A Local’s Guide to Travel in Pucón, Chile
Pucón is an amazing adventure and outdoors destination in the northern part of Chile’s Lake District, nestled spectacularly between lakes, forests, and volcanos. Because of its proximity to the Andes, its name means “entrance to the mountain range” in the Mapudungun language of the native peoples that have inhabited this area for centuries and whose descendants still leave their mark in the area’s culture and cuisine.
Pucón lies on the eastern shore of Lake Villarrica, and with a population of 30,508 people, is a year-round destination that attracts visitors from all over the world. Although most people come to ski or hike the near-perfect slopes of the fiery Villarrica volcano, when I’m here, I personally enjoy practicing water sports or just relaxing in the warm waters of the nearby hot springs and disconnecting from hectic city life.
This lovely area, which was once an exclusive summer holiday location, has evolved into the capital of adventure tourism in Chile, bringing prosperity and global recognition to Pucón and its surroundings over the years.
While you might not expect this from an outdoor haven, I also really like the city’s nightlife and restaurant scene, which are considered to be among the best in southern Chile.
So, whether you’re looking to pump your adrenaline or slow down your revolutions, Pucón is an ideal stop when traveling in the south of Chile.
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Table of Contents
Why visit
Where is Pucón?
How to get here
How long to spend
Best time to visit
Where to stay
Restaurants and dining
What to see and do
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Why visit?
I’ve always found that, despite its small size, Pucón is a very lively place with quite a bit going on at any time of year. At the same time though, it’s the perfect getaway to connect with nature and disconnect from the hustle and bustle of modern life.
That said, the main reason to visit Pucón is because it’s an excellent base from which to explore Chile’s Lake District. The town is a regional hub and it has plenty of hotels, some good restaurants, all the tourist services you could need, and lots of tour operators with whom you can book excursions and activities.
It’s also really the only destination in Chile that allows you to enjoy visits to an active volcano, various national parks, hot springs, rivers, lakes, and cultural sites all within 20 miles of the town’s center.
Simply put, Pucón is the perfect base for those looking for outdoors adventure and adrenaline sports.
On the more leisurely side of things, this somewhere that you can just take it easy and bask in the sun on Lake Villarrica’s beaches, sail to a secluded island, have a soak at one or more of the many hot springs, hike among ancient rainforests, or tour local wineries and craft breweries.
And if you’re looking for some action and thrills, you can go whitewater rafting down some of the best rivers in Chile, and then climb up or ski down the slopes of an active volcano, enjoying breathtaking views.
Where is Pucón?
Rising on the eastern shore of Lake Villarrica, Pucón is a mountain destination located approximately 485 miles south of Santiago, Chile’s capital city, and 62 miles southeast of Temuco, in the Araucanía Region. This marks the beginning of the geographical zone that locals in Chile identify as ‘the South’, and the northern part of Chile’s Lake District.
This is also known as the Mapuche heartland because it’s where most descendants of those indigenous peoples still live in our country. Pucón is also just 43 miles west of the frontier from Argentina, which also has a significant presence of Mapuche communities.
In this entire area, you’ll be able to see the largest patches of forests of the native and endangered monkey puzzle tree, called pehuén in their local indigenous language (Mapudungun) or araucaria in Spanish.
Several protected areas have been created to conserve this and other important plant and animal species in the region. These include some prominent national parks close to Pucón, like Villarrica (8.5 mi south of the city) and Huerquehue (22 mi northeast of the city).
Another important park nearby is Conguillío National Park. Although it’s farther away (approximately 122 mi north of Pucón), it’s still possible to go there on a day trip.
No matter where you choose to go when in this area, any of these places will provide wonderful views and unforgettable experiences!
How to get here
Since Pucón is located in southern Chile, trips here usually begin in Santiago. Below, I’ll explain the different ways to get here depending on where you start and whether you prefer air or overland travel.
