There are some great boating opportunities to take advantage of when visiting the lake district town of Pucon. Villarrica Lake in Pucon is a popular place for sailing trips, boat rides, kayaking, and other adventures on the nearby lakes and rivers. 

There are taxis abundant, and available throughout town. Taxis are one of the main ways to get around Pucon as there is very limited public transport. The best way to get a taxi is to call and order one, Uber is also available. Taxis are found at the bus station and the airport. Taxis rates begin around CLP1,500, and a ride between cities will generally cost you about CLP8,000. 

Walking around town is easy enough due to the small, compact size of Pucon, visitors can walk to places downtown but most of the lodging and charm of the city lies outside of town. Alternative transportation is needed to get to these neighborhoods and attractions. 

It is possible to ride a bike around Pucon with cycling lanes featured along the main road. The town of Pucon is small and riding a bike to the neighborhoods just outside of town is a good way to get around. There are bike rental shops located in town. Mountain biking is popular in the region and a popular biking route is along the 18-mile road that travels east from Pucon to the beautiful Ojos de Cabugua pools. Another is the Downhill Rukapillan bike trail designed for mountain biking, down a steep mountain descent. The trail is near Pucon’s ski resort and descends around 3,280 feet on Villarrica’s slopes. The volcanic terrain and the adrenaline rush of the steep mountain combined with the unparalleled views of Pucon and Lake Villarrica are simply breathtaking.  

Pucon is considered a very safe destination to visit. However, due to its increased population and visitors over the recent years crimes against tourists are becoming more common with petty theft and muggings. Take the necessary precautions when sightseeing, use common sense, and keep your valuables out of sight from pickpockets, especially in crowded areas like markets, and tourist attractions. At night stay in well-lit and populated areas, and use reputable transportation companies instead of taking rides from strangers. Be careful when walking at night and don’t walk outside the main center of town. 

Shopping in Pucon offers a diverse range of options with souvenir shops, upscale shopping, market stalls, art galleries, jewelry stores, and swanky shops to choose from. The vibrant small town offers big retail opportunities and some exciting shopping with lots of unique shops and gifts to buy. A shopping spree in Pucon is a delight and a shopper’s paradise with great experiences like the popular Saturday Night Market, a vibrant night market that transforms the city into a buzzing hub with plenty of shopping, dining, and leisure activities. There are arts, crafts, and food vendors along with street performers and musicians in a festive atmosphere. Pucon’s locals take great pride in their unique artisan products that reflect the rich Mapuche cultural heritage of the region, these items including intricate wooden carvings, copperware, textiles, and handmade jewelry tell a captivating story of the region. The charming streets of Pucon are home to unique boutiques that offer a variety of products such as designer clothes, accessories, and even fine wines from the country’s excellent wine region. There is a good amount of luxury when it comes to the retail scene in Pucon which has seen a lot of growth throughout the years, the downtown and Villarrica neighborhoods boast a number of high-end retailers. Pucon’s local chocolate shops are a must when visiting the city, chocolate lovers can indulge in heavenly Patagonian chocolates which are a famous delicacy in the region. Many of these delicious shops are dotted around the lake area offering homemade chocolates, james, and pastries that are made using traditional methods. Some of the popular shopping streets in town include O’Higgins Street, and Fresia Street which are both brimming with a wonderful selection of shops, wine cellars, cafes, and restaurants. 

The Pucon Ski Resort (Ski Pucon or Pillan Mountain Center) sits on the northern slopes of Villarrica Volcano which is nestled within the Villarrica National Park about 8 miles outside of town. The ski resort offers excellent facilities to cover all the basics for a day trip including several ski tracks varying in difficulty levels. The resort is also a haven for snowboarding enthusiasts with its natural ravines and half pipes. The resort is the location of some of the most important international ski competitions held throughout the year. There are area so for snow tubing and sledding. The ticket office is located at 3,937 feet above sea level which is also where the base building, parking lot, the ticket office, and equipment rentals are found. There are several chair lifts that take you to higher areas where tougher tracks are located and a restaurant. There’s a cafeteria at the upper day lodge serving food and a small bar that sells hot chocolate and basic alcoholic beverages. There is a huge outside deck that is one of the main highlights of the resort and offers amazing views over Pucon, and Lago Villarrica. 

