This active town at the base of Villarrica volcano has black sand beaches on Lake Villarrica and thermal springs nearby. Popular for skiing, hiking and kayaking.
Pucón sits on Lake Villarrica's eastern shore in Chile's Lake District, where the active Villarrica volcano rises 2,847 meters above the town. You can watch steam rise from the volcano's crater after a challenging climb, ski its snowy slopes from June to September, or paddle through Lake Villarrica's clear waters. Walk among 1,000-year-old Araucaria trees in Huerquehue National Park, swim in waterfalls, and soak in any of the 15 thermal hot springs that dot the Liucura, Trancura, and Palguín rivers.
Getting to Pucón
You can reach Pucón by flying to La Araucanía International Airport near Temuco, followed by a 1.5-hour drive. The town is 780 km south of Santiago, making it a 9-hour drive along Route 5 and then east through Villarrica.
Climbing Villarrica Volcano
The Villarrica volcano rises 2,847 meters above sea level and remains South America's most active volcano. The guided climb takes 6-8 hours and requires crampons and ice picks. In winter (June to September), you can ski on the volcano's slopes and see five lakes from the summit.
Lakes and Rivers
A black sand beach stretches for 3 kilometers along Lake Villarrica, with water temperatures reaching 20°C (68°F) in summer. The Trancura River has two main sections for rafting - a calm 7 km stretch with class II rapids for beginners and an intense 12 km section with class IV rapids for experienced rafters. Local companies run guided trips on both sections year-round.
National Parks and Hiking
Huerquehue National Park, 22 miles northeast of Pucón, contains 12 kilometers of hiking trails through forests of thousand-year-old Araucaria trees. The Los Lagos trail takes you past three mountain lakes with views of the surrounding volcanoes. Villarrica National Park surrounds the volcano and includes trails leading to glaciers and volcanic caves.
Hot Springs
The thermal springs around Pucón maintain temperatures between 30-42°C (86-107°F). At Termas Geométricas, 67 km from town, you can walk on red wooden walkways built into a forest ravine to reach the pools. Termas de Huife has 7 pools with mountain views 25 km from Pucón, while Los Pozones has 5 natural stone pools next to the river.
Food Scene
Local restaurants serve traditional Mapuche ingredients like piñones (Araucaria seeds) and merkén (smoked chili) alongside German-style pastries and cakes. At Trawen, you'll eat ingredients sourced from nearby farms and markets. The town center has several German-style bakeries and cafes, established by 19th-century settlers.
Practical Information
Temperatures range from 25-30°C (77-86°F) from December to March, when most people visit for swimming and hiking. Winter temperatures drop to 0-10°C (32-50°F) during ski season from June to September. You'll find most adventure companies on O'Higgins Street in the town center. While Spanish dominates, many tourism businesses have English-speaking staff.
