Pucón
In the Footsteps of a Volcano. How livable is Pucón, Chile?
Pucón is a small town (22k) right next to the stunning Villarrica volcano, Lago Villarrica, and Reserva Nacional Villarica. I spent three weeks here in November 2023, and this was my living experience.
EXPLORING
Walkability & Transport (★★★★)
Pucón is a small town that is easily walkable and doesn’t require public transport. Everything (groceries, gym, restaurants, waterfront, coworking space) should be within a 5-10 minute walk if you stay in the town. Ubers are available and inexpensive for when you need to get out of the city center, though are limited at night. Alternatively, there are longer-distance buses that will take you to and from local hotspots like Parque Nacional Huerquehue.
Variety (★★★)
This is Chile’s “Adventure Capital.” If you like outdoor adventure sports or want to explore them for the first time, this is your spot! You have options like volcanic ascents, rafting, kayaking, canyoning, hiking, paragliding, and skiing. There will be plenty to explore on weekends in this town. Within the town, you can have a nice time walking around, exploring shops, or enjoying the waterfront at Pucón’s two beaches. Still, this is a small town that you will get to know quickly and there isn’t much outside of the outdoors, pun intended.
CONNECTING
Nature (★★★★★)
Pucón’s nature and the activities within it are the number one highlight, starting with Villarica Volcano. This massive, snow-covered volcano (called “Villarica”) can be seen towering over everything on any sunny day. It gave me so much energy whenever I saw it, and I feel it creates a special energy for all the inhabitants here. Walks around town on sunny days with Villarica, the surrounding mountains, the lush palm and pine trees, and the wild birds, are amazing. It feels like a mix of mountains and the tropics. The best views of Villarica (and sunsets) come from one of Pucón’s two beaches. That’s right, beaches! One features a wide open view of Villarica while the other is a massive black sand beach where you can get your tan on and marvel at the stunning water and lush, green mountains that surround the city.
Leaving town will allow you to explore the incredible nature in the area. The surrounding countryside and cabins are so tranquil, pretty, and quaint. The mountainous highlights include ascents of volcanoes and peaks like Villarica, Lanin, Quetrupillán, and Quinquilil. For something more casual, hit one of the many parks nearby like Parque Nacional Huerquehue, Parque Ojos del Caburgua, Santuario El Cañi, or Cascada el Claro. For something even more relaxing, dip into one of the thermal hot springs. You can opt for something more upscale like Termas Geometricas or a more natural experience like Termas Los Pozones. For something adventurous, raft down the Trancura River through one of the many tour operators in town, or opt for a more private kayak class with Pucon Kayak School, where I found the nicest and most welcoming human beings in Pucón!
Community (★★★)
Community in this small, niche town can be hard to find for a traveler. Pucón usually has tourists visiting, so you will encounter some travelers, most of which were South American in my experience. There are some communal places like New Life Gym, Cowork Pucón (which has a killer view), and Selina, where I stayed. But in such a small town, consistent communal activities are few and far between. I’d imagine you’d have to connect with the locals to find something longer-term, which can take time. The good thing about Pucón is that the locals are some of the most consistently nice and welcoming! It was a really warm place.
Nightlife (★)
After the sun goes down, expect most activity to die out, like a flame without oxygen. Pucón becomes eerily quiet and empty at night. If you do go out, you might see the lava shining out of Villarica, or the eruption evacuation lights that turn on on the main streets, or all the huge slugs after a rainy afternoon. The town has a few nightlife options though. Vieja Escuela was a decent time with two rooms for dancing, while Mama's & Tapas is supposedly the more local bar with reggaeton. Either way, the options are limited and could get old.
LIVING
Affordability (★★)
Pucón was one of the more expensive places I traveled to in Latin America. While cooking every day of the week, staying at a shared dorm hostel (Selina), getting a gym membership (New Life Gym), and doing a few kayaking and rafting excursions, my average daily cost in Pucon was $65.50, or ~$1,965 per month. Ubers and the gym didn't require much thought, though groceries and restaurants can be pricey. Full-day volcano ascents will run you around $150 to $200. More affordable excursions include water activities like kayaking and rafting, which can be had for around $25 to $40.
Safety (★★★★)
Pucón was an overwhelmingly safe place during the day. Absolutely nothing to worry about here. Still, the town gets eerily quiet and empty at night. I once walked home with my head on a swivel for 15 minutes early in the AM after a night out, but it’s not something I’d like to do again. Unfortunately, Ubers late at night aren’t very available. The good thing is that nightlife isn’t a big part of the experience here!
Climate & Cleanliness (★★★★)
In November, temperatures normally range between a cool 50 to 60 Fahrenheit, with average temperatures throughout the year ranging from 40 to 60 degrees. Rain and cloudy days were an issue when I was here, making up the majority of my days. However, locals told me that much was out of the ordinary. The town itself was clean, and the air quality was noticeably incredible.
FINAL THOUGHTS
How long should you stay? Would I return?
At least two weeks, especially if you enjoy nature. Pucón is such a wonderful little town, nestled in between the most beautiful volcanoes, mountains, greenery, and water. The people here are incredibly warm. I would love to return someday to enjoy the nature and practice kayaking more.
Top Weekend Activities
Ascend Villarica Volcano, Pucón’s famous volcano. This is the number one thing to do, though you have to go with one of the town’s tour operators and it is pricey. It’s a full-day hike where you climb above the clouds, sometimes in the snow. How far up you go depends on how active the volcano has been. I actually didn’t do this because I loved Pucón so much that I (naively?) assumed that I will be back someday. But, I really wanted to! A bunch of friends did it and said it was incredible.
Take a kayak class with Pucon Kayak School. Pucón is famous for its river activities. Driving to the town I saw beautiful rivers and felt the urge to try kayaking for the first time. Pucón Kayak School operates out of their home. They were the kindest people and instructors. I had so much fun with them and felt comfortable throughout. I’ll never forget the two classes I took, kayaking down a beautiful river surrounded by mountains and getting better until I could go down a few of the rapids on my own. Do unique things. You don’t get better opportunities than something like this!
Hike around Parque Nacional Huerquehue, one of Chile’s national parks. The park can be easily accessed by a public bus that goes to and from the park, 45-60 minutes each way. I did the three lakes loop, which takes you to Lago Chico, Verde, and Toro. It was awesome, taking me about four hours. In November, there was snow up where the lakes are, it was like a winter wonderland!
Dip into one of the thermal hot springs. You can opt for something more upscale like Termas Geometricas or a more natural experience like Termas Los Pozones. I did the former and had a nice time with friends.
Whitewater raft in the Trancura river. This is the most common and touristy excursion in Pucón. You can find many tour operators on the main strip. Nice few-hour activity, especially if you are with another person or two. Good for meeting people as well, I bonded with what became two good friends during my rafting experience.
