Experience Pucon

Overview

Pucon is an adorable lakeside Swiss alpine-style mountain village nested in Chile’s charming Lake District overlooked by the majestic snow-capped Villarrica Volcano. The resort town is nestled on the shores of Lago Villarrica leading visitors to plenty of outdoor activities and adventures. Pucon is an excellent base for exploring Chile’s famous Lake District. It is a renowned tourist destination for hiking, mountain climbing, mountain biking, white water rafting, water sports, kayaking, skiing, and snowboarding. The mixture of terrain in the region ranges from beautiful lakeside beaches to temperate lush verdant rainforests. Pucon’s surrounding area is filled with fun things to see and do including national parks, natural hot springs, volcanos, lakes, and endless exciting outdoor adventures like horseback riding through the Andes, zip lining through the tree tops, and ascents of Villarrica Volcano.

Things to see and do

Go Hiking! The Villarrica Volcano is the perfect cone-shaped volcano with an active crater filled with simmering lava, it is the most active in South America. The peak rises to 9,340 feet above sea level and offers an ample reward with the most spectacular views over the lakes and towns below as well as the magnificent Andes Mountain range. The hike can be accessed from town and can take up to 9 hours, climbing the mountain is possible throughout the year (depending on weather and eruptions), and during the winter months, the peak is completely covered by snow.

Explore the national parks in the region. Huerquehue National Park is nestled at the foot of the Andes it stretches for 48 square miles between the Villarrica National Reserve and the Hualalafquen National Reserve. The park was founded in 1967 and is mostly made up of lush verdant temperate rainforest, with a stunning selection of prehistoric Araucaria trees (also known as Monkey Puzzle trees), cascading waterfalls, lookout points, and hidden crystalline lakes. The park is an amazing destination for outdoor adventure enthusiasts and hiking the numerous mountains within the park is the most popular activity.

The Huerquehue Lakes Trail is an 8-mile-long lollipop loop that climbs up from Trinquilo Lake circles around other crystal clear mountain lakes and then heads back down the same trail. The full loop hike will take around 4 hours to complete with breathtaking views along the way and many excellent scenic picnic spots along the way. Visitors to the park can observe kodkods, pudu deers, long-clawed mice, Andean foxes, peregrine falcons, condors, Magellanic woodpeckers, and black-necked swans.

Villarrica National Park is another popular park to see while in Pucon, with the iconic Villarrica Volcano as its main attraction. The beautiful scenic park offers numerous walking and hiking trails including popular hikes up to the summit. Some of the short trails include up to the Los Crateres Viewpoint (4.9 miles), Cuevas Volcaniacas (1.9 miles), and Glacier Voipir (7.3 miles). If you want to complete the iconic, exhilarating hike to the summit which is considered one of the best hikes in the country, then a tour guide is required.

Villarrica is filled with geothermal activity so there’s no surprise it's filled with plenty of hot springs. After a long strenuous day of hiking or exploring visitors can soak in thermal springs like the famous Termas Geometricas hot springs, a spectacular outdoor spa. These hot springs consist of numerous pools that were designed by architect German del Sol using wood and other natural materials. The Aihue stream supplies the water, and there is a series of 17 hot springs all with slightly different temperatures and connected via walkways. The Geometricas hot springs feature a well-developed infrastructure with a natural feel there’s a wooden footbridge that traverses the spa.

Go Whitewater Rafting in the Lake District. The snow-capped mountainous region features plenty of meltwater which keeps all of the rivers in the region running smoothly and a great setting for rafting. The Trancura River is a great location and offers some of the best white water rafting with rapids in the country. The river features a range of rapids that run from Class 2-4, the Lower Tracura offers the smoothest ride, and the Puesco, and Maichin are home to the liveliest. The higher Trancura River is known for its strong Class 5 rapids that include El Chuncho, Garganta Del Diablo, El Feo, and La Ultima Sonrisa.

Head to the Beach, Pucon has a few great beaches worth checking out to enjoy a perfect day on the sand soaking up the sunshine during the summer. Playa Grande is a large expansive stretch of black sand and the refreshing waters of Villarrica Lake. There are some great restaurants and bars found along the beachfront, and if you spend the entire day soaking up the sun, be sure to stick around and capture a stunning sunset. Pucon sunsets are pretty spectacular with the majestic volcano’s bright red glow, and the fluorescent night sky, it's a sight to behold. Sunset boat rides on the lake are another great way to enjoy the sight.

