The morning I decide to hike the volcano, the front page of the local newspaper shows people running from the rim as lava erupts from the crater. The trail continues softly uphill until reaching 45 to 60 minutes after the Estero Ñilfe a pass between a secondary crater of the Villarrica and smaller hills to the south. The next day drive 30 minutes from the center of Pucon to the base of Villarrica Volcano. I climbed Villarrica volcano with Sur Explora who are based in Pucon, the adventure capital of the Chilean Lake District. Add in the fact that you’re climbing on a glacier – no doubt a first for many people – and tobogganing back down to the bottom in an adrenaline-fuelled rush, and you really do have one of the best day hikes in the world. I was there almost 5 years ago! A full day tour hiking to the top of Volcan Villarrica with Zenit Travel costs £107 ($135) and includes all transport costs, guides and equipment for the day. We stopped off a couple of more times for a rest and to gather our energy again, especially for the final assent. It was amazing seeing how far we’d come in just one morning. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Hiking on the glacier at Volcano Villarrica, Everyone in our group on the ice and snow. Almost in solemn silence, we started packing our bags for our hike that day. There, I grumbled a hello to everyone as they already had their kit laid out before them. As I said, I really hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Villarrica is one of Chile's most active volcanoes, rising above the lake and town of the same name. The bad: Nothing makes me happier than a hard hike with beautiful views. This volcano and our agency Mawida Adventures promise a unique mountain experience, under the highest safety standards, delivering to each passenger all the technical equipment necessary for the ascent to the crater of the Villarrica Volcano: mountain boots, helmet, crampons, ice ax, trouser covers, jacket, gloves, leggings, backpack and gas mask. It was hard to believe how far we’d come, and looking back down the volcano you can’t help but feel a huge sense of achievement. I just looked up history of the volcano and it was very active in April 2010, and by May 2010 there was lava 100m from the brim. 65 eruptions have been recorded through history, the most notable of these being in 1964 and 1971. Villarrica volcano hike is one of the best hikes you can do in #SouthAmerica. Despite the early hour, Agustin, the owner and chief guide of Zenit Travel, was already working at a million miles an hour making sure everyone was happy and comfortable with their kit, stating that it was a good day for climbing. We took a few photos but couldn’t capture t at its worst because we couldn’t see or breathe at that stage. Currently there are no hikes to the crater going because of the orange status in activity. In fact, the Villarrica Volcano near Pucón is one of Chile’s most active. If there were any doubts about climbing an active volcano, one that erupted as recently as March 2015, now would’ve been the time to back out. I’m not sure if there was a lift fault, or perhaps it was considered unsafe to climb so the local authorities closed the lifts. Free rescheduling. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/chile/araucania/volcan-villarrica I'm so happy to hear you had a great time. The next stage was another 45 minutes, again over rock, to get to the bottom of the glacier . 普孔Volcan Villarica：Tripadvisor網上在普孔39個旅遊景點中排名第1 , 看看關於Volcan Villarica2,419則評論、文章和1,830張照片。 How much does a Volcan Villarrica tour cost. It was also the most extraordinary thing I’ve ever done, and the scariest moment of my life when a lot of sulphur came out the top and the guides yelled for us to get away from the crater and bury our heads in the snow. From here you can clearly see the summit of Volcán Villarrica, far off into the distance. The Quinquilil trail is longer and more challenging than the … As climbing an active volcano was still pretty high up on my list of things I wanted to do in life, I recently did a much easier hike up onto one down in Italy. I’m not going to lie, I was so surprised at how many people there were rushing around getting ready for the climb. An intriguing active volcano begging adventurers to climb it, ski all around it and toboggan your way back to the bottom. with tips to help you reach the summit. Cutting through the snowy side of the volcano, the trip was quite fast. Did you think it was one of the best hikes you’ve ever done? The first stage will be a traditional hiking ascent, starting at 1,800 meters above sea level. I booked mine a couple of days before while I was in Pucon, so it wasn't a problem at all. Hardly any other hikers. When someone told me that you do a Volcan Villarrica hike up an active volcano just outside of Pucon Chile (northern Chilean Patagonia) - I knew I had to immediately divert my itinerary to get there. My experience of the Villarrica Volcano hike. More. amazing experience climbing the volcano!!! 