Backpacking Lakes District in February

The Lonely Planet book says the only way to access the park is by renting a car or taking a taxi. In your experience, is it easy to get a taxi to the park? Also would there be taxis at the park to take me back to Villarrica?

And do you feel comfortable leaving your backpack in a hostel while going out to explore the town for a few hours or is there too big of a risk of something getting stolen?

I have never used a taxi neither a rental car in Chile. Only bus and yes, frequently, hitchhiking on the small ruralroads. It worls well. But sometimes i must hike further kilometers ...i don't stay in hostels either, i have left stuff in family run hospedajes, hostales, ... while trekking for several days.

So after finishing the Villarrica Traverse do you usually hitchhike from the CONAF station in Puesco? I'm also wondering if I should change my itinerary. I was thinking about spending 2 days in Villarrica before the hike and one day after. Then spending 3 days in Valdivia, 2 days in Entre Lagos before doing the first half (3 days)of the Puyehue traverse, spending 4 days in Petrohue hiking in Vicente Rosales and exploring the area and then 2 days in Osorno. Do you think it would be worth it to spend more time in Villarrica to have access to all of the national parks, guides, nightlife, and other activities in the area? And if so, what would you recommend cutting out of my itinerary?

Yes, i have hitchhiked in Puesco.
I much prefer Pucon to Villarica, but only outside the peak season.
There isn't much to do in either Entre Lagos or Petrohue. The only hike in Petrohue is the excellent Paso Desolacion. If you want a further trek in that area, go to Cochamo and hike to La Junta. To reach the Termas de Callao, it is a hugely expensive boat trip from Petrohue. I already mentionned an alternate itinerary earlier in this discussion to combine volcan Casablanca on the Puyehue ridge and Termas de Callao in one trek.
Also in Osorno there is nothing for tourists.
If you have extra days, you could go to NP Conguillo or Reserva Malacahuello, for instance.

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