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Villarrica National Park
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Situated on a lateral
branch of the Andes mountain range, this park is characterized
by its volcanoes, forests, caves, rivers and lagoons.
Dominating the landscape, the Villarrica volcano is its major
attraction. At an altitude of 2,847 m (9,338 ft) above sea level,
and with the reputation of being the most active volcano in South
America, this volcano is the center of tourist activity in the
area. The volcano boasts a ski center and volcanic caves worth
exploring. You can also climb up to the crater of the volcano
to admire not only the boiling lava in the interior but also the
view from above of the surrounding lakes, lagoons, and other nearby
volcanoes.
The park has an
area of 63 thousand hectares (138,600 acres), with extensive forests
of araucarias and lenga in the higher parts, and raulí, long-leafed
mañío and coigüe in the lower parts. These forest zones are home
to a variety of fauna, perhaps the most interesting being the
pumas,
grey and red foxes, pudúes, coipos, peucos, quiques, chingues
and mountain monkeys, one of the three species of marsupials which
exist in Chile.
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Location
La Araucanía region, 8 km (5 mi) southeast of Pucón.
120 km (75 mi) to the northeast is Temuco.
Location
How to get there
Santiago-Temuco:
by air or land. From Temuco leave on Ruta 5 Sur (south)
and take the turn to Villarrica en Freire. From Villarrica
take the road which goes towards Pucón and which borders
the lake, and at approximately kilometer 24 you will
see the turn towards the park. 8 kilometers (5 mi) of
the road are unpaved until the Rucapillán sector of
the reserve. See
Transportation
When to go
Year round.
Other nearby attractions
Villarrica-Pucón
Ski Center, Pucón,
Volcanic caves.
Activities
Fishing, sea kayak, white water kayak, rafting, skiing,
mountaineering, trekking, wildlife observation, horseback
riding, photography. Activities
Section
Climate
Rain between March and August, which varies
between 2,500 and 3,500 mm (98 and 137 in.), and there
is the possibility of up to 2m (6.5 ft) of snowfall.
Between January and March, the minimum temperature can
be 9°C (48ºF) and the maximum fluctuating between 20°
and 23°C (68º and 73ºF), the lowest average temperature
registered between May and August is 4°C (39ºF).
Services
Trails,
camping, rangers.
Prices
Adults: Nationals $1,500 Chilean Pesos;
Foreigners $3,000 Chilean Pesos.
Children: Nationals $500 Chilean Pesos; Foreigners $1.000.
Elderly: Nationals $750 Chilean Pesos; Foreigners $1,500 Chilean Pesos. |
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