Pucón is a town located at the foot of the Andes, and in fact, its name means “gateway to the mountain range.” When you arrive in this town, bordered by a lake and overlooked by a volcano, you immediately feel the beauty and power of nature in this region.
We arrived directly from Bariloche to Pucón by bus; it took us approximately 9 hours with the bus changes (Bariloche -> Osorno, then Osorno -> Pucón) and the border crossing.
Pucón is a town located at the foot of the Andes, and in fact, its name means “gateway to the mountain range.” When you arrive in this town, bordered by a lake and overlooked by a volcano, you immediately feel the beauty and strength of nature in this region.
Where to stay in Pucón?
We stayed at the best inn in town (in our opinion), which was still reasonably priced and offered a huge location advantage: right on the beach! In addition, the beds were very comfortable and the spaces were well equipped and clean!
A 5/5 for Soley Hostal: https://www.instagram.com/soleyhostels/
Santiago
CHILE
Pucon
The activities we loved in Pucón
Many of the main activities are located outside the city itself; just after this section, you will find a complete explanation of local transportation options!
Enjoy the lake and its beaches!
Although the ocean does not reach Pucón, the destination is still a great place for swimmers. In fact, the city lies on the shore of the immense Mallalafquén Lake, now called Lake Villarrica. With an area of 173 km2 and pleasant-temperature fresh water, it is a perfect place for swimming, sunbathing, or doing water activities.
Learn more about the city by booking a Free Walking Tour.
The city has a rich history; understanding why it has European ski resort areas is an important part of the trip.
You can find tours on this site: https://www.freetour.com/pucon
The waterfalls in Pucon
The surroundings of Pucon are full of magnificent waterfalls:
Salto El Claro: This 90-meter waterfall is located just 8.5 km from downtown Pucón. In our opinion, it is one of the most beautiful in the region, surrounded by lush vegetation.
Access: About 15 minutes by car or 1.5 to 2 hours on foot from Pucón, or a 20-minute bus ride followed by a 40-minute walk.
Entrance fee: About 3,000 CLP.
Ojos del Caburgua: These are turquoise-blue water pools fed by underground and surface waterfalls. It is a very popular site for its trails and the very distinctive color of the Ojos.
Access: About 25 km from Pucón. You can take a bus to Caburgua, get off in the "El Cristo" area, and walk 2 km.
Entry: 2,000 CLP.
Salto del León: A spectacular 95-meter-high waterfall located in the Palguín Alto area. The site also offers thermal baths ("tinajas") and a restaurant.
Access: About 30 km from Pucón
Entry: About 4,000 CLP
Los Tres Saltos: Three consecutive waterfalls located on the road to Huife, with picnic areas, a restaurant, and even a pool (in case swimming in the waterfalls was not enough!).
Access: About 26 km from Pucón
Entry: About 3,000 CLP
Embark on the ascent of Villarrica Volcano
Rukapillan volcano, now called Villarrica, is the most active in Latin America and has a summit reaching 2,850 meters. Its ascent is accessible, but should not be improvised!
The ascent must always be accompanied by a guide. To do this, we went through the Terra Volcano agency: https://terravolcano.com/, which provides transportation, equipment, and even a small snack on the way back from the ascent!
In general, you are picked up at your hostel around 5:30 a.m. to get equipped at the agency, then the ascent starts around 7:00 a.m. On average, the climb takes 4 hours, and it is almost entirely uphill, on terrain that can sometimes be slippery or rocky, making it a demanding hike. But once at the summit, on the edge of the smoking crater, the view is worth it; it is one of the most beautiful we have seen in Chile or Patagonia.
What is also worth the climb is the descent by sled!!! Yes, yes, by sled! What a pleasure after all that effort. Depending on the season, you can go down all or part of the way by sled.
Please note, this activity is recommended between December and April, so you can benefit from good weather conditions.
Zip lines
By car or taxi, you can get to the zipline course at La China waterfall. A course made up only of ziplines! The best part of treetop adventure parks.
What’s more, you pass over it several times.
Price: Admission cost us $30,000 (around €30) in January 2026.
Relax in the thermal baths
Pucon is a renowned destination for its hot springs, so you certainly won’t run out of places to relax.
Termas Geométricas: These are the most popular hot springs around Pucon. With their 22 pools (some of them at 80 degrees), you can move between them via the iconic red wooden walkways in the middle of lush nature. After soaking in warm—even very hot—waters, you can rinse off under a cold-water waterfall!
The only downside is that you will absolutely need a car to get there because they are located just under 2 hours from Pucon.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. - Saturday, Sunday, and school holidays: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Rates: from $40,000 to $48,000 (between €40 and €48) in January 2026
Botanical Thermal Park: Just 14 km from the center, this modern park combines wellness and a botanical garden. It offers 13 thermal springs (32°C to 42°C) in a very well-maintained setting.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Rates: from $40,000 (around €40) in January 2026
Hotel y Termas Huife : Located 33 km from Pucón, it offers full service with hotel, spa, and restaurant. The site borders the Liucura River, allowing you to go from hot water to naturally cool fresh water. You can access it and eat there even if you are not staying at the hotel.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Rates: from $40,000 (around €40) in January 2026
