Pucon, Chilean Lake Region

Introduction

Located 790km south of Santiago and 112km south-east from Temuco (but 82km from the airport), and within the Araucania Region of Chile, Pucón has developed into a "boutique" lake-side village and a very popular place during the summer months of January and February. Therefore, if you have the option to visit outside of these two months then that would be a better bet. However, here at ExperienceChile.Org we can also arrange for you to be in the “right” hotel and then you will not encounter too many people even if you visit during January and February.

Located at the western end of the lake is the village of Villarrica, however, this is not as popular for tourists as Pucon. The road from Villarrica to Pucon is 27km following the southern lake shore, therefore the lake is approximately 30km long and 5km at its widest point.

The northern side of the lake does not have a paved road, only an unpaved road and this does not link up to Pucon either, so it is not possible to “drive around the lake”. On the northern side there are some private houses.

The area to the east of the lake is spectacular. The lake itself is bordered by rolling hills that rise into mountainous terrain on the north-eastern quarter, and to the south is the magnificent conical, snow-covered (at its summit) and active, Villarrica Volcano.

This zone is a haven for those who like outdoor pursuits such as: white water rafting, climb to the top of the volcano, hikes into the national park, mountain biking, skiing in winter, fishing, and boating; and for those who prefer a slower pace there is golf, walking and hot springs to unwind in! You can participate in as many or few of the activities available, or just sit back and read a good book! It is also an ideal place where you can do nothing and just relax, and enjoy wonderful scenery.

Pucon Village

The centre of Pucon definitely has a certain “vibe”. There are a few streets that are lined with nice restaurants, boutique-style shops, bars and cafes, most with a wooden façade. It is this style that the impression that Pucon is a mountain village perhaps in North America, rather than Latin America. It is this “good feeling”, together with the beautiful surrounding scenery, and numerous activities on offer, that make Pucon a key place to visit.

Most especially when it is winter in the northern hemisphere, but summer in Pucon, that makes it so attractive to visitors between early December through to the end of March.

There are numerous outdoor activity options in this area, but here, we will mention the most popular:

Climbing Villarrica Volcano, and in the winter - skiing down the same volcano; swimming in Lake Villarrica, horse riding, hiking, hot spring baths at Termas de Huiffe or Termas Geometrica (and others), white-water rafting the Tabancura river, fly fishing, sailing and a number of other adrenalin-pumping options. Also there are options to visit numerous National Parks and other lakes in the area.

Perhaps one of the most exciting things to do in life is to “climb” an active volcano. Here at Pucon this is possible with daily departures of groups that walk up the steep-sided slopes of the nearby volcano.

Each person is handed crampons to go over footwear, plus an ice axe. Both implements are designed to grip the ice and snow, and rick scree as you ascend the 45-degree angle of the side of the volcano. The ice axe is there to slow you down should you fall over – you need to roll over and stick the axe into the snow – pretty fast so it acts like a break.

The day is a long one with departures starting from the centre of Pucon village from one of the adventure companies offering the activity, which, it should be known, can be cancelled if the weather is not right. For example, if the volcano is covered in mist, fog or low cloud, or if there is a danger of an immediate eruption.

The hike starts from the ski centre base and then groups either hike up to the old cable car station or ride up on the chair lift to this point. Once at the old cable car station it is hiking all the way up for about 4hours or so.

You cannot “just sit down” if you feel tired, so be aware that this activity requires stamina. Also, near the top there is a strong smell of sulphur (not good if you are asthmatic). However, if you make it, looking down into an actual volcanic crater where there is real, orange and red-hot lava gurgling away is quite a kick, especially when you are also at 2,582m above sea level. In addition to this, the view from this point is nothing less than spectacular.

Coming down is a lot quicker.

This is a full day involving a transfer (or self-drive) of around 67km from Pucon, taking about 1.5hrs, or longer, because the final part involves going up a part of the other side of the Villarrica Volcano.

Considering that bathing in warm to hot water for a long period can make you tired, it is very important that the driver does not take too long in the thermal baths. And, for this reason, it would be prudent to have a private transfer take you there and back.

The hot springs here are unique in their appearance. The owner has very cleverly constructed a number of chunky board walks along a natural, narrow, canyon in the forest, together with a base that serves as a cafeteria providing hot drinks and snacks as well as an indoor fire pit to sit around.

There are a number of pools that have been constructed along the length of the canyon, each providing a different temperature. These are the pools that visitors soak in. Then, at the end of the canyon, which is higher up than at the beginning, there is a natural waterfall. The sides of the canyon walls are covered in large “Nalke” leaves, mosses and other forest flora and at along the top are the forest trees.

At certain points there are lockers where visitors can leave their clothes and valuables.

Visitors can come during the day or time it so you arrive for the night time and then, if you are lucky, you can soak in natural hot water and then gaze up at the milky way.

These termas are located about 25km due east from Pucon. On the way to Huife the scenery is very reminiscent of that seen in the Alps, with green pastures, rolling hills, forested hill sides and snow-covered mountains in the distance.

One of the best aspects to Termas de Huife has to be its setting, which is beside a natural river and surrounded by lush, green vegetation as well as being overlooked by green forested hills. However, it also does get quite busy during the months of January and February.