Spanish is the official language of Chile. You will most likely find English speakers in Santiago, the Lake District, Patagonia, and other tourist-centered enclaves across the country. There is not a high percentage of English speakers in Chile, but if you are to find someone who does speak English, they are most likely younger and/or work in the service industry. Take some time to learn key phrases in Spanish, like hello/goodbye, please/thank you, how much is it?, where is the bathroom?, and numbers from 1-10. To ask someone if they speak English, say `¿Habla inglés?`

Pucon can be visited year-round and offers activities throughout the year, sightseeing and summer activities, and then wintertime is popular for skiing and snowboarding. The best time to visit depends upon visitors’ preferences for weather activities and adventure types. Summer is from December to March which is great for hiking, sailing, mountain biking, and watersports. The summer temperatures can reach up to 78 F degrees, and winter lows can drop to the mid-40s. Winter is from June to September and a popular time to visit the Villarrica Volcano and the ski resort for snow-related activities, other than that most activities are closed due to the temperatures and weather. 

The currency of Pucon is the Chilean Peso. US dollars are not accepted. Please be sure to have the correct currency on hand or be prepared to exchange your dollars for Argentine pesos upon arrival. Currency exchange desks can be found at the airport and many locations throughout the city.

Pucon is a small town nestled in the lake and mountain region of Chile, the town packs a punch when it comes to its culinary scene. There’s no shortage of excellent restaurants to choose from in town and the surrounding neighborhoods. Many of the restaurants are located along O’Higgins Street, which is the main thoroughfare in town, with a large concentration of them by Colo Colo Street. The sidewalks here are brimming with outdoor tables where diners can enjoy a meal with a view of the volcano. One of the main focuses of the Pucon culinary scener is meats, and local products that are from the surrounding countryside, with local variations linked to the Mapuche heritage. A lot of restaurants in Pucon serve traditional Chilean gastronomy with elements of the native Mapuche incorporated, this is known as Chilean and Mapuche fusion cuisine. New flavors are often added to traditional dishes with the addition of myrtle and pine nuts for a new twist, and food cooked in clay items to add warmth and additional flavos. Some of the popular local dishes include veal or chicken cazuela, charquican, humitas, carbonara, and estofado. With the abundance of lakes and rivers in this area of Chile’s lake district, so fish is a very popular dish consumed in town, and smoked salmon appears on many menus. There are options around town for good seafood, steaks, BBQ, pizza, pasta, and pastries to satisfy every palette. 

Some authentic Chilean dishes include caldillo de congrio (fish stew with tomatoes and potatoes), and ceviche using fresh bass and scallops. Locally sourced fresh ingredients are used to make Chilean specialties such as machas a la parmesana (razor clams layered with cheese, white wine, and lemon juice), along with seafood stews using freshly caught fish from the Pacific. Other classic popular dishes include Empanadas which are typically filled with meat, cheese, or seafood and then baked or fried. Completo is a Chilean-style hot dog loaded with toppings like sauerkraut, diced tomatoes, pebre (spicy salsa), and generously adorned with mayonnaise. Pastel de Choclo is a traditional hearty casserole dish made with ground corn, seasoned meat, onions, and olives, and topped with a golden crust made from cornmeal. Alfajores is a sweet dessert of soft, delicate cookies filled with dulce de leche. 

The nightlife in Pucon is a lively and vibrant scene, the town has a reputation for offering something fun to do 24/7. The town’s nightlife includes plenty of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs to drink and dance the night away. After a busy day of exploring visitors can unwind in trendy cocktail bars with spectacular Villarrica volcano views, they can dance all night long at popular nightclubs like Espacio Mambo famed for its electrifying atmosphere, vibrant decor, and state-of-the-art sound system. Cozy inviting pubs serving pints of local craft beer, and upscale rooftop bars boast terraces to sip swanky cocktails and take in the sparkling sights after dark. The clubs in town feature live music, and DJs the nightlife here is a great blend of relaxation and excitement for a great night on the town. Many of the bars and nightclubs in town are only open during the summer months which is also peak tourism season.

In case of an emergency dial 911 or 107

Hospital:

Hospital San Francisco Pucon tel. 56-45-229-0400