Villarrica and Pucón at a glance
Villarrica and Pucón lie on Lago Villarrica in La Araucanía, in Chile's lake and volcano region. They are two separate towns on the same lake, not two names for one place. The Villarrica volcano, 2,847 m high and also called Rucapillán, rises behind them. National parks, hot springs, rivers and smaller lakes are all within a day trip.
This guide covers the volcano and guided climbs, Pucón, hot springs, Huerquehue National Park, Ojos del Caburgua, the lakes, rafting, Huilo Huilo, the road south to Puerto Varas, getting there via Temuco, the weather and where to stay. It is an independent site, not run by a municipality, CONAF, SERNATUR, SERNAGEOMIN or any tour company. Prices are in Chilean pesos (CLP), as listed in 2026, and they change.
Two bases on one lake
Where to start depends on what you plan to do.
Pucón is the busier base for the volcano, tours and rafting. Villarrica is the town you reach first when you come from Temuco, about an hour by road, with Pucón another 20 minutes or so further along Route 199. Lican Ray lies on Lago Calafquén, 30 km from Villarrica and 50 km from Pucón. Huilo Huilo is in the Los Ríos region and needs a full day. Most places in this guide can be reached from either town, but distances differ, so check the page for the place you want.
Our picks: tours around Pucón
A guided volcano climb, a hot-spring trip and family rafting on the Trancura.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Guided Villarrica summit climb
One certified guide per three guests, park entry, insurance and climbing gear are included; food, drinks and the chairlift ticket are not. The summit depends on weather, volcanic activity and clearance (alert level yellow since 4 September 2026), and the listing offers a new date or a refund when weather stops the climb.
Check availability →
Termas Martini (formerly Termas Geométricas) with transfer
Return transfer from four towns, entry, three hours of bathing and a locker are included; a towel only in the morning. Swimwear, food, drinks and tips are extra.
Check availability →
Family rafting on the lower Trancura
A moderate-level 3-hour trip for guests aged 8 and over, with certified guides, transfer, wetsuit, helmet and life jacket. Photos and tips are extra.
Check availability →Tours and day trips from Pucón
Volcano climbs, rafting, hot springs and day trips to Huilo Huilo, with live prices and availability.
Plan your trip
Start with the volcano and the town, then pick the pages you need.
Villarrica volcano
Alert level, climbing rules and what you can see without a climb.
Guided volcano climbs
What a guided climb includes, how long it takes and what to do when it is not possible.
Pucón
The lakefront, craft centres and the road to the volcano.
Things to do in Pucón
Twelve ideas, with the closures that apply this autumn.
Pucón tours compared
Climbs, rafting and day trips: length, price and what is included.
Termas Geométricas and Termas Martini
The change of management in 2026, tickets and the road in.
Huerquehue National Park
The Los Lagos trail, trail restrictions and entry.
Ojos del Caburgua
Spring pools, waterfalls and the beaches of Lago Caburgua.
Lakes, rivers and the road south
Places beyond Pucón and how to reach the region.
Lago Villarrica and Villarrica town
The lakeshore, boat trips and what to check before swimming.
Lican Ray and Coñaripe
Two beaches in Lican Ray and the hot springs near Coñaripe.
Rafting on the Río Trancura
Sections, grades and age rules, which differ by operator.
Huilo Huilo from Pucón
A biological reserve in Los Ríos, with a tour price and portal entry fees.
The Chile Lake District
From Pucón to Puerto Varas, Lago Llanquihue and Osorno.
Getting to Pucón
Temuco airport, buses from Santiago and driving.
Weather and best time
What the climate data covers and which season suits which plan.
Where to stay
Pucón, Villarrica, Caburgua or Lican Ray: which area fits your plans.
Good to know in autumn 2026
Where older guides are out of date.
The volcano is on yellow alert
The technical alert was raised from green to yellow on 4 September 2026 because of stronger seismic and near-surface activity. The civil protection agency SENAPRED added a preventive early alert for Villarrica, Pucón, Curarrehue and Panguipulli. Yellow is not a red evacuation warning, and this page is not a live status. Climbs are only possible with a certified guide and only when conditions allow.
Volcano page →Termas Geométricas is now Termas Martini
Press reports say the previous management ended on 30 September 2026 and the site carries on as Termas Martini. Do not assume that an old Geométricas booking is still valid. The Martini operator lists adult tickets at CLP 50,000 to 55,000.
Hot springs page →Huerquehue is only partly open
The park reopened on 12 August 2026, but only up to the Los Lagos sector. The Quinchol and San Sebastián sectors are closed until 15 December 2026.
Huerquehue page →Pichillancahue is closed, the lift is uncertain
The Pichillancahue trail in Villarrica National Park is closed from 25 July to 31 December 2026. The winter facilities of Centro Pillán were listed as closed or unavailable, so do not plan a trip around the ski lift.
Things to do →Villarrica and Pucón: frequently asked questions
Are Villarrica and Pucón the same place?
No. They are two towns on Lago Villarrica, about 20 minutes apart by road. Villarrica is the arrival point from Temuco. Pucón is the larger base for tours. See the Pucón page and the page on Lago Villarrica and Villarrica town.
How do I get there?
Most visitors fly to La Araucanía airport (ZCO) in Freire, about 25 km south of Temuco, where direct flights from Santiago are listed. From there it is roughly 1.5 hours to the towns by transfer or rental car. By road from Santiago, Route 5 Sur is about 760 km to Villarrica and 785 km to Pucón, 8–9 hours with breaks. Do not count on scheduled flights into Pucón itself. More on the getting there page.
Can I climb the Villarrica volcano now?
Only with a certified guide booked in advance, and only if the volcano and the weather allow it. The technical alert has been yellow since 4 September 2026, and a listing for a climb does not mean the crater rim is open on your day. Ask the operator before you pay. Read the guided climbs page for what a tour includes.
When is the best time to visit?
There is no single best month. Chile's weather service publishes 1991–2020 normals for the regional station Maquehue/Temuco, not for Pucón. They show mean highs of 25.0 °C in January and 11.7 °C in July, and June as the wettest month with 209.6 mm. Snow collects on the Huerquehue trail from June to September, and the Villarrica park has avalanche risk in winter. See the weather page.
What does park entry cost?
The listings do not agree. The official ticket list shows CLP 3,400 for Villarrica National Park and CLP 5,000 for a separate volcano ascent product, without saying who pays what. A tourism portal quotes CLP 11,000 for the park, also without a category. Check the price and the category when you buy your ticket.
Is visitvillarica.org an official website?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to the municipalities of Villarrica or Pucón, CONAF, SERNATUR, SERNAGEOMIN, the national parks or any tour operator.