Pucon has a lot to offer visitors: from hiking to rafting to relaxing in a hot spring. There is something to do here for everyone. So let me tell you about the best things to do in Pucon, which you can all do independently. No need for a guide or tour.
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Table of Contents - The best things to do in Pucon Chile
Where is Pucon
Pucon is the tourism capital of the Araucanía region in Chile. This region got its name from the many Araucaria trees in the area. Besides Araucarias, there are also plenty of lakes, waterfalls, and even several hot springs. Pucon is about 700k south of the capital city Santiago.
How to get to Pucon
The closest big city is Temuco, so look for flights or buses to Temuco. From here, you can take a bus directly to Pucon or to Villarrica (on the way to Pucon).
When to visit Pucon
The best time of year to visit Pucon depends on what you want to do here. This region can be visited year-round and there are different things to do in Pucon depending on the season. In winter, most people come here for skiing. Summer is the best time of year for those who want to enjoy the beaches and swim in the lakes and/or waterfalls. Hiking is good from spring to fall and this is also the rafting season. Pucon does get very busy during the South American summer holidays, so you might want to avoid January and February since the town will fill up and there will be long traffic jams especially in town and to Caburgua lake.
Where to stay in Pucon
The center is the best place to stay in Pucon since it’s the easiest to move around from here and there are plenty of bars, restaurants, and shops around. It is quite an expensive area to stay though, so you can also look at staying in the nearby city of Villarrica. Villarrica is more of a local place. They have a really nice boulevard along the lake which is great for a stroll. But Pucon has a beach and is closer to the places I will recommend in this guide. From Villarrica you will need to take an extra bus and change in Pucon.
The best things to do in Pucon
Relaxing at the beach
That’s right! Pucon might not be located at the coast, but the many lakes around make it a great place to chill and maybe even go for a swim if you don’t mind the cold water. Pucon is directly located at Villarrica Lake, but I prefer Lake Caburgua. It has a bit more of a relaxed setting not being directly in town. To get here, you can take the bus from Pucon Center to either Playa Blanca or Playa Negra. Both are beaches at Lake Caburgua and you can walk from one to the other as well. Playa Negra is the first beach, there are a few places to eat around here. Playa Blanca is a bit more secluded.
Take a refreshing dip at Salto El Claro
Salto El Claro is a waterfall not far from Pucon. If you have your own transport, you can get very close to the waterfall and it’s only a short hike. If not, you can take the bus (direction Caburgua) or a colectivo (a shared fixed-priced taxi, which kind of works like a bus) to El Claro. From here it’s a 5k hike, mostly uphill. But locals are friendly, so you can try to hitchhike. The entrance fee is 3.000 CLP (about 3 EUR/USD at the time of writing, cash only). They sell biscuits and water here at the entrance as well.
You can visit the viewpoint, the waterfall itself, and the river. Note that the last bit of the hike down to the waterfall is slippery even in dry season so bring shoes with good grip. If you’re brave enough you can swim here, but I didn’t get further than my ankles!
Hike to El Cañi's viewpoint
El Cañi is a challenging but very rewarding hike. The views over the araucarias, volcanoes and lakes from the viewpoint are amazing. But in order to get to the sanctuary, you first need to hike up a steep road with little shade. Once you’re in the sanctuary, the climb doesn’t stop, but it’ll get less steep. You’ll also be in the forest so the surroundings are more beautiful and there is plenty of shade.
You can hike as far up as Laguna Negra and walk around the lakes, or continue to the viewpoint. I highly recommend going to the viewpoint, it’s by far the best of El Cañi. Do take a rest at Laguna Negra to recharge before you continue. You can always decide to hike around the lakes once you’re back down. I found the lakes all quite similar, the biggest difference was that there were no other people at these lakes.
Bring a packed lunch and snacks with you as there is no food available in the sanctuary. At the entrance, they give you a map and an explanation of the route. Toilets are available at the entrance and at the Refugio.
Getting to El Cañi – First of all, before even going to El Cañi, you’ll need to reserve your spot. They only allow 120 people per day, so you want to make sure there is a ticket available before making your way there. I recommend hopping on the bus that arrives around about the time the park opens. It’s a long hike, and you want to have enough time to enjoy the sanctuary before they close. The bus ticket is 1,700 CLP (one way, at the time of writing) and you can check the current entrance fee and opening hours here.
Go hiking in Huerquehue National Park
Huerquehue national park is another beautiful hiking area. The hikes here are less tough than Cañi, but do still offer a great workout opportunity. There are two main trails you can do, and you’ll need to choose one when you arrive at the park. Unless you’re an extremely fit trail hiker, it’s not possible to do both in one day. There are a few shorter ones you can do as well if you’re not up for a big hike. We opted for the lakes trail. We were still a little sore from El Cañi, so we didn’t want to do another just uphill hike and we love lakes! The hike was very nice, with views over the Villarrica volcano, passing by waterfalls and of course lakes.
Getting to Huerquehue – As with El Cañi, you will need to book your ticket in advance and make sure to screenshot the QR-code. They will scan this at the entrance. I’ve had some trouble with this website in the past. Try to change between credit and debit card if it doesn’t accept it, or pay with Paypal. I recommend taking the first bus at 08:30, since the last bus back leaves Huerquehue National Park at 17:00 and you want to have enough time to enjoy your hike. A bus ticket is 4,000 – 5,800 CLP return at the time of writing, do confirm times and prices at the ticket office in town.
Wander around Ojos del Caburgua
If you want to see something beautiful without having to do a big hike, Ojos del Caburgua (Caburgua Eyes) is the perfect option. They are incredibly blue lakes with small waterfalls. The accessibility does make it a very touristic place, so be prepared for crowds, especially in high season. Follow the boardwalks to several viewpoints over waterfalls and the lakes.
You only need about half a day here, or less, and since it’s on the way to Lake Carburga you can easily combine the two and make a full day out of it.
Getting to Ojos del Caburgua – Take a bus going to Lake Caburgua and get off at either one of the two access points. I do recommend the first one, since you don’t have to walk as much. If you have your own transport, you can also go to the Cristo entrance. The entrance fee is 2000 CLP (about 2 EUR/USD, at the time of writing) and can be paid on the spot. There is no need to buy your ticket in advance.
Other things to do in Pucon
Another very popular activity in Pucon is rafting. Many tour agencies in town offer rafting trips. Shop around for prices. There are also several hot springs in the area. Some are very expensive and require your own transport, tour or a taxi. Others, like Los Pozones, are more accessible. We didn’t visit any since it was too hot for hot springs for my liking, but many visitors do enjoy a visit. They are a great option for a recovery day after all those hikes!
This was: The best things to do in Pucon Chile