4. This is usually limited to a group of 12 people too, so make sure you book in advanced. Villarrica Volcano Climb for December 14 Eclipse. Highly recommend it if you have a decent level of fitness! Villarrica’s last eruption occurred in 2008, which means it is no longer possible to see a lava fountain inside Villarrica’s crater. I'm not 100% sure myself but I can't really see it being a problem. AT A GLANCE jumping off point is Pucón, 780km south of Santiago Villarrica, still active, last erupted 1971, almost reaching town Lanín volcano is highest and most impressive of the… Actually, it erupted not too long ago, in March 0f 2015 and was closed for hikes until November of that same year. This really was a hike like no other. Hike to the summit of the Villarrica Volcano (2,847m), Day trip from Pucón. The views of Lake Villarrica were always stunning! Steep hike!! In retrospect it was not safe to climb but I did no homework at all, had no internet access on holidays and just met some people in the hostel who were climbing it so I did. Yay! i will write a recomendation in muchillier greetings stav. I’ve climbed a lot of volcanoes in the my time, but this is up there with the best of them. We tobogganed down. The Villarrica Volcano is popular mostly for the unforgettable climb it offers. This video is about climbing, trekking, and then sledding down the snow capped Villarrica Volcano in Pucon, Chile! Turning around, I looked down the volcano past all the ice and snow to Lake Pucon glistening in the midday sun. I tentatively put on my gas mask, securely sealing it in place before climbing the final few hundred metres to the summit. For starters, if you didn’t know already, “Volcán Villarrica” or Volcano Villarrica is one of Chile’s most active Volcanos. The first stage was a steep 45 minute climb over rocks to get onto the slope of the volcano from which it was a straight line to the top. … I travelled to the Chilean Lake District during the first week of January 2020. Take the chairlift up part of the way up the volcano unless you are fit, you will be very grateful on the way down. I had such a rush too, and it's definitely up there with one of the best day hikes I've ever done. One of my last days I hiked to the crater. Let me say this now though. The Quinquilil volcano trail is 9.4 miles long round trip (15 km) and takes around 7-8 hours to hike. We hiked the first 30 minutes or so on rocky gravel, until we arrived at the base of a chair lift. Weather was great. Descending with “ski bunda” (skiing on your bottom) is very entertaining! After about 10 minutes of walking in them you’ll hardly notice they’re on your feet at all. We’d find a climbing slot that’d make it feel like it was just us. Agustin timed it perfectly so we were the last group to summit Villarrica. The Volcano Villarrica hike is a challenging climb near Pucon, Chile. You either start the hike from the base of the volcano or you can take a chairlift and start a bit higher up. As you’d expect, getting from the top to the bottom of the volcano was so much quicker, but not for the reason you’d think. During this time, the weather will be the best so you will have a better chance of reaching the top of the Villarrica Volcano. That didn’t stop me grinning from ear to ear though. I tentatively put on my gas mask, securely sealing it in place before climbing the final few hundred metres to the summit. Took about 5 hrs hike up steep snow slope to the summit. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. The trail starts at the end of Camino el Volcan. Villarrica Volcano Climb; Villarrica Volcano Climb. He made it quite far up the volcano before he was stopped by our guide. Again, Agustin showed us how to use these bum boards, and it wasn’t long before we were all sliding down, throwing ourselves around corners like we were professional lugists. Home » South America » Chile » Hiking to the Top of Volcan Villarrica, Chile, Posted on Last updated: January 4, 2021 By: Author Macca Sherifi, Categories Adventures, Chile, Destinations, South America. The volcano is also known as Rucapillán, a … Not the earliest of starts, but still enough to question what I was doing. This is exactly like tobogganing anywhere else around the world, just down the side of an active volcano. When I did it myself, there was actually a foreigner climbing up on his own. I'm not kidding, but they actually had a fight on the mountain with punches being thrown! When we went there were easily another 50 people. William thinks the authorities are being ridiculous. Would have been nice to get to the top! The ego boost from the accomplishment. $157.88 per adult. Ascending the Quinquilil volcano is still a day hike, just a bit tougher and further from Pucón and Villarica towns. I'm Macca & I run the multiple award-winning blog An Adventurous World. more. Starting point for the hike up the Villarrica Volcano. More info. From here begin the hike to the summit of one of Chile's iconic active volcanoes. In early March of 2015 Villarrica erupted and has been closed for climbs until Nov 12th, 2015. However, just peering down into the crater lake is still a marvellous sight. Peacefully swaying back and forth as we slowly crawled higher, the view of the volcano became clearer and clearer. I cab image the photos would be pretty spectacular so let me know how you get on! Thankfully, no one did. I’ve done some research because as you may know, Villarrica erupted a couple of months ago. I thought there would be a few dozen people climbing Villarrica volcano, not a few hundred people. An unforgettable experience! This is where Agustin showed us how to put on our crampons and gave us a demonstration of how to walk on the ice. Fresh water everywhere! Climb to the summit of Villarrica Volcano. Physically challenging, you should avoid it if you have any pre existing conditions. 6. Do you know if you can use drones at the top of the volcano? Make sure you put on lots of SPF50+ sunscreen for protection from sun and windburn. The remoteness and feeling of empowerment trekking on and around an active volcano. If you’ve never worn crampons before, it’s actually really easy. I had an altercation with a guide on the summit and had to talk my way out of a ride to the jail in Pucon when I got to the bottom. Honestly, any doubts you have about this climb will fly out the window when you see the view. Cycle Tour: Andes to the Pacific Ocean: This cycling tour is all inclusive and even includes the use of a full suspension bike. Had a great climb with SummitChile . Villarrica volcano in Chile might just be the place for you, it is one of the world’s most climbed (active) volcanoes. The best way to see the northern Patagonia is from the seat of a bike. We could not climb any higher and abandoned. From here there is a first view towards the Lanín volcano, which is in the border with Argentina, and … Take plenty of food and drinks as it long hot hike up and down the mountain. Once we got to the top there were only a few other people up there with us; it felt like we had the volcano to ourselves. Hi travellers! But at 9,383 feet (2860 m), the volcano looms in the distance like Mount Doom, glowing pink in the afternoon sun like an ice-cream cone. S. 4.3 / 5 8 reviews. Hike Summary The good: Seeing diverse landscapes on the Villarrica Traverse change so rapidly, offering a great variety. Take lots of layers as it get hot walking up and can be chilly at the top. There aren’t many places where you can climb to the top of an active volcano in a day, but at Volcano Villarrica you can. I won’t go into all the details of climbing Mount Villarrica – a lot of it was just me putting one foot in front of the other, very comfortable in the silence of walking, almost overawed with where we were – but it’s safe to say that the views just got more and more spectacular the higher we climbed. To the right of me I could see the crater of Villarrica Volcano, the rock tinged yellow from all the sulphurous gas, while to my left I could see a huge white glacier, a place where hardly anyone steps foot. The Quinquilil volcano trail is located on the east side of the Villarrica National Park, one of the least visited areas in this region. Once we were all ready, we jumped into the minibus and made our way to Volcan Villarrica National Park. A fun day out for sure – just make sure you have quality gear to protect from the elements! I did this climb in April 2010 with a guide and a small group. That's what I like to hear! https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.405809757406&type=3. Arrive at the hike starting point at the Quillelhue Lagoon in Villarrica National Park. Personally, I really can’t recommend this activity enough. 