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Is Pucon Worth Visiting?
Pucon is 100% worth a visit, and probably an extended stay of a week or more during your visit to Chile.
It is one of the most popular destinations chosen by both national and foreign travelers when touring Chile.
Among its mountains, rivers, lakes, and forests, Pucón stands out as the national capital of adventure sports, as well as Mapuche indigenous culture. It’s a place with an exquisite mix of adventure, culture, and nature.
Keep reading for my 10 favourite reasons why Pucon is worth your time when traveling in Chile.
10 Great Reasons to Visit Pucon
1. Hike Villarrica Volcano (Volcan Villarrica)
Chile is home to approximately 2000 volcanoes, and the Villarrica volcano is the most active of them all, as well as one of the most active in the entire Andean range.
One of the best reasons to visit Pucon is so that you can climb Villarrica!
Moreover, it is conveniently accessible, with a route that is relatively easy and low in technical difficulty, allowing visitors to reach its active crater in just a few hours (with a round trip taking around 7-8 hours).
The summit boasts a broad active crater from which gases continuously emanate, and depending on its activity, it is possible to observe magma inside.
Additionally, there’s an impressive view towards 8 different volcanoes, 6 lakes, and a vast valley stretching around you.
Several tourism agencies in the city of Pucón offer excursions to the crater; it is advisable to ensure that their guides are certified and comply with municipal standards. One agency I would confidently recommend is Mawida Adventures or Zenit Travel.
They are the top rated pick on GYG with 4.9 stars from 87 reviews.
2. Relax At The Geometric Hot Springs (Termas Geométricas)
The Geometric Hot Springs of Pucón are a must visit for adventure travellers looking for a day of relaxation after a big activity day.
These hot springs feature 20 natural pools with 450 meters of wooden walkways that traverse a natural gorge.
It’s the perfect place to rest those aching muscles after a day of hiking Villarrica.
How To Visit Termas Geométricas
I highly recommended you make a reservation in advance, especially during peak season, as the Geometric Hot Springs may have limited capacity.
Upon arrival, you will have to pay an entrance fee, which varies depending on the season and whether you plan to visit during the day or at night.
To visit the Geometric Hot Springs from Pucón, you can have three options:
- Car –
- Public Bus – If you choose to use public transportation, you can take a bus from Pucón to the town of Coñaripe and then a taxi or transfer from there to the hot springs.
- Tour – There are some agencies like Rutas Outdoors that offer excursions around the geometric hot springs. This route ventures towards the south face of Villarrica volcano, on an interior path between Coñaripe and Palguín. The trek lasts approximately 3 hours through native forest and Araucaria trees, eventually reaching the foothills of Villarrica volcano on its south face, leaving all vegetation behind. After this experience, visitors can enjoy the hot springs.
3. Go White Water Rafting On Trancura River
If you are a lover of white-water rafting, then again, Pucon is well worth visiting. It boasts world-class rivers perfect for rafting and river sports.
The Trancura River is renowned for its whitewater rafting and beginners to experts can enjoy the rapids.
Tour agencies provide two distinct types of tours: high-class rafting and low-class rafting, each offering varying difficulty levels and levels of adrenaline rush.
Low-class rafting (levels I-II) is ideal to those in search of a serene or family-oriented experience, featuring much gentler rapids compared to class IV.
On the other hand, high-class rafting caters to thrill-seekers, navigating through multiple class 4 rapids.
Online booking through agency websites such as Trancura and Ermitaño is recommended.
Or if you prefer to book through an agency, Terra Volcano Pucon have 5 stars from 4 reviews, starting from $60
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Sam & Amy – 3 Months In South America
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4. Explore The Ancient El Cañi Sanctuary (Santuario El Cañi)
The El Cañi Sanctuary is one of the first Private Protected Areas in Chile.
It’s a beautiful native forest of Araucarias trees surrounded by 12 crystal-clear lagoons and incredible views.
El Cañi offers several hiking trails of different lengths and difficulty levels.
I would recommend arriving early and taking a hike to the Viewpoint from where you can see 4 volcanoes (Villarrica, Quetrupillán, Lanín, and Llaima), two lakes (Villarrica and Caburgua), and the valleys around the park.
Then, have a picnic at Laguna Negra and later explore the other 6 lagoons along a tranquil path through Araucaria Forest.
El Cañi is a truly beautiful place worth visiting, especially because it’s the best place to explore Araucaria forests since the trees in this sanctuary are over 2000 years old.
How to get to the El Cañi Sanctuary?
You have three options to get to the El Cani Sanctuary from Pucon:
Car – To get there from Pucón, you must take the international road and head towards the Huife sector. You will find the El Cañi Sanctuary at kilometer 21 on the right side of the road. It will take you approximately 30 minutes to reach the Reserve. The road is entirely paved.
By Bus: You can go to either of the two rural terminals in Pucón, from where there are regular buses to El Cañi. The schedules vary depending on the time of year, and the journey takes approximately 30 minutes.
