Chile Hiking Adventures – Volcano District (Small group travel)

Chile Hiking Adventure – Volcano District
Discover the majestic Lake and Volcano district in Chile on this 8-day Chile hiking adventure. Visit some of the area’s finest National Parks and enjoy profound silence in the ancient araucaria forests, broken only by birdsong. Deemed the Capital of Adventure Travel in Chile, there is no shortage of beautiful hiking trails amidst snow-capped mountains, lakes, rivers, and volcanoes. Lie patiently in wait to photograph the native wildlife; we guarantee you will fall in love with unique species such as the impossibly cute Colocolo opossum and the endearing pudu (the world’s smallest deer).

Sample delicious Chilean cuisine and interact with friendly locals during this hiking trip. This tour is ideal for those looking to embrace the natural beauty of Chile on an active adventure (rated as “intermediate” difficulty).

Highlights Include:
– Hiking with a local guide around some of Chile’s most spectacular National Parks
– Experiencing a true ‘off-the-grid’ adventure through stunning landscapes
– Sampling delicious Chilean cuisine and wine
– Immersing yourself in beautiful natural surroundings of pristine lakes, forests and volcanos
– Learning about traditional Mapuche culture and traditions firsthand
– Exploring the charming town of Pucon

Itinerary
DAY 1: TEMUCO – KUTRALKURA GEOPARK, LONQUIMAY VOLCANO
Your local staff will meet you at Temuco Airport and transfer you to a small quaint mountain village called Malalcahuello. This village is part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve “Araucarias”.
Your hotel is located in a national park, with Lonquimay volcano at sight and surrounded by ancient araucaria trees. It is a modern hotel with SPA and a small ski resort. Your guides will meet and greet the group and then you’ll take a warm-up hike to the incredible Christmas Crater.
In the evening, you’ll have an orientation and briefing session before your Welcome Dinner together.
Accommodation: Corralco Hotel & SPA, 4*
Meals: Afternoon snack and Welcome Dinner at the hotel
Time hiking: 1 to 3 hours depending on the route taken

DAY 2: KUTRALKURA GEOPARK, COLORADITO TRAIL
Welcome to Kutralkura, Chile’s First Geopark. Today, you’ll start hiking from the hotel. Hike towards Cerro Coloradito (redish hill), a natural view point of 4 volcanoes: Lonquimay, Llaima, Sierra Nevada and Villarrica.

The hike is quite fun, with fantastic views and almost no other people in the trails. You’ll be surrounded by an ancient forest of araucaria trees, some of them dating over 2.000 years old.

After the hike, return to your hotel and enjoy the evening in the SPA. Finally, you’ll eat dinner at a local restaurant in Malalcahuello village.
Accommodation: Corralco Hotel & SPA, 4*
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch and Dinner at a local restaurant in Malalcahuello
Time hiking: 3 to 5 hours

DAY 3: CONGUILLIO NATIONAL PARK, TRUFUL TRUFUL CANYON
Today we invite you to once again explore the heart of Kütralkura Geopark, today in Conguillío National Park.

The national park is one of the most attractive and outstanding parks of the Lake & Volcano District. This well-conserved territory is situated between 900 and 3.125 meters high (2.953 to 10.253 feet) covering an area of 60.832 hectares (150.320 acres).

Your group will drive approximately during 3 hours, passing through old-fashioned little towns like Cunco and Melipeuco until we get to Conguillio National Park, one of the most attractive and outstanding parks of the Lake & Volcano District in Chile. This area is part of Kütralkura, the First Geopark in Chile”.

During the visit, you will witness how the Llaima volcano has permanently shaped the landscape of the area with its eruptions and you’ll have the fantastic opportunity to walk on the lava flows that once came from the heart of the Earth. We’ll visit the Truful-Truful Canyon and its waterfalls. This is the most important site within the park, where you can see 13.000 years of eruptive activity of Llaima volcano.