3. Price per person: CLP$ 109.000 per person. Local guides have been planning this experience for over a year to be optimized for eclipse viewing and enjoying a challenging but fun hike up Chile’s most famous volcano. Privacy Policy, Hiking to the Top of Volcan Villarrica, Chile, Learning All About the Mapuche Culture in Chile, Wine Tasting in the Colchagua Valley, Chile, My experience of the Villarrica Volcano hike, An early morning wake up call for the Pucon volcano hike. Hi Macca, I could see the villarica volcan when i lived in Chile for 3. years. It didn’t matter that I was only 2,848 metres high, it felt like I was on top of the world. Good question! This is the place. It was time to climb. It felt so good being at the top of the volcano – it really did feel like being on top of the world – and the views were just the best yet. Well who can blame you, it’s one of the best hikes you’ll ever do! Acclimatize at an easy pace. Quick View. Armed with my packed lunch and water for the day, I walked the 10 minutes from my hostel to Zenit Travel, the guys who I was climbing Volcan Villarrica with for the day. ), we walked a short way to the ski lift. They were simply astounding. Then make sure you Pin it! They don’t have a website but they are on Facebook. An intriguing active volcano begging adventurers to climb it, ski all around it and toboggan your way back to the bottom. The Villarrica Volcano hike isn’t for the faint-hearted. It was a beutifu site when it had fresh falleln snow on it. At 2,847 meters above sea level, Villarrica Volcano is a perfect cone shaped stratovolcano with an open crater and a simmering lava pool that creates constant smoke plumes from the open pit. So crazy what people try and do! At almost 3,000 meters above sea level, you can get a pretty good look at Villarica, on a clear day, right from the little village of Pucón. I would check with your tour operator first though, I would add in you don't have a huge amount of time at the top, but definitely enough to fly a drone! For most people, the best excursion in the area, climbing the most active volcano in Chile with views of volcanos and lakes, at 9,350 ft. of altitude. It requires proper climbing equipment and a lot of stamina. 5. There is no shame in it. Be better prepared for your Hike to Villarrica Volcano in Chile with my guide. You can also see a couple of the other Pucon volcanoes in the area too. Situated in central Chile, the Villarrica Volcano is the westernmost of three large stratovolcanoes that run from the center of the country all the way to the Argentine border. So, you want to hike to the top of Volcan Villarrica, one of the most active volcanoes in Chile? I can’t get over how beautiful all the Pucon volcanoes are. Saying that, Agustin assured me that once we got on the volcano itself it wouldn’t matter. As we were the last group on the volcano it was down to our guide to get him back down, but this foreigner just completely refused to listen. That didn’t stop me grinning from ear to ear though. Private Transfer from Pucon To Temuco Airport. I’m not going to lie, it looked pretty daunting. World → South America → Patagonian Andes → Chile → Villarrica Traverse One of the best hikes in the world Villarrica Traverse You want volcanos? When is the best time to hike Villarrica Volcano? Permits and licenses are required if you're unguided, so don't try to go it on your own! Sierra Nevada Trail – Conguillio National Park Andean Lagoons hike – Villarrica National Park. When I heard you can climb to the top of an active volcano, I knew I had to visit Pucon to conquer that challenge. Once we made it back to the ski lift again, it was a short 20 minute walk through the loose gravel back to the car park and the opportunity to finally relax a bit. Hotels near (SCL) Arturo Merino Benitez Airport, Zipline & Aerial Adventure Parks in Pucon, Huerquehue National Park: Tickets & Tours, Plaza de Armas de Pucon: Tickets & Tours, Parque Nacional Villarrica: Tickets & Tours, Villarrica Volcanic Caves: Tickets & Tours. It’s hard to summarise trekking Volcan Villarrica. After a brief demonstration from Agustin on how to climb (keep those knees bent people! To take a chairlift that saves you about a thousand meters, or hike all the way from