Arriving by plane
To get to Pucón, first you need to decide if you want to go there straight from Santiago or if you prefer to take a 1.5-hour flight to Temuco, which may actually make your journey shorter (you’ll see what I mean when you read the available options below), and travel to Pucón from there.
All three domestic Chilean airlines offer regular flights between Santiago and Temuco, some of them daily.
Once you arrive to the Temuco airport, you will have three options to reach Pucón: hire a private transfer, drive a rental vehicle, or take a public bus from Temuco.
Arriving by bus
From Santiago: Several bus companies offer regular overnight buses directly from Santiago to Temuco or Pucón. The trip takes approximately 10 hours, depending on traffic and weather conditions.
For these long bus rides, you’ll see that companies offer semi-cama (half-way reclining seat) and cama (fully reclining seat) options, which are more expensive than a traditional seat, but also make the journey far more comfortable.
From Temuco: If you want to take a bus from Temuco to Pucón after your flight from Santiago, you’ll need to get from the airport to the bus station (Terminal Temuco Rodoviario, Calle Vicente Pérez Rosales N° 01609), where many companies offer frequent services throughout the day.
The trip takes approximately one and a half hours. You can check timetables and rates on these websites featuring both Spanish and English dashboards: https://kupos.cl/en and https://www.recorrido.cl/en
Driving to Pucón
You can also get to Pucón by car, although this decision will depend on where you're coming from. The city sits in the beginning of what is considered southern Chile and is almost on the eastern border with Argentina.
To get here, whether you are coming from the north or south, you will need to travel along Route 5 - Chile’s primary north-south road, which runs the entire length of the country - before eventually branching off onto Route 199, a local highway.
From Santiago the drive takes 8.5 hours and covers 484 miles.
From Puerto Varas, at the southern end of the lake district, the drive takes approximately 5 hours, covering almost 200 miles.
Alternatively, if you choose to fly into Temuco, the nearest big city, the trip is much faster and you can rent a car there and then continue on to Pucón. The drive will take between 1.5 to 2 hours, covering close to 62 miles.
Taking a private transfer
If you want to travel comfortably but don’t feel like driving, then you can hire a private transfer from the Temuco airport to Pucón.
You can book it in advance through several local tour operators or the official transfer company. The taxi or transfer from the airport to Pucón usually takes between an hour and an hour and a half, depending on traffic.
How long to spend
For an ideal introduction to Pucón, I suggest staying for at least three days. This gives you enough time to hike up Villarica Volcano, relax on Lake Villarica, get out to some of the nearby natural areas and national parks, engage in any number of active pursuits like hiking, mountain biking, white water rafting, visit a spa/hot spring, and more.
Here’s a quick overview of how you could potentially spend 3 days here.
Day 1
I recommend you start by walking around to get a feel of the city, and go up to a lookout at the Santa Clara Monastery that provides a full view of Pucón. You can also stroll along the playa grande (large beach), the main square, and the handicraft fair. If you’re not too tired and time allows, head to La Poza, where you can board a catamaran to sail Lake Villarrica.
After lunch, a great option is a three-hour excursion to the base of the Villarrica Volcano that will take you up to the Pillán Mountain Center, located 4,101 ft above sea level. Here, you will get amazing panoramic views of the Llaima volcano and the Villarrica, Calafquén and Huilipilún lakes. Take some time to photograph the landscapes and explore the area.
Day 2
On Day 2, I suggest you take a full day to visit the Termas Geométricas (Geometrical Hot Springs), the most famous ones nearby Pucón. Although they are relatively close (56 mi), the entire day trip will take approximately six hours.
I love disconnecting from the hectic day-to-day life in one of the beautiful 20 hot spring pools with temperatures between 95º F and 113º F. All of them are connected through wooden walkways in the middle of nature, providing a sense of complete mindfulness.
Day 3
On Day 3, I encourage you to engage in any activity that better suits your interests, since there’s so much to choose from. As I’ve mentioned before, you can practice water sports in the lake during the summer, and you can ski or snowboard down the volcano slopes during the winter. But that’s not all.
