Pucón

Pushed up to the banks of the Lago Villarrica, the tiny tourist town of Pucón has more to offer than picturesque views -though it has those in spades. It’s ground zero for adventure tourism in Chile’s northern Patagonia region, attracting Chilean and international visitors interested in everything from fair-weather sports such as rafting, trekking, hiking, horseback riding and fly fishing to cold-weather activities like skiing and snowboarding. The town itself consists pretty much of one main road, lined with adventure travel guides, outfitters, a few decent restaurants, hostels, and, on the outskirts, some well-equipped and very comfortable cabins. It is possible to walk to most anywhere, though at night a cheap cab is recommended. Nearby are three major lakes, two national parks and a national reserve, as well as numerous volcanoes. The national parks are filled with several stunningly blue glacial waterfalls and ever-enjoyable hot springs, all well worth a tour. The weather can change rapidly here, more often than not from sunny to rainy, so bring appropriate clothing and always have a Plan B in case of inclement weather. It is not uncommon, for instance, for a volcano trek to be canceled at the last minute.

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Other places nearby Pucón: Villarrica, Frutillar , Parque Nacional Tolhuaca, Lago Pirehueico, Puerto Varas, Lonquimay, Parque Nacional Alerce Andino, Lago Llanquihue, Reserva Nacional Malalcahuello-Nalcas and Lago Ranco.