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How Many Days Do You Need In Pucon?
Pucon is a city with endless varieties, so you can enjoy a stay of 2 days or up to a week.
I personally recommend 6 days as this gives you enough time to see the best the city has to offer.
Below, I have written three itineraries with the most exceptional activities that you can do in this city and make the most of your stay in the Chilean Andean Araucania.
- 3 Days In Pucón: Two days may not be enough to explore all that Pucón has to offer. However, I’ve highlighted 3 key activities for a quick visit to the city.
- 5 Days in Pucón: With five days, you can appreciate more of Pucón and take advantage of some of the many activities available in this adventurous city.
- 7 Days In Pucón: I believe seven days is the optimal length for a stay in Pucón as it allows you to do a bit of everything: climb the volcano, go rafting, visit hot springs, enjoy the beaches, and take a city tour.
Pucón Three Day Itinerary
This itinerary is for those with limited time who plan to make a quick stop in Pucón. One of the city’s main attractions is its Mapuche culture, deeply rooted in the region, with several communities still residing here. Additionally, the city has amazing natural landscapes because of its proximity to the active Villarrica Volcano, which gives rise to rivers and hot springs.
- Day 1 – City Tour
- Day 2 – Rafting and Canopy Tour
- Day 3 – El Cañi Sanctuary
Day 1 – City Tour
To make the most of your three-day visit in Pucón, I highly recommend taking a city tour on the first day.
While guided tours are an option, I suggest exploring at your own pace for a more personalized experience.
Renting a bicycle from Man and Nature provides an excellent opportunity to pedal through the city’s streets. From personal experience, I recommend several must-see spots in Pucón.
Begin your journey with a pedal towards the Quelhue footbridge, offering stunning panoramas of the Trancura River and the imposing Villarrica, Lanin, and Quetrupillan volcanoes.
Next, head towards the shores of Lake Villarrica, where the dark volcanic sands provide a scenic backdrop for leisurely strolls. Also don’t miss visiting La Poza, a serene lakeside area featuring eateries and beautiful sunset views.
Also don’t miss the artisanal fair on Fresia Street, and the Ruka Fogon Newen Domo.
Day 2 – Rafting, Canopy and City Tour
An amazing way to enjoy your trip to Pucon with a morning of rafting.
Consider opting for a combined rafting and canopy excursion, available through operators like Florencia or Lleuque.
The rafting consists of a 13-kilometer descent down the Trancura River, passing through native forests and waterfalls, and with great views of the Villarrica volcano.
This activity features class 4 rapids and is suitable for swimmers aged 14 and above.
Or if you prefer to book through an agency, Terra Volcano Pucon have 5 stars from 4 reviews, starting from $60.
Following this adventure, take a canopy tour, navigating through a native forest around the Trancura River.
Featuring ten zip lines, including two for acclimation, along with three Tibetan bridges and two ladders.
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Day 3 – El Cañi Sanctuary
Visiting the El Cañi Sanctuary is, for me, a unique and unforgettable experience.
It’s a forest of ancient Araucaria trees and the only place in the world where this type of tree grows.
Additionally, there are beautiful lagoons and views to enjoy a day of sports, nature, and relaxation.
How to get to El Cañi Sanctuary From Pucón?
- By private vehicle: The El Cañi Sanctuary is in the town of Pichares, 21 km from Pucón on the way to Termas de Huife. It will take you approximately 30 minutes to reach the Reserve. The road is fully paved.
- By bus: You can go to either of the two rural terminals in Pucón, from where regular buses depart to El Cañi. Schedules vary depending on the time of year, and the journey takes approximately 30 minutes.
- Tour: Or you can also take a tour with an agency like DeNomades.
If you want to know how many days you need in South America, check out the post below:
Pucón Five Day Itinerary
This five day itinerary is perfect for travellers who want to enjoy even more adventure activities whilst in Pucón. With the extra two days you can go hiking to the Villarrica crater and then enjoy a treat at the hot springs.
- Day 1 – City Tour
- Day 2 – Rafting and Canopy Tour
- Day 3 – El Cañi Sanctuary
- Day 4 – Villarrica Volcano
- Day 5 – Hot Springs
Day 4 – Villarrica Volcano
I highly recommend hiking to the crater of Villarrica volcano—it’s an absolute must-do whilst in Pucón.
With Chile being home to around 2000 volcanoes, Villarrica stands out as the most active among them.
What’s great is that it’s easily accessible via a route that’s not too challenging, allowing you to reach its active crater in just a few hours (round trip takes about 7-8 hours).
Its summit is an active crater emitting continuous gases, and if you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of magma inside. Plus, the panoramic views of 8 different volcanoes, 6 lakes, and the valley below are simply breathtaking.
Now, hiking to the summit of Villarrica volcano is no walk in the park—it’s considered of medium to high difficulty, so it’s important to be prepared. Make sure you’re in good physical shape.
While there are numerous tourism agencies in the city of Pucón offering excursions to the crater, it’s crucial to choose one with certified guides who comply with municipal standards.
From personal experience, I can confidently recommend Mawida Adventures—they’ll ensure you have a safe and unforgettable journey to the summit of Villarrica volcano.
Or Zenit Travels. They are the top rated pick on GYG with 4.9 stars from 87 reviews.