5. Learn More About Cultura Mapuche
Pucón is the cultural center of the Mapuche indigenous people.
According to history, Mapuche indigenous people were the only culture that was neither defeated nor colonized by the Incas.
It is said that they are the “true Chileans” as they have inhabited this country long before it was colonized by Europeans.
It is a Chilean-Argentinian culture that today is mainly located in the Araucanía region in Chile, with Pucón being one of the places where it is more accessible and easier to learn about them.
There are various ways to delve into Mapuche culture. Here are some of my favourites:
- Visiting the Kui Kui Fair – Just 4 kilometers from the center of Pucón is the traditional Kui Kui Fair, a space set up for around 20 local entrepreneurs to offer a variety of services, food and products typical of Mapuche culture. It’s worth noting that this fair is only open during holiday weekends, winter vacations, and the summer season.
- Visiting the Antu Rayen community – The family proudly shares their cultural heritage and demonstrates their traditions in their ‘ruka,’ a typical Mapuche house made of wood and straw. Here, you can help roast wheat over the fire, learn to play ‘Palín’ (Mapuche hockey), play typical musical instruments, or dress in traditional Mapuche clothing. Enjoy tastings of the typical foods of this people, including the typical Mapuche barbecue, with vegetables from their own garden and meat from the countryside, all around a cozy bonfire.
- Ruka Fogon Newen Zomo – In this place, they offer Mapuche-peasant fusion cuisine in a ruka with a capacity for 30 people. They provide worldview talks with tasting sessions for groups, weaving classes, and visits to the medicinal garden. You can find Mapuche and local cuisine, including stews with locro, preparations with wheat mote, and other peasant dishes such as corn pie and stewed meat. Additionally, there is a craft workshop, a kiosk to try local pastries, and refreshment options with delicious lemonades.
6. Stay At One Of Chile’s Best Hostels - Chili Kiwi Hostel
One of the best hostels here is Chili Kiwi Hostel which won Hostel World’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.
They also aim to keep you busy here and will fill your days with adventure. The staff are so helpful in organizing tours for you including horse riding, kayaking, volcano trekking and much more.
Chili Kiwi is another fantastic hostel in South America which takes the hostel experience to a new level.
“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.
7. Ride Along The Route to the Mamuil Malal border crossing
The route from Pucón to the border crossing with Argentina is an epic drive and a sight worth seeing!
Why not cross the border and stay in Argentina for a night or two at the beautiful lakeside town of San Martin de Los Andes.
Here are some of my favourite stops along the way if you want to plan a road trip:
- Lake Caburgua. – here you can find more hot springs. The San Luis, Menetúe, or Huife hot springs are the most well-known, where you can bathe, stay overnight, and engage in outdoor activities such as trekking or canopy tours through the surrounding forests.
- Catripulli – a small town made up of a succession of wooden houses on excellent green pastures, it reveals the tranquil rural life unusual for those living in large cities.
- Laguna Quillalhue – I advise you to get out of the vehicle and spend a few minutes taking photos.
- Villarrica Traverse circuit – If you have time, I advise you to stop at the entrance that is a little further up from Puesco; you can have a picnic in this place or simply stop to rest. You’ll have great views of the Lanín volcano. It is the largest volcano in the entire southern region of Chile.
8. Get Off The Beaten Track To The Town Of Cunco
If you’re seeking more peaceful yet stunning locales off the beaten path, Cunco is a must-visit.
Cunco offers an array of attractions, including Lake Colico, the San Sebastian Hot Springs, the Allipen River, and Laguna Angelina.
Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the town itself with a city tour, taking in highlights like Villa Garcia, the central square, and the Anthropological Museum.
Throughout the year, Cunco hosts a range of festivals, each showcasing local culture and cuisine.
From the Digueñe Gastronomic Festival in October to the Wild Boar Gastronomic Festival in July, and the Spring Festival in September, to the Lamb Cooking Festival in February, there’s always something to celebrate.
For precise festival dates, refer to the official Cunco website.
9. Enjoy More Adventure Activities Around Villarrica
Pucon is situated at the foot of Chile’s most active volcano, visitors can witness its fiery glow at night, climb to its crater, or indulge in a revitalizing bath in the surrounding thermal waters.
If you want to enjoy Villarrica volcano from further away, then Pucon has loads of other adventure activities on offer.
Go hiking in Villarrica National Park with this tour
or see the volcano from the lake itself with a paddleboarding day
or if you love horses, this horseback riding tour is another great option.
“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.
How Many Days Do You Need In Pucon?
I personally recommend 5 days as this gives you enough time to see the best the city has to offer.
However, here are some alternative suggestions:
- 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.
- 4 Days in Pucón: With four days, you can appreciate more of Pucón and take advantage of some of the many activities available in this adventurous city.
- 6 Days In Pucón: I believe six 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.
To see these itineraries planned in full, head to the page below:
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