Pucón: Itineraries

A Top Day in Pucón

Pucón may be one of Chile's top resorts, but its real appeal lies in the wild and lovely countryside which surrounds it. The perfect 2847m-high cone of active Villarrica Volcano holds hikers hypnotic and I'm no exception. However, getting my share of this snow cone apart from the herds of hikers requires some sincere effort. A chilly pre-dawn start rewards me with stupendous orange views, but I take care to steer clear of the fume-spewing crater. The view spans the Araucania's gorgeous maze of lakes and forests, as well as snow-covered Lanín Volcano, straddling the border with Argentina. My next stop is obvious. What's better for a battered and blistered body than hot springs? From a handful of hotspots, I choose Termas Geométricas where 17 slate-covered pools sit nestled under decks grazed by fern fronds. Late-afternoon is for lolling about the village: grab a tart murta-berry ice cream at Patagonia Express Café while window-shopping the peculiar mix of fur-trim handbags and candy-coloured Gore-tex. A few blocks off the plaza, the lake beach is checkered with towels and pail-toting tots. Dinner means choosing among Pucón's glut of healthy, gourmet cafes. Will it be a sesame-spinach salad or fresh trout in rosemary sauce? If I've juice to spare afterwards, there's always Mama's and Papa's, a nightspot jammed with an eclectic crowd comprised of out-of-town revellers and raft guides.

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