You can choose from a broad variety of experiences, including adventure activities such as rafting, fishing, or horseback riding, or visiting local Mapuche communities to learn more about the ancestral heritage and even taste the local delicacies, among others. There’s so much to see and do in Pucón!
I’m sure you’ll have no problem finding your next favorite escapade for your third day here.
Best time to visit
Photo: Claire Provost, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Although this is a destination that can be visited all year round, in my opinion, the best time to visit Pucón is during our summer (December to March) or the winter (June to September). Which one you prefer will depend on the activities you’re looking to engage in.
Keep in mind, however, that Villarrica Volcano is the most active volcano in Chile and for over a decade has been officially classified as the one posing the greatest risk to surrounding populations in case of an eruption. Therefore, before planning your trip to Pucón, I suggest checking the volcano’s latest activity.
Summer (December to March)
This is the preferred season by Chileans to come to Pucón, since this is a rainy area, and these months are considered the ‘dry season’ (although you might still get some rain). This is the time of year with the lowest rainfall and the highest temperatures, which range daily between 46.4° F and 75.2° F.
That’s why this is the perfect time to come if you want to enjoy water sports, hiking, or mountain climbing, since you’ll have better weather. But don’t forget to always carry a light rain jacket, just in case you face sudden showers or temperature drops.
Additionally, this is the high season for tourism in Chile, when you’ll find the broadest offer throughout the year and when most tourist attractions are operating, but you’ll also run into more crowds. This is because Chileans usually take their annual holidays in February and children don’t start school again until March.
Autumn (March to June)
This is considered like a mid-season (media estación) in Chile, so people usually dress in layers because the weather can go either way. You might have a sunny morning and a raging thunderstorm in the afternoon, so it’s always wise to carry a rain jacket or poncho. Daily temperatures range between 41° F and 71.6° F.
It’s a good time to visit, since things are winding down after the summer vacations. However, some people will take a long weekend (when a Friday or Monday are classified as a holiday, creating a three-day weekend) in either March or April, since Good Friday is a public holiday in Chile.
This is a great season to do the Lagos Andinos (Andean Lakes) trail in Villarrica National Park. Just a little over an hour from Pucón, close to the border with Argentina, the awe-inspiring landscape with forests revealing the many colors of autumn and beautiful lagoons at the foot of the Lanín Volcano will take your breath away.
Winter (June to September)
This is the coldest season and the one when most attractions are closed, except for those related to skiing. Pillan Mountain Center (formerly Ski Pucón) has world-renowned ski tracks with various levels of difficulty that you can enjoy, and in some areas you can sleigh down the slopes of Villarrica Volcano.
Most schools also have a two-week recess, commonly between the end of June and beginning of July, so some families do travel to experience winter sports. This is also the season with the shortest days, with the sun setting at approximately 6:30 p.m. Daily temperatures range between 39.2° F and 51.8° F.
If you’re here in June, don’t miss the winter solstice celebrations held by the indigenous communities, since it’s a sacred date for them. It’s also a public holiday in Chile, known as Indigenous Peoples Day. Although the exact day varies, it usually falls between June 20 and June 22.
Spring (September to December)
Spring is also considered a mid-season (media estación) in Chile, but the sunnier days and higher temperatures inspire people to enjoy the outdoors more. Daily temperatures range between 41° F and 69.8° F. This is a great time to try the local cuisine, including some fruits and vegetables that are not available during other seasons, like artichokes, asparagus, strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries.
You can also have a lamb on the spit under a lush canopy in the forest which is typical of this area and a very intricate process to watch.
If you come on the week of September 18, you might run into some people celebrating Chile’s independence from Spain. You may also see more crowds, as schools take a recess that week and parents usually request some vacation days to enjoy the entire week off with their children.
Most places will be closed on September 18th and 19th, unless they have special permits to hold Fondas, which are traditional parties to celebrate this festivity.
