The ground trembles slightly underfoot, the air smells of sulfur, and peering over the edge of the crater, one can see the orange glow of the lava lake bubbling just a few meters away. The Volcán Villarrica, with its 2,847 meters of altitude, is one of the most active volcanoes on the entire South American continent, and climbing to its summit is an experience that few other places in the world can match.
The volcano is located near Pucón, a small town in the Chilean region of Araucanía, about 780 kilometers south of Santiago. Its perfectly conical shape, often crowned by a plume of white smoke, dominates the surrounding lake landscape and reflects in the waters of Lago Villarrica. It is this contrast — the eternal ice at the summit, the living fire in the crater, the Patagonian forests at its feet — that makes Villarrica a place of rare visual power.
A volcano with a history of documented eruptions
The Villarrica has been almost continuously active for centuries. The most significant eruptions of the 20th and 21st centuries include those of 1971 and 1984, which caused lava flows and destruction in the surrounding valleys. The eruption of March 2015 is still fresh in the memory of the residents of Pucón: a column of lava and ash rose several kilometers into the heart of the night, forcing the evacuation of thousands of people. Today, the volcano is constantly monitored by SERNAGEOMIN, the National Service of Geology and Mining of Chile, which updates the alert level daily and decides whether excursions to the crater are allowed.
This unpredictability is what makes Villarrica both fascinating and respectful at the same time. It is not an inert monument: it is a living geological system, and every visit is conditioned by its mood of the day. When conditions allow, local agencies in Pucón organize guided ascents that allow direct observation of the glowing lava lake inside the crater — a spectacle that few publicly accessible volcanoes in the world offer.
The ascent: what to expect on the journey
The climb to Villarrica typically takes 4-6 hours for the round trip, depending on the group's pace and the snow conditions. The route starts from the base of the volcano, accessible by car or with transportation provided by agencies in Pucón, and is entirely on snow and ice in the upper part. For this reason, the use of crampons, ice axe, and helmet is mandatory, all equipment that is provided by local guides in the cost of the excursion, which typically ranges between 60 and 90 US dollars per person.
In the final part, when crossing the fumarole area and reaching the edge of the crater, the air becomes acrid and pungent. The guides distribute gas masks that must be worn to protect against sulfur gases. The descent, on the other hand, is one of the most memorable moments of the entire adventure: many agencies allow you to descend seated on a special plastic sled down the snow channels, covering in a few minutes elevations that took hours to climb.
The natural context: Pucón and Lake Villarrica
Pucón is the ideal logistical base for those wanting to approach the volcano. The town overlooks the eastern shore of the Villarrica Lake, a glacially formed basin about 66 kilometers long, with cold waters and an intense blue color. The center is relatively small but well-equipped for tourists: it is abundant in restaurants, outdoor equipment shops, and adventure agencies that also offer kayaking, rafting on the Trancura River, and natural hot springs in the surroundings.
The volcano and the lake are included in the Villarrica National Park, a protected area that extends over 61,000 hectares and also includes two other volcanoes, Quetrupillán and Lanín, the latter shared with Argentina. The forests of araucarias — ancient trees, a symbol of southern Chile — that grow on the slopes of the volcano are one of the most characteristic elements of the landscape and a detail that immediately catches the eye of the visitor.
Practical tips for organizing the visit
The best time to attempt the ascent is from November to March, corresponding to the southern summer, when the chances of clear skies are higher and the temperatures at altitude, while remaining below zero, are more manageable. It is essential to book the excursion at least one or two days in advance through one of the certified agencies in Pucón, and to accept that the departure may be canceled at the last moment in case of bad weather or an increase in the volcanic alert level.
Those who do not feel up to tackling the full ascent can still enjoy Villarrica from a close distance: several trails in the national park offer extraordinary views of the volcanic cone without requiring technical equipment. In any case, bringing sunglasses with high UV protection is essential, as the reflection of the sun on the snow can be intense even on cloudy days.
