Villarrica National Park has a striking landscape characterized by three volcanoes (Villarrica, Quetrupillán, and Lanín), forests, caves, rivers and lagoons. The park extends between Araucania and Los Ríos regions and is home to species like pumas, grey and red foxes, and mountain monkeys. Pucón (Chile’s adventure capital) is the closest town to Temuco airport (ZCO) and has daily nonstop flights from Santiago.
Award booking flights to Santiago & Pucón
I recommend using Alaska miles (transfer Amex points to Hawaiian and then to Alaska) to book LATAM business class to Chile for 50K miles each way.
Flights from Santiago to Temuco are plentiful and priced very reasonably.
Temuco Car Rentals
It is easy to get low-priced rental cars from Temuco (ZCO) airport (see image below for a 5 day car rental).
Villarrica National Park accommodation
Pucón has some of the lowest priced accommodations in Chile (Booking.com) and it is possible to get a nice guesthouse for less than $100 a night (see image below).
Some of the trails in the Villarrica National Park
- Los Cráteres viewpoint: 4 kms, 2.6 round trip.
- The Chilean Path stretch Challupen –Chinay: 23 kms, 12 hrs.
- Turbio River: 4 kms, 4 hrs. round trip.
- Villarrica crater: 5 kms, 6 hrs.
- The Chilean Path, stretch Los Venados: 15 kms, 10 hrs.
- Los Nevados: 8 kms, 5 hrs.
- Pichillancahue: 3.3 kms, 2.6 hrs. round trip.
- El Mocho stream: 4 kms, 2 hrs round trip.
- Colonia Benavides: 4 kms, 2.6 hrs round trip.
- The Chilean Path stretch Las Avutardas: 17 kms, 12 hrs.
- Momolluco: 12.5 kms, 6 hrs.
- Quinquilil volcano: 6 kms, 2.3 hrs.
- Rinconada de Huillico: 10 kms, 6 hrs.
- Andean Lakes: 12 kms, 6 hrs.
- Fauna Trail: 150 metrso, 30 min.
- El Aguilucho: 4kms, 8 hrs.
- Villarrica journey: 6 kms, 4 hrs.
Please refer to AllTrails for more extensive reviews and maps.
Pucón Dining
You can find several restaurants in Pucón on TripAdvisor that will keep you busy for several weeks.
Villarrica National Park Scenery
Conclusion
Villarrica National Park has dramatic scenery, reasonably priced car rentals, accommodation and dining that makes it very enjoyable.