Where to stay
Photo: Puconino, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Small towns in Chile have a tendency of being built around a specific reference point and expanding deliberately out from there. In Pucón, Lake Villarrica is the dominant characteristic of the town, and sitting on its western edge, the rest of the town expands eastward from the lake.
So, from west to east, you will find the area of La Poza (the Pond), where the dock and some of the best hotels overlooking the lake are located. Around the same area but a bit to the north, you’ll find the playa grande (large beach). This is a major attraction, with its paved pedestrian promenade. It’s suitable for bathing and practicing water sports and other recreational activities.
As you move away from this point, heading east towards the Andes, you can follow the main road, Bernardo O’Higgins Street, towards the intersection with Paseo Ansorena, a promenade where you’ll find handicraft stalls, food trucks, and over 30 restaurants and cafés.
Now that you’ve got your bearings, that should help you decide the right area of town to stay. Being pretty small though, exactly where you end up isn’t especially important, as nowhere is ever going to be too far away.
Pucón is a tourism hotspot with accommodation options suitable for all budgets, ranging from apartments that locals rent on a daily basis - usually without any additional services - to 5-star hotels.
Airbnbs are not very common and, just like the rideshare apps, are not fully regulated in Chile, so I suggest you stick with official options.
Additionally, unless they are owned by foreign hotel chains, most accommodations in Chile include breakfast in their rate. But it’s best that you confirm this information when booking.
The following are a few places close to the lake shore that I would recommend among the many alternatives available. Keep in mind that rates are only referential.
Antumalal
This is one of the oldest and most traditional hotels in the area. It’s built on a rocky promontory overlooking the lake in a beautiful location a little over a mile away from downtown Pucón.
Although it’s on the high end, it’s totally worth it if you have a fairly loose budget. And you can show off that you spent the night at the same hotel that hosted Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip during their visit to Pucón in 1968.
The average rate for a double room is US $224 per night.
Enjoy Pucón
If you prefer a livelier and more modern feel, this hotel is owned by the Enjoy casino chain, with properties in eight cities throughout Chile. It’s conveniently located in downtown Pucón and you can take advantage of the casino within its premises.
The average rate for a double room is US $95 per night.
Hotel Costanera Pucón
With a more rustic feel, this hotel is also located within walking distance of Pucón’s main sights. It combines luxury services and amenities with a natural setting that makes you forget you’re in the middle of the city.
The average rate for a double room is US $76 per night.
Lucky's Hostel
This hostel with a family feel is a great place to meet fellow budget travelers, get local tips from the owners, and enjoy staying in a mountain lodge setting. Some rooms have a kitchenette with a refrigerator and stove, making it easy to cook your own food.
The average rate for a double room is US $66 per night.
B&B de Germán
This bed and breakfast approximately eight blocks away from Lake Villarrica is set in a charming wooden house and has a garden with a swimming pool, as well as a coffee shop and lounge.
The average rate for a double room is US $56 per night.
Hotel Selina Plaza Pucón
If you’re a digital nomad or travel addict, this is definitely the hotel for you! It’s the first owned in Chile by Selina hotels, a chain that stands out for its coworking spaces, which are really comfortable and cozy, at least in this location.
Even though it’s in a historic building, it doesn’t have an old-fashioned vibe. Its wood floors, colorful walls, and local artwork mixed with modern furniture create an inspiring working environment.
The average rate for a double room is US $52 per night. They also have shared rooms with four, six, and eight bunk beds at lower rates.
Restaurants and dining in Pucón
Being a mountain destination, the culinary scene in Pucón is mainly focused on meats and local products from the countryside, but with local variations mostly linked to the area’s Mapuche heritage. Most restaurants are located in the main road of the city, Bernardo O’Higgins Street, especially close to the corner with Colo Colo Street.
Foods to try in Pucón
Catuto or mültrün (in the local Mapudungun language), which is a pastry made with wheat and then boiled or fried and served with honey.
