Pucon is one of Chile’s main resort destinations, sitting in an enviable position on a beautiful lake against a backdrop of Chile’s most active volcano. In fact, Pucon is known by the Mapuche as ‘Gateway to the mountains’ and in the summer months, there are queues of cars crawling towards this resort town on the lake. However, it’s less busy in the shoulder seasons, but equally as beautiful, making it the perfect stop on a road trip through the Chilean Lake District.
Table of Contents
Where is Pucon?
The town of Pucon sits 69 miles (112 km) southeast of Temuco, on the eastern shore of Lake Villarrica in the Chilean Lake District. The other main town on the lake is Villarrica, which sits to the west of the lake.
We travelled to Pucon from Melipeuco after visiting Conguillio National Park, which took about 1.5 hours. Whilst it is not far ‘as the crow flies’, you will need to drive around the sizeable Lake Villarricca, which makes the journey slightly longer. However, it is a very scenic journey as, on the approach to the town of Villarrica, you start to see the Villarricca Volcano, the most active volcano in Chile, looming over the lake town.
You can stay in Villaricca or continue to Pucon, the main hub for outdoor activities and adventures in the Chilean Lake District.
Personally, I think its geography which makes Pucon so special, being situated on a stunning lake, under the shadow of the most active volcano and surrounded by beautiful countryside and national parks.
Villarrica National Park (Parque Nacional Villarrica)
The main attraction of the Pucon area is its lake and access to the Villarrica National Park which offers 243 square miles of wilderness heaven, extending from south of Pucon to the border with Argentina in the east.
A trio of volcanic peaks tower over Villarrica National Park:
- Volcán Villarrica – this is Chile’s most active volcano having erupted 18 times in the 20th century alone. It last erupted in 2015. The indigenous Mapuche people refer to it as the ‘House of the Devil’ (Rucapillán). It is 9,341 ft (2,847 m) high and was still covered in snow when we visited in November.
- Volcán Quetrupillán – this volcano is dormant and snow-capped. It sits next to the Villaricca Volcano on the border between the La Araucanía region and Los Rios region. Its name means ‘mute devil’ in Mapuche.
- Volcán Lanín – sits on the border between Chile and Argentina and is the largest volcano in Southern Chile.
As with Conguillio National Park, to explore Villarrica National Park beyond its boundaries, you will need to purchase a National Park Pass from the CONAF website (www.conaf.org). That said, the tours we booked (see below) didn’t require access with a pass.
The best ways to explore the Villarrica Volcano
Trek up the volcano
You can take a tour to trek up to the crater of Villarrica Volcano with a guide. This full day hike, advertised on Get Your Guide, up to the crater (which is often emitting smoke, and sometimes lava) is challenging and can also be icy as there is a glacier at the top – crampons are required.
Some of the tours give you the opportunity to toboggan or slide down the glacier after the climb. Note – a decent level of fitness is required for this trek.
Enjoy wine tasting at the base of the Volcano
We decided to book a less arduous way to enjoy Volcano Villarrica, with a special wine tasting of Chilean wines at the base of the volcano.
For a very special experience and views of Volcano Villaricca, book this tour on Get Your Guide:
Here’s what to expect if you book this tour:
- Meet your tour guides at the Zenit Travel offices in the centre of Pucon.
- Head up to the base of the volcano in the tour guide’s pickup truck, the vehicle of choice in this neck of the woods, passing ski lodges and ski hire outlets along the way.
- Take a gentle walk around the base of the volcano and learn more about the volcano, its eruptions and lava flows, the nearby trees (a mix of araucarias and southern beech trees) and visit the Mapuche totem which is looking at the sunrise and not at the volcano itself.
- After your walk, sample a selection of Chilean wines at a dressed table set up by the guides in front of the volcano. Sample sharing platters of cheese, piñones (the nuts of the Araucaria) with Merkén, a traditional seasoning of chili and salt used by the Mapuche, thin biscuits and a seed and fruit mix.
- Sit with your tour guides and learn about the wines from experts and learn more about the region in general from locals.