“Joe saved us so many hours of research and planning. His expertise turned our stress into a clear, custom itinerary we could actually enjoy.”
Maeve & Martin – 6 Weeks In South America
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Struggling with any of this?
✔ Don’t know where to start planning
✔ Unsure how to pick the best route
✔ Spending hours researching… and still feeling stuck
✔ Want freedom, not a rigid tour
✔ Don’t want to spend $5,000+ on a travel agent
You don’t have to figure it out solo.
I help travellers like you plan custom South America trips that are efficient, affordable, and totally personalised.
Day 5 – Hot Springs
After an action-packed day tackling Villarrica volcano, why not treat yourself to a well-deserved day of relaxation.
Pucón is full of thermal springs, thanks to the volcanic activity in the area, offering the perfect escape for some rest and rejuvenation?
I recommend checking out Huife and Termas Geométricas for an enjoyable experience.
Although they’re quite popular among tourists, they’re still fantastic spots to unwind.
And if you have a bit of extra time, why not venture out to the Coñaripe hot springs and take a scenic road trip to Lake Calafquén?
Lastly, for a deeper dive into the local culture, check out the Natural Park Mapuche Ziwilwe in Lican Ray, where you can learn more about the Mapuche culture while enjoying the surroundings of Calafquén Lake.
Pucon One Week Itinerary
One week in Pucon is perfect for travellers who want to do and see everything the city has to offer, as well as explore outside of the city to the Argentinian border.
- Day 1 – City Tour
- Day 2 – Rafting and Canopy Tour
- Day 3 – El Cañi Sanctuary
- Day 4 – Villarrica Volcano
- Day 5 – Hot Springs
- Day 6 – Mamuil Malal border crossing
- Day 7 – Day Trip to Cunco
Day 6 – Route to the Mamuil Malal border crossing
The route from Pucón to the border crossing with Argentina covers approximately 75 km and connects the city of Pucón with San Martin de Los Andes, bordering the Lanin, Quetrupillan, and Villarrica volcanoes.
In fact, there is a 3–4-day trekking circuit called Villarrica Traverse that covers these three volcanoes.
I recommend leaving Pucón early and taking the opportunity to stop in the town of Curarrehue for lunch at one of its picturesque restaurants.
Additionally, as mentioned earlier, the route borders the Villarrica Traverse circuit, with some access points along the way.
One such access point is located just above the town of Puesco, where the Puesco slope crosses over the Trancura River, and where you’ll find the CONAF Ranger Station. I suggest making a stop here to rest, have a picnic, and if you have the energy, take an easy hike to the Avutardas Lagoon.
As a tip, there are few places along the trail to the lagoon where you can obtain fresh water, so it’s advisable to carry enough water before starting. Also, if you decide to take this trail, be sure to wear trekking shoes, bring walking poles (optional), and wear appropriate clothing according to the season.
Day 7 – Day trip to Cunco
Cunco is a town near Pucón, just 26 kilometers away.
It’s a much less touristy town than Pucón, but that’s precisely why I love it. You can find beautiful places like Lake Collico, but with much fewer people, allowing you to enjoy it much more.
Also, in Cunco, there are the San Sebastian hot springs, which can be a relaxing option if you opted for a trekking trail the day before.
Depending on the time of year, you might be lucky enough to come across some typical festivals in Cunco, such as the Digueñe Festival in October, the Wild Boar Gastronomic Festival in July, and the Spring Festival in September.
If you are interested in 7-day itineraries, check out the post below:
“We ended up with a better itinerary than anything a travel agent suggested – and without the hefty price tag!
Jerry & Maria – 5 Weeks In South America
Planning a trip to
Struggling with any of this?
✔ Don’t know where to start planning
✔ Spending hours researching… and still feeling stuck
✔ Want freedom, not a rigid tour
✔ Don’t want to spend $5,000+ on a travel agent
You don’t have to figure it out solo.
I help travellers like you plan custom South America trips that are efficient, affordable, and totally personalised.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Pucón
Pucón is a year-round destination so the best time to visit depends on your preferences:
- Summer – if you want the best weather and hostels full of like-minded travellers to meet, then visit in the high season which is summer in Chile Dec-Feb. This will be the best time for adventure activities such as hiking and watersports.
- Shoulder Seasons – for good weather but less crowds and cheaper tours and accomodation, try visiting Pucon in the shoulder seasons. These are usually Spring and Autumn, so March-May and September-November.
- Winter – Pucon is a popular place to visit in winter for its variety of snow sports that you can do on Villarrica Volcano. It will also be a busy time due to the influx of travellers from the hotter countries in South America like Brazil who don’t get snow!
Where To Stay In Pucon?
One of the best hostels here is Chili Kiwi Hostel which won HostelWorld’s Best Hostel in Latin America in both 2017 and 2018.
This hostel is in an unbeatable location on the shore of Villarrica lake, directly opposite the majestic Villarrica Volcano and only a short walk from downtown Pucón. The hostel has a nice garden with swings, hammocks, and treehouses where you can catch sunsets over the lake and volcano.
The dorms are clean and comfortable or for extra privacy you can book one of their charming new treehouse rooms with lake views or a cosy hobbit house set in the garden.
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