Shopping

Shopping in Pucon offers a diverse range of options with souvenir shops, upscale shopping, market stalls, art galleries, jewelry stores, and swanky shops to choose from. The vibrant small town offers big retail opportunities and some exciting shopping with lots of unique shops and gifts to buy. A shopping spree in Pucon is a delight and a shopper's paradise with great experiences like the popular Saturday Night Market, a vibrant night market that transforms the city into a buzzing hub with plenty of shopping, dining, and leisure activities. There are arts, crafts, and food vendors along with street performers and musicians in a festive atmosphere. Pucon’s locals take great pride in their unique artisan products that reflect the rich Mapuche cultural heritage of the region, these items including intricate wooden carvings, copperware, textiles, and handmade jewelry tell a captivating story of the region. The charming streets of Pucon are home to unique boutiques that offer a variety of products such as designer clothes, accessories, and even fine wines from the country’s excellent wine region. There is a good amount of luxury when it comes to the retail scene in Pucon which has seen a lot of growth throughout the years, the downtown and Villarrica neighborhoods boast a number of high-end retailers. Pucon’s local chocolate shops are a must when visiting the city, chocolate lovers can indulge in heavenly Patagonian chocolates which are a famous delicacy in the region. Many of these delicious shops are dotted around the lake area offering homemade chocolates, james, and pastries that are made using traditional methods. Some of the popular shopping streets in town include O’Higgins Street, and Fresia Street which are both brimming with a wonderful selection of shops, wine cellars, cafes, and restaurants.

Skiing

The Pucon Ski Resort (Ski Pucon or Pillan Mountain Center) sits on the northern slopes of Villarrica Volcano which is nestled within the Villarrica National Park about 8 miles outside of town. The ski resort offers excellent facilities to cover all the basics for a day trip including several ski tracks varying in difficulty levels. The resort is also a haven for snowboarding enthusiasts with its natural ravines and half pipes. The resort is the location of some of the most important international ski competitions held throughout the year. There are area so for snow tubing and sledding. The ticket office is located at 3,937 feet above sea level which is also where the base building, parking lot, the ticket office, and equipment rentals are found. There are several chair lifts that take you to higher areas where tougher tracks are located and a restaurant. There’s a cafeteria at the upper day lodge serving food and a small bar that sells hot chocolate and basic alcoholic beverages. There is a huge outside deck that is one of the main highlights of the resort and offers amazing views over Pucon, and Lago Villarrica.

Dining

Pucon is a small town nestled in the lake and mountain region of Chile, the town really packs a punch when it comes to its culinary scene. There's no shortage of excellent restaurants to choose from in town and the surrounding neighborhoods. Many of the restaurants are located along O’Higgins Street, which is the main thoroughfare in town, with a large concentration of them by Colo Colo Street. The sidewalks here are brimming with outdoor tables where diners can enjoy a meal with a view of the volcano. One of the main focuses of the Pucon culinary scener is meats, and local products that are from the surrounding countryside, with local variations linked to the Mapuche heritage. A lot of restaurants in Pucon serve traditional Chilean gastronomy with elements of the native Mapuche incorporated, this is known as Chilean and Mapuche fusion cuisine. New flavors are often added to traditional dishes with the addition of myrtle and pine nuts for a new twist, and food cooked in clay items to add warmth and additional flavors. Some of the popular local dishes include veal or chicken cazuela, charquican, humitas, carbonara, and estofado. With the abundance of lakes and rivers in this area of Chile’s lake district, so fish is a very popular dish consumed in town, and smoked salmon appears on many menus. There are options around town for good seafood, steaks, BBQ, pizza, pasta, and pastries to satisfy every palette.

Some authentic Chilean dishes include caldillo de congrio (fish stew with tomatoes and potatoes), and ceviche using fresh bass and scallops. Locally sourced fresh ingredients are used to make Chilean specialties such as machas a la parmesan (razor clams layered with cheese, white wine, and lemon juice), along with seafood stews using freshly caught fish from the Pacific. Other classic popular dishes include Empanadas typically filled with meat, cheese, or seafood and then baked or fried. Completo is a Chilean-style hot dog loaded with toppings like sauerkraut, diced tomatoes, pebre (spicy salsa), and generously adorned with mayonnaise. Pastel de Choclo is a traditional hearty casserole dish made with ground corn, seasoned meat, onions, and olives, then topped with a golden crust made from cornmeal. Alfajores is a sweet dessert of soft, delicate cookies filled with dulce de leche.

Nightlife

The nightlife in Pucon is a lively and vibrant scene, the town has a reputation for offering something fun to do 24/7. The town’s nightlife includes plenty of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs to drink and dance the night away. After a busy day of exploring visitors can unwind in trendy cocktail bars with spectacular Villarrica volcano views, they can dance all night long at popular nightclubs like Espacio Mambo famed for its electrifying atmosphere, vibrant decor, and state-of-the-art sound system. Cozy inviting pubs serving pints of local craft beer, and upscale rooftop bars boast terraces to sip swanky cocktails and take in the sparkling sights after dark. The clubs in town feature live music, and DJs the nightlife here is a great blend of relaxation and excitement for a great night on the town. Many of the bars and nightclubs in town are only open during the summer months which is also peak tourism season.