the entrance of the national park. Make sure you let me know in the comments below! It was as amazing as Macca claims, but I can tell you, guides don't like it if you hike without one. Trek for about four kilometers and pass by the Escondida and Huinfiuca lagoons. They hadn’t seen it so active before. After a 45 minute ride, we arrived at the car park in Villarrica National Park at the bottom of the volcano. At the top, clouds of sulphur were pouring off the active volcano making my eyes water. It's such an incredible experience, isn't it? Continue towards Laguna Verde and after reaching about five kilometers, arrive at a slope and approach the skirts of the mythical Lanin Volcano. But when it is, it costs 10,000 pesos ($16) and bypasses 400 vertical meters, or around 1 to 1.5 hours of hiking. Free cancellation. My alarm went off at 5:30am. It was such a weird situation and one I still can't quite work out to this day. The lift is not always open, depending on weather conditions. The trail starts. Nothing makes me happier than capturing the world one destination at a time so make sure you follow me on my adventures! Presumably he got arrested and chucked in jail. © An Adventurous World (2014-21). Can you guess which one I took? Like this blog post? Truly amazing experience! Eventually, our guide had to call the mountain police, told them were he was and left him too it. It was hell, but I was unfit. I could have done that waterfall hike in Villarrica National Park the next day after all! I lived in Pucon and taught skiing on the volcan villarica thirty years ago. All rights reserved. The scenery provides a glimpse into the power and destruction of Villarrica's eruption, as well as nature's ability to recover. The best part was sliding down on those crazy carpets! At our first stop where we ate some nuts and glugged down some water, we had 10 minutes to catch our breath and appreciate the views which were already something else. That’s when we put our gas masks on, for the final push to the top. A fun day out for sure – just make sure you have quality gear to protect from. And if you’re looking for an adrenaline high to top standing upon an active volcano, this is it. While we would have loved to stay longer, it was time to begin the descent. But, be warned that this hike isn’t an easy task. Considering he’s been doing this for years I had a feeling he was right. El Sendero de los Crateres is an easy 7km (roundtrip) trail that leads through a shaded forest before opening up in the lava fields. I kept thinking to myself it would have been incredible with a snowboard at my feet because this steep descent does a number on your thighs! It all depends on your style of travel I guess! El Sendero de los Crateres is an easy 7km (roundtrip) trail that leads through a shaded forest before opening up in the lava fields. The lifts weren’t operating that day. Villarrica Volcano rises above Pucón and Lake Villarrica. I 100% agree with this. 7 h. The views we saw were great. Season: Winter. Difficulty Level Have you ever hiked Volcan Villarrica before? View the December 14, 2020 eclipse in Chile from a volcano! I love hiking at the best of times but add in sunrise, a steaming volcano and sledding down some snow and I’m like a little kid at Christmas. It’s tough, a fair few people drop out along the way, but if you make it to the summit it is an experience like no other. I was even more sold when I was told that you had to wear gas masks at the top because the active volcano spews gas and steam. Hiking, Mountaineering, Ice Climbing, Scrambling, Skiing. Roaming Around the World Best time for Climbing Villarrica Volcano is Summer in Chile, (southern hemispere) from December to February. The anticipation grew. When it isn’t spitting up smoke and lava, Volcán Villarrica makes a spectacular hike, offering a beautiful view of the nearby lake. Then, after hours of climbing, we did it. At the top, clouds of sulphur were pouring off the active volcano making my eyes water. Elevation: 9341 ft / 2847 m. Sign the Climber's Log! The scenery provides a glimpse into the power and destruction of Villarrica's eruption, as well as nature's ability to recover. If you’d like catch the ski lift to cut out an hour and a half of climbing then make sure you bring an extra $10,000. Then it was time to walk on the glacier itself, a blanket of white before us. One thing we’d been carrying around with us all morning was a round piece of plastic, just big enough to sit on, so that’s what we did.