South to south-west from the upper row: three volcanoes, one ridge, fog in the valley. Bearings and distances from the survey.Concept view, composed from site photographs
Around
Coilaco Alto sits between Pucón and the Andes, above the Trancura valley. Hot springs ten minutes away, the river ten minutes below, three volcanoes, two lakes. Distances are in a straight line from the site. Times are by car.
Black pins are places, with the distance from the gate. Round photos are posts people shared from there. Tap one and it opens on the map.
The clearest lake in the district. White-sand beaches, warm enough to swim from December to March.
Turquoise pools and waterfalls in the forest where the lake drains underground.
Black volcanic sand, boats and paddleboards, the volcano across the water.
The river below the hill. Rafting and kayaking, class III–IV in the spring melt and gentler in summer, and salmon and trout for fly fishers.
02
Climb to the crater in a day in summer; ski on its flank in winter with the lake below you.
Araucaria forest, a chain of small lakes, the Los Lagos trail. The park entrance is at Lago Tinquilco.
The two other volcanoes on the horizon. Quetrupillán is in Villarrica National Park; Lanín stands on the Argentine border.
A 90-metre waterfall in the forest above Pucón, a short walk from the road.
03
Hot pools in the forest by the Trancura, among the best in the district. Ten minutes from the gate. A winter evening, not a day trip.
Ten minutes beyond the Menetúe hot springs on the same road; smaller, quieter, open in the evening.
Stone pools on the bank of the Liucura river.
Natural rock pools by the river, open late into the night.
Seventeen slate pools along red wooden walkways in a ravine near Coñaripe. Best in the rain.
Restaurants, supermarkets, clinic, schools, a marina and a small airstrip. The town fills in January and February and empties again in March.
The larger town on the western end of the lake, with the regional hospital.
A Mapuche village on the road to Argentina; market, cultural centre, the last stop before the pass.
05
Several flights a day to Santiago, 1 h 30 in the air.
Ruta 5 south to Freire, then east through Villarrica and Pucón.
The Mamuil Malal pass leads under Lanín to Junín de los Andes and San Martín de los Andes.
What you can do
Most places offer one or two of these. Here they are stacked on top of each other within a short drive of the gate, and it is hard to think of anywhere else that manages it.
Hot pools in the forest, open late; Geométricas for a day out.
Class III–IV in the spring melt, family runs in summer. The put-ins are below the hill.
Salmon and trout; wading below the hill, boats and guides from Pucón.
Swimming, sailing, paddleboards, wakeboard. White sand at Caburgua, black sand at Pucón.
Waterfalls in every direction, several a short walk from the road.
Araucaria forest, glacial lakes, volcano trails. The Cañi sanctuary is minutes away.
The Villarrica crater is a day with a guide; Lanín, 3 747 m, is two.
June to September on the volcano, with the lake below the lifts.
Rides through native forest up to the araucarias, from estancias on both sides of the valley.
The loop to Caburgua and back is a morning; the valley road to Curarrehue an afternoon.
Lava tubes under the flank of Villarrica.
Guided descents of the canyons and gorges of the Trancura tributaries.
Puerto Saavedra and the surf beaches of the Pacific for a long day.
Across the border under Lanín to San Martín de los Andes and the Seven Lakes road. The hill is the doorway.
And then a hill to come back to where nobody sees you.
Seen nearby
Forty-one posts from people who were there. The springs, the river, the lakes, the waterfalls, the volcano in every season. Pick a group; nothing loads from Instagram until you ask for it.
The year
Distances are straight-line from the site coordinates; driving times are estimates on the roads as they are today and will vary with season and weather.
Arrange a visit
