Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
restaurants and bars, or by a soak in the
nearby thermal springs .
Pucón's wide, tree-lined streets are
arranged in a compact grid, and most
tour companies, supermarkets, banks and
bars are located along frenzied Avenida
O'Higgins , which bisects the town.
O'Higgins ends by La Poza , a black-sand
beach on the lake. If you follow Calle
Lincoyán to its northern end, you will
reach Playa Grande , with a multitude of
pedalos, jet-skis and rowing boats for
hire. Try to avoid February and even
January if you can, when central Pucón
can make parts of downtown Santiago
seem fairly tranquil in comparison.
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
By plane There are twice-weekly flights between Santiago
and Pucón airport (5km east of the town), with both LAN
and Sky Airline, between December and February. The closest
airport otherwise is at Temuco (see p.432).
By bus The three main long-distance carriers have separate
terminals: Buses JAC (and Condor), Palguín 505 ( T 45
990880), serves Villarrica (CH$1000), Temuco (CH$2700),
Valdivia (CH$5200) and Puerto Montt (CH$11,700); Pullman
Bus, Palguín 555 ( T 45 443331), and Tur Bus, O'Higgins 910
( T 45 443328), offer similar services. Smaller carriers such
as Igi Llaima (Palguín 595) and Buses San Martín (Colocolo
612) have services to Argentina within a couple of blocks of
the main bus terminals; Buses Caburgua (Uruguay 540, at
Palguín) serves Parque Nacional Huerquehue (one-way
CH$2000, return CH$3600; 8.30am, 1pm, 4pm) and the Ojos
de Caburgua.
Destinations Buses JAC to: Puerto Montt (4 daily; 5hr
30min); Puerto Varas (4 daily; 5hr); Temuco (every 20min;
1hr); Valdivia (6 daily; 3hr); Villarrica (every 20min;
45min). Buses Vipu Ray to: Curarrehue (every 30min;
45min). Buses San Martín to: San Martín de Los Andes
(Tues-Sun 10.35am; 5hr). Igi Llaima to: San Martín de Los
Andes (daily at 9.45am; 5hr). Pullman Bus to: Santiago
(2 nightly at 9pm and 9.30pm; 11hr).
Tourist o ce The Oficina de Turismo Municipal is on
the corner of O'Higgins, at Palguín (March-Nov daily
8.30am-4pm; Dec-Feb daily 8.30am-10pm; T 45 293002,
W pucononline.cl).
Travelaid Ansorena 425, Local 4 (Mon-Sat 10am-
1.30pm & 3.30-7pm; T 45 444040, W travelaid.cl).
4
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Pucón operators offer a vast range of adventure tours and activities; the nearby Río Trancura
offers a popular Class III run on the lower part of the river, with the more challenging Class VI,
upper Trancura run made up almost entirely of drop pools; some operators allow you to
combine the two. Since the activities on offer involve an element of risk, it is important to use
a reliable operator like those listed below. We don't recommend Trancura, the largest agency,
due to its poor safety record.
TOUR OPERATORS
Aguaventura Palguín 336 T 45 444246,
W aguaventura.com. Established French outfit special-
izing in rafting trips, canyoning and watersports (such
as hydrospeeding for CH$27,000), as well as winter
activities. English spoken.
Antilco Campo Antilco, S-919 (12km northeast of
Pucón) T 9 7139758, W antilco.com. This operator is
recommended for horse treks in the valleys around
Pucón with bilingual guides. Half-day CH$25,000;
two days' riding with barbecue CH$90,000.
Bosque Aventura Arauco 611, at O'Higgins T 45
444030, W canopypucon.cl. The most reliable operator
for zip-lining tours, with an emphasis on safety. Whiz
around one of 11 lines (40-240m long) up to 25m high.
Canopy tour with transport CH$13,000/person (tours
daily 10am, 12.30pm, 3pm & 5pm; 1hr 30min).
Elementos Pasaje Las Rosas 640 T 45 441750,
W elementos-chile.com. This friendly, German-run
operator offers tours with an emphasis on small group
size and safety, offering mini-volcano trekking as well
as the standard volcano tour and half- and full-day
rafting. Volcano tour CH$52,000.
Kayak Chile O'Higgins 524 T 45 441584, W kayak
chile.net. Established American-run outfit specializing
in kayaking trips on the Río Liucura. Learn the Eskimo
roll in Lago Villarrica (CH$34,000 half-day/CH$53,000
full day), take to the Class III rapids in a double kayak
with a guide (CH$20,000) or run the river in a ducky
(CH$20,000).
Paredon Andes Expeditions Variante Inter-
nacional, Pasaje Artemio Carrillo s/n T 45 444663,
W paredonexpeditions.com. A small team of expert
trekking and mountaineering guides leads small
group ascents up Volcán Villarrica (Sept-April) and
other Lake District volcanoes, and also offers tailor-
made excursions around Chile. English and French
spoken. Volcano ascent CH$45,000 (plus CH$7000
chairlift ticket); minimum 3 people & 14 years of age.
 
Search WWH ::




Custom Search