pucon

Pucon s fame can be boiled down to three things: the lake, the volcano and its easy access to every kind of outdoor sport imaginable. How often do you come across a small town smack in between a divinely blue lake and a perfectly conical volcano? Just to add to the effect, the volcano's crater spends most of its day billowing smoke - even the occasional giant smoke ring - and on clear nights it gives off an eerie red glow. Pucon is a place where a variety of earthly wonders conspire to create a point of inspirational natural energy. For better or for worse, a lot of people have already picked up on that fact. The town receives alternating floods of tourists, Santiago holidaymakers, novice Brazilian snowboarders, adventure-seeking backpackers and New Age spiritualists.

While the popularity and international feel can be off-putting for some (people tend to love or hate this place), Pucon boasts the best small-town tourism infrastructure south of Costa Rica. That means quality accommodations, efficient tourism agencies, hundreds of activities and excursions, vegetarian restaurants, Mexican food, falafels, a casino where you can lose all of your money; you name it.

Getting there & away

Bus transportation to/from Santiago (US$13 to US$32) is with Tur Bus ( 443-328; Av O'Higgins s/n) east of town, Buses Jac ( 443-693; cnr Uruguay& Palguin). for luxury try CAMA PREMIUM (US$60)

Tur Bus also goes to Puerto Montt daily (US$10, five hours). For Temuco, Tur Bus leaves every hour and Buses Jac every half-hour (US$3.50, one hour). For Valdivia, Jac has five daily buses (US$4, three hours). Buses Jac and Minibuses Vipu Ray (Palguin 550) have continuous service to Villarrica and Curarrehue. Buses Jac also has service to Caburgua, Paillaco and Huerquehue. For San Martin de los Andes, Argentina, Buses San Martin ( 441-965; Av O'Higgins) in the Tur Bus terminal has daily departures (US$20, five hours) stopping in Junin on the way.

 

check this videos of pucon in winter. below the villarrica volcano ascent and riders in the ski resort.

 

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