Visit the pristine Arco Iris (Rainbow) Lake with its clear waters that reflect stunning colors. Then  hike a very beautiful trail called the Woodpecker’s trail, where you can spot the Magellan woodpecker, which you will see searching the tree trunks for insects. After spending some time taking pictures and enjoying the amazing view, we’ll hike back to the bottom of the trail and then drive 20 minutes to the eco-lodge, where you will enjoy a welcome dinner and stay overnight.
Accommodation: La Baita Ecolodge
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch and Dinner at the lodge
Time hiking: 4 to 5 hours

DAY 4: CONGUILLIO NATIONAL PARK, SIERRA NEVADA TRAIL & LLAIMA VOLCANO
Today you are invited to once again explore the heart of Kütralkura Geopark, today in Conguillío National Park.

The national park is one of the most attractive and outstanding parks of the Lake & Volcano District. This well-conserved territory is situated between 900 and 3.125 meters high (2.953 to 10.253 feet) covering an area of 60.832 hectares (150.320 acres).

Srive approximately during 3 hours, passing through old-fashioned little towns like Cunco and Melipeuco until we get to Conguillio National Park, one of the most attractive and outstanding parks of the Lake & Volcano District in Chile. This area is part of Kütralkura, the First Geopark in Chile”.

During the visit, you will witness how the Llaima volcano has permanently shaped the landscape of the area with its eruptions and you’ll have the fantastic opportunity to walk on the lava flows that once came from the heart of the Earth. We’ll visit the Truful-Truful Canyon and its waterfalls. This is the most important geosite of all the geopark, where you can see 13.000 years of eruptive activity of Llaima volcano.

Visit the pristine Arco Iris (Rainbow) Lake with its clear waters that reflect stunning colors. Then we’ll hike a very beautiful trail called the Woodpecker’s trail, where you can spot the Magellan woodpecker, which you will see searching the tree trunks for insects. After spending some time taking pictures and enjoying the amazing view, we’ll hike back to the bottom of the trail and then drive 20 minutes to our eco-lodge, where your group will enjoy a welcome dinner and stay overnight.
Accommodation: La Baita Ecolodge
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch and Dinner at the lodge
Time hiking: 4 to 5 hours

DAY 5: VILLARRICA NATIONAL PARK, LAGOS ANDINOS TRAIL & LANIN VOLCANO
You’ll head to the heart of The Andes Mountains, driving to the border with Argentina. Here, we’ll be surrounded by an ancient forest of araucaria trees (Araucaria araucana) and visit 2 or 3 Andean lakes that offer great birdwatching.

You’ll have an easy hike and be surrounded by native trees (mostly of the Nothofagus family) and with striking views of Lanin volcano (3,780m), the highest volcano in all of the Lake & Volcano district. Later we’ll head back to town and do the mountain gear fitting for the volcano climb next day.

Finally, you’ll go to eat dinner with the Colipi Family, part of the Mapuche community. They will be your hosts this evening, they will cook for everyone and share their culture and stories.
Accommodation: Martina De Goñi Hotel or Similar, 3*
Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch and Dinner with Mapuche family in their teepee
Time hiking: 3 to 4 hours

DAY 6: VILLARRICA VOLCANO CLIMB
Today you will have to be ready at 6:30am and if the weather conditions are favorable, to start driving to the Ski Resort located at the base of the volcano at 1.400 meters. Ascending the active Villarrica Volcano is without a doubt a once in a lifetime experience, the climb is not technical, but you need to be in good shape to reach the summit.

Once you arrive at the parking lot we’ll take the chairlift that will take everyoone to the higher part of the ski resort at 1.800 m., saving almost 1 hour of climbing. From the top of the lift we begin ascending the slopes of the volcano, stopping briefly every 30 minutes, having a longer break to eat your food when everyone is half way to the crater.