- As you gaze at the snow-capped volcano, it’s hard to believe that it’s Chile’s most active volcano, as it looks so serene and still.
- If you’re lucky, a Bird of Prey will make an appearance on the grass in front of your table as it did for us – not only did the eagle land close to us, but it stayed around for 10 minutes or so…maybe hoping for some snacks?
Take a Helicopter Volcano tour with South Point Experience
If you want a Bucket List experience, then book a helicopter volcano tour with Point South Experiences.
Whilst it’s not cheap, it is a trip of a lifetime and very special indeed. Here’s what to expect:
- Head to the small airport on the edge of Pucon and meet your pilot and tour guide. We rode in a 5-seater 505 Bell helicopter (for those interested in these things!).
- Take off over the valley which could be full of bright yellow gorse in the Spring, before heading off over the tree covered hills, spotting waterfalls and rivers along the way.
- Fly over hilly ridges lined with Araucaria trees, and over the stripy black volcanic and snowy white landscape of the Volcano Quetrupillán.
- Spot people hiking up the volcano on a trail – only for the very fit!
- Swoop over a colourful body of water referred to as the Blue Lagoon, before landing on a flat area of volcanic soil on Volcano Quetrupillán.
- Get out of the helicopter to stretch your legs and soak in incredible views. On a clear day you can see as far as 350 kms around the Chilean Lake District region including Volcan Osorno to the South, Volcan Llaima to the north, and Volcano Lanín straddling the border between Argentina and half Chile. Our guide counted 10 volcanos from our volcano viewpoint.
- Our guide produced hot coffee whilst we soaked in the views. At 10,500 feet high we could see where the lava rivers had cut into the landscape during eruptions.
- Enjoy your morning coffee from a flask before boarding the helicopter and taking off over the crater of Volcano Quetrupillán, before circling and flying over the cone of Volcan Villarrica, Chile’s most active volcano. Keep your eyes peeled for smoke, and even lava, inside the crater.
We felt well looked after by Gonzalo, our guide from Point South Experiences, and Joaquin, the experienced pilot. So, thank you to them and Mother Nature for perfect flight conditions with great visibility and no wind!
Whilst not a particularly relaxed helicopter passenger, I have to admit that after taking this flight, and a flight from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon, helicopters do provide the opportunity for very special experiences and vistas that you just won’t get any other way.
Non-Volcano activities in Pucon
Relax in the hot mineral springs
Okay, so technically this suggestion is still volcano related as volcanic magma heats the underground water of the region, causing the water to rise to the surface as hot mineral pools.
Whilst there are many different hot springs to choose from, the most sought after by tourists are the Termal Geométrica, about 2 hours southeast of Pucon, outside Coñaripe. The hot springs are surrounded by lush vegetation and a waterfall, with red wooden boardwalks connecting around 15 different pools. It is picturesque but expensive, meaning that it’s typically more popular with tourists than locals.
If you don’t have a hire car, then you can book an organised day trip from Pucon, such as this one booked through Get Your Guide:
However, if you want something closer to your base in Pucon then consider visiting the Parque Termal Botanico, which is more like soaking in a botanical garden than in a forest.
White water rafting – the rivers around Pucon offer great opportunities to go white water rafting and ride rapids of different grades, such as:
- Family friendly rapids on the Liucura River or Trancura Bajo River, or
- More challenging rapids for experts on the Trancura Alto River.
Check out this moderate rating white water rafting experience on Get Your Guide:
Canoeing, Kayaking and SUP
Again, there are options for all levels, including:
- A gentle paddle with scenic views on Lake Villaricca, or hire a SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) if you prefer.
- River kayaking on the Palguin River (pretty), Rio San Pedro (clear), Luicura River (see below) or Trancura River (for the adventurous only).
- Adventurous Trancura River, the scenic Palguin River, and the stunning, clear Rio San Pedro.
Canyoning – if you like throwing yourself off rocks into the water in a wetsuit then you can book Canyoning tours from Pucon.
Boat trips on Lake Villaricca – you can take a guided boat trip around Lake Villaricca at sunset from the marina or book a tour on a sailing boat or catamaran.