Muday or wheat cider: this is a beverage with a rather low alcoholic level that is made through the fermentation of cereal grains, which are removed in the final preparation. It’s also used in rituals such as the nguillatún, a Mapuche ceremony that seeks connection with the spiritual world.
Piñones: these are the seeds of the monkey puzzle tree - called pehuen in Mapudungun or araucaria in Spanish - and a significant component of the regular diet of these communities. Sometimes they are ground and used to make flour for baked preparations.
Merkén: this red chili powder is a classic ingredient in Mapuche foods. It’s made from smoked cacho de cabra (goat horn) chili, which is ground and combined with other spices, resulting in a condiment with an intense and spicy flavor. It has been adopted throughout Chile and locals add it to almost any dish.
Good restaurants
Trawen: This is a popular restaurant offering mostly Chilean dishes and desserts with an innovative twist, all of them made with produce from their own organic garden. Their menu includes vegan and vegetarian options as well.
Located only three blocks from the lakeshore, it has the homey feel of a mountain cabin and you can enjoy eating at the outdoor terrace while not paying excessive prices.
Andiamo Cucina Italiana: There’s no shortage of Italian restaurants in Pucón, and this one of the best of them. Their food always tastes homemade, as if it was just cooked by ‘la nonna’. Their prices are on the high end, but totally worth it. You’ll find it nearly seven blocks from the lakeshore.
D’Toros Patagonia Bistro: Almost six blocks from the lakeshore, D’Toros Patagonia Bistro is the preferred place to share a good Chilean-style barbecue. You can choose your favorite cut, and their grillers will prepare it the way you like it.
They also serve many other dishes, including pasta, seafood, and national specialties. And you can choose to eat indoors or outdoors, in a very relaxing atmosphere.
Wenu Pillán Craft Brewery & Restaurant: On the road between Pucón and Villarrica, this is a place you absolutely should not miss if you’re a fan of beer. It produces four types of beer, all of them with Mapuche names that reflect the origins of its owners.
I tried the Toki and Weychafe and loved them! You can also eat at the terrace and enjoy a varied menu that even includes Thai dishes. It’s quite an experience!
La Fábrika: A little café approximately eight blocks from the lakeshore, La Fábrika is a good spot to enjoy great coffee, tea, and all kinds of sandwiches, pizzas, bread, and baked goods.
I love the kuchens (german-style pies typical of southern Chile) and the Chai latte. There’s a homey feel to the place that just makes you enjoy some mindfulness!
Criolla: Criolla is famous for having the best homemade Chilean cuisine in Pucón, and for offering it at super affordable prices. With a simpler decoration than other restaurants, but an equally high-quality standard, everything here is delicious.
Aside from the traditional dishes, they serve all kinds of Chilean-style sandwiches and empanadas (turnovers) as well. It’s also located nearly eight blocks from the lakeshore, on Miguel Ansorena Street.
What to see and do in Pucón
1. Climb to the crater of Villarrica Volcano
The Villarrica volcano is undoubtedly the area’s greatest attraction. If you can, you should definitely attempt to climb it! With an altitude of 9,340 feet above sea level, and despite having the reputation of being the most active in South America, it is the epicenter of tourism around Pucón. Because of its high volcanic activity, however, sometimes you will only be able to reach 7,874 feet above sea level due to safety reasons.
Nevertheless, the view is impressive and will allow you to see several lakes and mountains. Depending on the volcano’s activity, you might even be able to see the magma inside its open crater.
When the volcano is covered with snow, you can descend in sleds, which is an absolute blast and a really way to get down the volcano after a hard climb up!
Volcanic activity on Villarica. Photo: FranciscoBarreraMartínez, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
2. Visit a network of lava caves
If you’ve ever dreamt of going to the center of the Earth, then this is your chance! You only need to visit Parque Cuevas Volcánicas (Lava Caves Park), located approximately 7.5 mi away from Pucón on the slopes of the Villarrica volcano.
A lava tube or cave is formed as a result of a lava flow seeking an exit during an eruption. Because of its high temperature, the lava flow slides downward, following the slope or existing channels, to the volcano’s exterior.