Termas the Huife used to be the best place to visit for the Thermal Bath experience, until Geometrica came along. However, it still is a great place to come to, although it is much more of a traditional hot spring with two purpose-built open air, swimming-pool like baths where people soak up the minerals, and a third indoor pool that has special jacuzzi jets under some of the lounger seats in the pool.

There is also a place to receive massages and small, private cubicles to soak, privately, in a deep thermal bath.

Termas de Huife, unlike most hot spring places also offers accommodation, so people can overnight, as well as a restaurant for all required meals.

Other hot spring spots are Palguín, Río Blanco, Quimey-Co and Peumayen, among others.

Villarrica National Park covers 63 thousand hectares that includes extensive lenga and araucaria trees at the higher treeline and then raulí, long-leafed mañío and coigue at the lower altitudes. Among the forests can be found pumas, chilla and culpeo foxes, peucos, quiques, pudúes, cipos as well as monitos del monte, which is one of the three species of marsupials that exist in Chile.

With regards to bird life there are often these varieties to be seen flying around: Aquatic birds such as ducks, huala and the common tagua. In addition, it is possible to spot the blanca, azul, huinfinca, verde, avutardas, quillelhue and los patos lagoons.

On the activity front it is possible to climb the volcano (see further above), visit the natural volcanic caves and ski in the winter months.

Trekking within Villarrica National Park

Trails Include:

Villarrica Crater: 5 kms / 6 hrs round trip.
The Chilean Path, stretch Los Venados: 15 kms, 10 hrs.
Los Nevados: 8 kms / 5 hrs.
Los Cráteres Viewpoint: 4 kms / 2.6hrs round trip.
The Chilean Path stretch Challupen –Chinay: 23 kms / 12 hrs.
Turbio River: 4 kms / 4 hrs round trip.
The Chilean Path stretch Las Avutardas: 17 kms / 12 hrs.
Momolluco: 12.5 kms / 6hrs.
Quinquilil Volcano: 6 kms / 2.3hrs.
Pichillancahue: 3.3 kms / 2.6hrs round trip.
Rinconada de Huillico: 10 kms / 6hrs.
Andean Lakes: 12 kms / 6 hrs.
El Mocho Stream: 4 kms / 2hrs round trip.
Colonia Benavides: 4 kms / 2.6hrs round trip.
Fauna Trail: 150 metres / 30 min.
El Aguilucho: 4kms / 8 hrs.
Villarrica Journey: 6 kms / 4 hrs.

It all started back in 1881 when the army, then station at Villarrica (western end of Lake Villarrica) ventured to the area now known as Pucón in order to install a presence in order to control the pass from Argentina into Chile. This military outpost was the first “settlement” in this sector, just to the east of the actual Plaza de Armas and, effectively, the beginnings of Pucón village.

Shortly afterwards came those who could see business opportunities in leather and timber. Then, in 1904, the Chilean government gave away territory north of Lake Villarrica as well as north of the River Toltén, with a view to encouraging people to settle here. One group of businessmen from Santiago accepted this offer, who, in turn, brought in twenty immigrant families from Germany who settled in Llafenco, north of the Trancura river. This caused a displacement in the indigenous Mapuche population who “retreated” to Quelque, Palguin Bajo and Curarrehue.

The principal business activity, at that time, was lumber and livestock, which, in turn generated the influx of more settlers. Some shops began to open for the newly arriving population and in 1923 the first hotel called the Gudenschwager was established.

It was obvious that this corner of Lake Villarrica was a special place and that it would be attractive to any visitors seeking a holiday. It was then not long before the first, major touristic hotel opened, called the Gran Hotel Pucón, situated on the north side of the current main Plaza de Armas. The Gran Hotel Pucón was promoted as a “luxury resort” with its own beach, park and golf course, and located right in front of the lake.

People coming to Pucón would arrive, mainly, by train to Villarrica and then take a boat across the lake to Pucón. The road between Villarrica and Pucón was not constructed until 1940.

Following the success of the Gran Hotel, two other, smaller hotels, were opened by German families and these were popular with people from the art world such as the National Ballet of Chile. The destination became a “hot spot” for intellectuals and artists. However, fishermen also had regularly visited the area since 1930 and Pucón also became established as a centre for fly fishing. All of this created an impression that Pucón was an “exclusive” destination.

When the Hotel Antumalal opened in 1945 it also received many fishermen, both from Chile and other countries as well as artists and the “social elite” of Chile.

Later, between 1967 and 1969 the unpaved road route between Freire, on the Ruta 5, to Villarrica was opened up, as well as the lake-shore route Villarrica to Pucon. This was followed by other road routes being laid to Lake Caburga, Huife, Curarrehue, Puesco and Lican Ray. This connectivity opened this part of the Chilean Lake Region to an influx in tourism.

However, it was really at the decade that followed the end of the dictatorship under General Pinochet (ended February 1990), so heading to 2000, that Pucón began to be noticed by foreign visitors coming to Chile. As a consequence of an increase in the numbers of people coming into this area, year after year, more and more hotels have been built, as, too, more boutique-style shops have opened in the village, along with up-market restaurants. Alongside this growth has been the action of property developers who have bought land and built apartments, and private houses.

All of this as resulted in Pucón, during the peak summer months, being quite “busy”.