If there is hard snow or ice you’ll put on the crampons and use the piolets and after 4 or 5 hours will reach the live crater at 2847 meters above sea level. The views from the top are absolutely mind-blowing, overlooking five lakes and several volcanoes in the distance such as Llaima and Lanín. The descent is quite fun, especially when we can slide down the snow on our rear ends. We’ll return to the vehicles around 5 pm and immediately head off to Pucón, where you’ll hand back the gear.

Free night to explore Pucon and eat out. Ask our guides for tips about shopping and dining.
Accommodation: Martina De Goñi Hotel or Similar, 3*
Meals: Breakfast, and Picnic Lunch
Time hiking: 6 hours

DAY 7: PICHILLANCAHUE GLACIER & VILLARRICA VOLCANO + HOT SPRINGS
Departing from Pucón, we drive 60 km by van to Coñaripe, a small village located in Los Rios Region. Here we’ll take a dirt road that leads us by the Llancahue river valley to the National Park Villarrica. We will see several majestic snow-capped volcanoes such as Quetrupillan and Rucapillan. The vegetation changes from rauli and hualle forests (Nothofagus trees) to gigantic thousand-year old araucarias as we ascend to Chinay, the higher point of the day at 1.250m above sea level. Here we can take an amazing trail towards Pichi Llancahue Glacier, a phenomenal glacier which is absolutely covered by the blackish volcanic ashes of the Villarrica volcano. Once again you’ll enjoy the stunning views of four volcanoes.

Back to the entrance of the trail,  visit the fantastic Geometricas Hot Springs. This place offers the perfect combination between thermal facilities and natural surroundings. Located in the environs of the park, Termas Geometricas has 16 strategically located thermal pools, allowing the visitors to never feel overcrowded. The natural surroundings are exuberant and the facilities are simple but very cozy.

Finally, enjoy a farewell dinner in a very special place with the local community and your local team of guides.
Accommodation:
Martina De Goñi Hotel or Similar, 3*/Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch and Farewell Dinner
Time hiking: 4 to 5 hours

DAY 8: PUCON – TEMUCO – AIRPORT
Sadly, it’s time to say good-bye to the beautiful Lake & Volcano District of Chile. After breakfast, you’ll ride in a van to Temuco irport to catch your flight back to Santiago.
Meals: Breakfast

What’s Included: 
-Lodging in mentioned Hotels described in the itinerary or similar
-Specialized tour guide (1 guide per 10 clients)
-7 nights’ accommodation at 3* and 4* hotels
-Private transportation in Mercedes Benz Sprinter
-Meals as per itinerary
-Entrance fees to national parks and hot springs
-Accident insurance and all activities according to the itinerary

Guided hikes including natural interpretation on the volcanology and the indigenous flora and fauna of the parks, as well as cultural interpretation and focus on the history and traditions of local communities; hot springs.

TOUR EXCLUSIONS
-International flights
-Tips/gratuities for guides, drivers, porters and housekeeping
-Mandatory travel medical insurance and optional cancellation insurance (can be arranged through us)
-Meals and beverages not mentioned in itinerary
-Services and entrances not mentioned in itinerary
-Items of a personal nature (laundry, snacks, alcohol, etc)
-Passport and visa fees
*please note that hotels are based on availability and subject to change

Intermediate: A reasonable level of fitness is required, as these hiking trips can require sustained endurance levels, hills and longer days. These tours are intended for active people who are comfortable participating in up to 6 hours of hiking per day. These tours may include hiking on difficult terrain, sometimes steep and/or uneven trails, with obstacles such as wet logs, branches and muddy areas.

Guided hiking tours include natural interpretation and focus on the history, volcanology and the native flora and fauna of the wilderness areas.

Note: Slight itinerary modifications might occur due to weather and or road conditions, or force majeur.

SMALL GROUP DEPARTURES

Contact us for 2022 dates and rates!

Plus book by  December 31, 2021 and receive a $35 Visa Gift Card compliments of Just Spas & Adventures!

Contact us today for more information or to book one of these tour dates!

Tour code: FINS