Alternatively, if you prefer hiking, horse-riding, or mountain biking, then Pucon has plenty of options here as well. It really is the adventure tourism capital of the Chilean Lake District.
Hiking in Huerquehue National Park
The Huerquehue National Park is a must for visitors to the Chilean Lake District who love hiking. Just 35 kms from Pucon (the last bit along dirt gravel roads) will transport you to a hiker’s paradise where you can explore forests, waterfalls and lakeside views.
On arrival at the car park, you will need to show your National Park pass which you can buy in advance on the CONAF website (www.conaf.org). Then, you follow the road around Lake Tinquilco, either through the trees, or on the higher path, passing a field of bee hives and a wooden cafe (closed for us in November, but open in the summer season).
Eventually you will reach a stream after which the trail climbs upwards through the trees to a series of lakes at the top with incredible views over the dense araucaria forest.
There are different lengths of walks which you can take depending on how much time you have, including:
- Sendero Ñirrico – a 4km trail from the park entrance through trees and avenues of bamboo to a stunning viewpoint overlooking Tinquilco Lake.
- Sendero Quinchol and Sendero San Sebastián trails – which climb through the trees to dense Araucaria forest. You will be rewarded at the top with views of both the Villarrica and Lanín Volcanoes.
- The Huequenes Trail (Lago Verde) is a much longer trail through woodland to several smaller lakes – Chico Verde and El Toro. There is a campsite and futher opportunities to visit the Rio Blanco hot springs.
However long you spend in the park you will be rewarded with tranquility, interrupted only by the occasional hiker and sound of water and birds.
Explore the town of Pucon
Along the waterfront – You can stroll around the La Poza waterfront area where you’ll find:
- La Poza Pucon – a small marina from which you can take a sunset cruise on the lake.
- carved wooden statues of Mapuche people.
- the PUCON town sign with the imposing Volcano Villarrica in the background making a great photo stop.
In the town centre – no matter where you go in the town of Pucon, you are in the shadow of the most active volcano, but the novelty of seeing it on every street corner never wore thin as it is majestic.
The town is a cluster of roads comprised of low-rise wooden buildings. There is a square in the centre with more Mapuche sculptures. There are numerous bustling cafes and restaurants, and several tour operators where you can book activities around the area.
Accommodation in Pucon
The first thing to say is that there is a lot of choice when it comes to where to stay in Pucon, with quality accommodation options in prime locations around the lakeside. Choices on Booking.com range from large hotels to complexes of vacation condos and apartments – you certainly won’t be stuck for somewhere to stay in Pucon.
Hotel Antumalal – we booked a couple of nights at the Bauhaus styled Hotel Antumalal through Booking.com, opened by a young Czech couple in 1950. It has lovely Bauhaus design features without feeling dated. You can enjoy lake views and incredible sunsets from the terrace after a day of adventure – in fact, Antumalal means ‘Coral of the seas’ in Mapudungun (the language of the indigenous Mapuche) arising from the sunsets here.
Our experience of staying at Hotel Antumalal was very positive indeed. They had us from the start with our name printed on our bedroom door, instead of a number. This pretty much summed up the personal experience of staying here, and highlights why it’s been a popular choice with Royals and film stars over the years.
Final thoughts.....
There really is something for everyone in Pucon, and you can be as active or as relaxed as you want to during your stay.
However you decide to spend your time in Pucon, I’m sure you’ll find it difficult to tear yourself away from the views when it’s time to leave and continue your journey through the Chilean Lake District.
Next stop, some city time in the river city of Valdivia…..
Thank you so much for reading my blog, I hope you found it useful?
For more stories, itineraries, and advice, check out my Related Posts and sign up to receive my blogs by email.
If you have a blog-related question, please do ask in the Comments box and I’ll try to help…
Request please – if you use my photos, then please credit Love Travel Planning on your social media or give me a shout out on Instagram @lovetravelplanning as I am growing my website. Huge thanks.
Enjoy your travels!
Leave a reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.