyage
Nature & adventureThis article is specifically about downhill (Alpine) skiing; for cross-country skiing, see Cross country skiing.
Wikivoyage
Chile is one of the most ecologically diverse countries in the world – no other country is as elongated but narrow as Chile.
Wikivoyage
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.