Experience the best of Pucón

Pucón lies on the southern shore of Lake Villarrica in the Araucanía region of Chile's Lake District, with the symmetrical cone of Villarrica volcano rising above the town. A main street of wooden buildings, adventure outfitters and cafés runs down to a beach of dark volcanic sand, where the lake stretches away to the west.

The surrounding country is a mix of national parks, rivers and thermal springs. Huerquehue National Park has lakes among araucaria trees, the monkey-puzzle conifers sacred to the Mapuche, while the Ojos del Caburgua waterfalls and Lake Caburgua are a short drive away. The Trancura River offers rafting, and hot springs along the valleys steam among the trees.

Trout and salmon from local rivers and lakes appear on restaurant tables, alongside German-style cakes, a legacy of settlers, and merkén, a smoked chilli seasoning from Mapuche cooking. Summer is warm and busy with swimmers and hikers, autumn paints the forests, and winter brings snow to the volcano's upper slopes.