Through trails extending nearly 2,300 ft, you can explore these caves with a guide and see the inside of an active volcano. The caves are equipped with lighting and steps so that visitors can walk around them easily.
Afterwards, you can learn more about the area at the Volcanological Information Center and relax at the café enjoying the views.
These are so impressive that Louis Vuitton chose this location a few years ago to shoot one of its advertising campaigns.
3. Ski down the slopes of Villarrica Volcano
The volcano’s ski resort, now called Pillán Mountain Center, has been a favorite winter destination for decades. There are seven ski tracks at varying difficulty levels, so this is appropriate for beginners to advanced skiers. It's not an especially big resort, but if you're visiting in winter, skiing is one of the main things to do here, so I recommend it all the same.
There are also snow tubing and sledding areas for people who prefer not to ski. The ticket office is located at 3,937 feet above sea level and several chair lifts can take you to the higher areas, where you can access the tougher tracks and the restaurant.
Photo: ErwinWoenckhaus, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
4. Bottle your own wine in Pucón’s first winery
Wineries are rare in southern Chile because of its climate. So, you shouldn’t miss the chance to visit Pucón’s first winery – Pinwine - at the foot of the Villarrica volcano. Visits start off with a tour of the vineyard, which has great views of Lake Villarrica, and then move to the winery, where they teach you about the entire winemaking process.
One of the really fun and more unique aspects of a tour here is that they also let you bottle some wine yourself, and they give you the bottle to take home! Afterwards, of course, they offer tastings of their signature wines, served with a platter of local cheeses that are truly mouthwatering.
5. Go rafting on the Trancura River
The Trancura River is among the best for whitewater rafting in Chile. You can choose between rafting on the higher or lower parts of the river, which differ mainly on their level of difficulty. The higher Trancura River is known for its strong class IV rapids, including El Chuncho, Garganta Del Diablo, El Feo, and La Última Sonrisa.
If you’re not an expert, however, you might prefer rafting down the lower Trancura River, so you can enjoy class II and III rapids. Several tour operators in Pucón offer these excursions, which usually last three hours and can be booked either in the morning or afternoon.
Both experiences will provide you with privileged panoramic views of the Villarrica volcano and other mountains covered by native forests. The lower Trancura River whitewater rafting ends at the bridges that connect Quelhue, one of the last fully Mapuche communities in the area, with the international road from Pucón to Argentina.
In order to return to Pucón, you will have to choose a bridge for the crossing; one of them is a modern concrete bridge, while the other is a beautiful old suspension bridge traditionally used by locals.
Rafting on the Trancuro River. Photo: Warko, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
6 Experience Mapuche culture at the Kui Kui summer fair
If you’re in Pucón during the summer, you should definitely visit the Mapuche Kui-Kui de Quelhue customs fair. Held each year in January and February in Quelhue, a small locality approximately 2 mi east of Pucón, it usually gathers over 20 stalls where you can taste the best local food, buy traditional handicrafts, and play typical games like the palín, which is similar to modern-day hockey.
The highlight of the event is the ruka, a replica of a traditional Mapuche hut where descendants of these indigenous peoples share their heritage and gastronomy with visitors.
During the weekends, the fair presents Mapuche dance performances and live music shows with artists representing different genres.
7. Pamper yourself at a hot spring resort
Pucón is also well known for being the gateway to more than 15 hot springs along the Liucura, Trancura, and Palguín rivers. Although they all meet high standards to be recognized as such, three of them stand out for being the favorites among visitors.
The most famous are the Termas Geométricas (Geometrical Hot Springs), which consist of 18 stone pools filled with pure unfiltered and unheated hot spring water amid the native forests of the Villarrica National Park. They are the farthest away of the three, approximately 32 mi from Pucón, but definitely worth the trip.
About 21 miles northeast of Pucón, along the Liuncura River, the Termas de Huife is the second option. It includes a hotel, four hot spring pools, a restaurant, a garden, and a spa center that offers chocotherapy, reflexology, or mud therapy, among other treatments.
