Pucón: How to explore this Patagonia gem in Chile!

Pucón sits in the heart of Chile’s lake district in the shadow of the impressive Villarica volcano and on the shores of the majestic lake Villarica. Pucón is a outdoor lovers paradise with loads of activities and places to explore in this beautiful part of the northern Patagonia region.

Where is Pucón located

Pucón is located in southern Chile on the eastern side of the country near the border to Argentina. Approximately 785km (488 miles) south of Santiago de Chile.

How to get to Pucón

Bus: Buses depart from Terminal Sur in Santiago de Chile (10h) and other regional cities including Bariloche in Argentina(9h 30m. You can check the schedules and book online with Busbud.

Plane: Planes depart from Santiago de Chile to Temuco (1.5h). From the Temuco airport you can get a shuttle or bus to Pucón (1.5h). Much faster and way more convenient than the bus. The route is mostly serviced by LATAM and SKY.

Getting Around

Car Hire: Hiring a car is the best way to get around as most of the attractions are dotted around the area and not accessible by public transport.

Hire a bike: Hiring a bike allows you explore some of the places around Pucón. There are various rental places around town along Av. Bernardo O’Higgins.

Guided tour: There a lots of companies around town that offer group and private tours to the various attractions in the area.

Local buses: Buses are limited in where they go but are the cheapest and easiest option.

When is the best time to visit Pucón

Summer (December–February): The peak tourist season, with warmer temperatures and longer sunny days. Temperatures averaging between 8 °C (46 °F) – 25 °C (77 °F)
Spring and Autumn: Milder weather with less crowds. Temperatures averaging between 5 °C (41 °F) – 22 °C (72 °F)
Winter (May–August): Cold weather with temperatures averaging between 3 °C (37 °F) – 13 °C (55 °F) . Visit this time of year for winter sports.

Our Verdict: For outdoor activities you can’t beat summer, but you should also consider Autumn for the fall colours!

Fun Fact: The last time Villarica volcano erupted was March 3, 2015.

Where to stay

If you don’t have a car you will want to stay downtown somewhere and with a car you will have more choices. There are options for all budgets and preference from luxury lakeview hotels to budget backpacker options.

Things to do in Pucón

Hike Villarica Volcano

Go on the experience of a lifetime and hike an active volcano! This is one of the most popular activities in the area, not only do you get amazing views from the summit you can look inside the crater and see the bubbling lava below. It’s required that you go with a tour operator to ensure you have all the necessary equipment and someone to keep you safe. There are loads of tour operators around town that offer the Villarica volcano experience.

Salto del Claro

Salto del claro is a spectacular 90m waterfall located about 7km from Pucón. To get there you will need to drive or hire a bike. From the carpark it’s a bit of a walk down some steep steps to Salto del claro but you will be rewarded with the epic waterfall that is surrounded by lush vegetation a true beauty to behold.

Huerquehue National Park

Huerquehue National Park is 125 square kilometres of pristine beauty with lush forests, crystal-clear lakes, towering mountains and home to the rare ancient Araucaria or monkey puzzle tree. There are a number of trails you can tackle while in the park we have a post on how to visit the national park in the link below.

Geothermal springs

There are a number of geothermal springs nearby for you to visit. You will need a car or to take a tour to visit them with the most popular and picturesque being Termas Geometricas.

Explore town

Walk around the Swiss inspired town and explore all of the local sights. Check out Plaza de Armas that is filled with local native plants and carvings of first nations people. You can also stroll along the volcanic beaches on Lago Villarica or visit the local handicrafts market.

Rio Turbio

Rio Turbio is a picturesque river near Pucón known for its stunning waterfalls and unique volcanic landscape. The river flows through a canyon carved out by ancient lava flows where you can hike the trails that lead to waterfalls and admire the breath-taking scenery.

There are also a whole bunch of other attractions and trails in the area that you can explore in the Alltrails map below.

Where to Eat & Drink

You will find most restaurants along Av. Bernardo O’Higgins and Fresia street. Serving all sorts of local and international cuisine to suit all tastes, some of our favourite spots are listed below.

Pastelería Mamacelia: Bakery selling delicious empanadas and pastries.