Finally, the Parque Termal Menetúe is located approximately 19 miles east of Pucón, along the Trancura River. The compound has a hotel, five pools, and a restaurant, all of them built with rock and wood, creating a very relaxing and rustic atmosphere.
There’s also a vineyard, Aires de Menetúe, where they grow Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes to produce their own wines, which you can taste while at the facility, providing a rare experience this far south in Chile.
The Termas Geométricas, outside of Pucon. Photo: Falk2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
8. Hike among native forests
The closest hiking area is Villarrica National Park, a public protected area encompassing nearly 156,000 acres of forests, several small lakes, and three volcanos: Lanín (12,388 ft), Villarrica (9,340 ft), and Quetrupillán (7,742 ft). Of the park’s seven trails, the most famous is Villarrica Traverse, which goes around the three volcanos and guides you through most of the park. It can take between 3 to 5 days to complete it.
Although farther away, Huerquehue National Park is another public protected area worth visiting as well. The most popular of its five trails is Los Lagos, which includes two circuit options that you can follow, both of them with medium difficulty.
The short option (8 mi round trip) goes along the Chico, Verde, and Toro lakes, while the long one (10 mi round trip) in addition to those three includes the Los Patos and Huerquehue lakes.
Santuario el Cañi is a private protected area created by a group of local residents seeking to prevent a patch of land from being sold to a timber company in the 1990s. It’s located in Pichares, 13 mi from Pucón, on the road that leads to Termas de Huife, and harbors a beautiful expanse of native pehuen or araucaria (monkey puzzle) trees.
They have one main request to their visitors: Walk quietly, respecting the silence of the forest, and then you’ll be able to hear the many other beings that inhabit it.
A panoramic vista in Villarica National Park. Photo: Natalia Reyes Escobar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
9. Run the Ironman 70.3 Pucón race
If running a triathlon is in your bucket list, then you shouldn’t miss participating in the Ironman 70.3 Pucón Chile, often considered the most beautiful race in the world. Since 2001, each January this city holds the Half Ironman or Ironman 70.3 Pucón, which is part of the World Triathlon Corporation circuit.
The three courses that participants must complete are: the swim (1.2 mi) in Lake Villarrica from Pucón’s Playa Grande, the bike (56 mi) on the international road to Argentina up to Ruka Ñanco with one turn, and the three-loop run (13.1 mi) in town and on the Peninsula, covering hilly and flat terrain.
Even if you don’t get the trophy, you’ll feel triumphant for living a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
10. Explore the city of Villarrica and Aillaquillen island
On the opposite shore of Lake Villarrica, a mere 15 mi away from Pucón, you’ll find the city of Villarrica, with a population of 60,327 people. It has six beaches available during the summer, where you can hire equipment to enjoy recreational fishing and a broad variety of water sports like swimming, kayaking, sailing sport fishing, swimming, and water skiing, among others.
Although its tourism offer is similar to that of Pucón, there are some unique places worth exploring here. One of them is the Mallolafquén Urban Wetland, which covers nearly a mile of the lakeshore and is a fantastic birdwatching site.
The city of Villarrica also provides the closest access to the beautiful Aillaquillén island, which lies almost at the center of the lake, approximately 4 mi from the pier on General Korner Street.
With an area of nearly 12 acres of forests and beaches, the island provides great opportunities for camping and practicing activities such as ziplining, hiking, kayaking, and snorkeling.
Several local tour operators offer different ways to reach the island, including a ferry, zodiac boats, motorboats, and kayaks. This is an excursion that you definitely shouldn’t miss!
Playa Pucára in the city of Villarica. Photo: FranciscoBarreraMartínez, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped from original
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Carola Fresno
Chile Expert based in Patagonia
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I'm Carola, and I've been a tour guide & travel consultant here in Chile for the last 14 years. If you're looking for some local advice on your trip, I'd love to help!
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