6
ediciones
Cambios
→Season 2024/25
==Season 2025/26==
'''2026-01-25 to 2026-01-29 / 3 days + 1 zero / Hiking / SOBO / Option 2, RR, Option 1, RR, Option 4, RR / Chris & Lotte'''
Stunning section, my favorite so far in terms of attractiveness to km ratio.
About Option 2: since I met Erwin last year already, I early on contacted him and told him we'd come by and stay for a night with them. This time Don Hector and Nery were at their house as well. They are truly lovely people, we shared a lot.of laughs and Don Hector gave us a big tour around the property and showed us, where they used to wash their clothes in the river 50 years ago.
They charge 5kCLP pp for passing. They didnt want more money for staying the night with them, we paid 15k anyways, as I paid it last year as well and it seems like a fair price for camping, water, hot shower.
Enrique (mentioned by Greg) does not seem to have the best reputation in the valley, one calling him a scammer. It might be a neighborhood feud, I couldn't tell for sure.
The path (RR-MR) is managed and maintained by the municipality. its strange, that both entrys to it are crossing private property.
Last year, the gates on Variant D werent locked as well. This time we didnt check.
Another point to mention is: two times loose dogs charged at us. The first time one and he only hopped the fence after we had passed his propeety, so he didnt charge us. The second time three very aggressive dogs charged at us, even before we were halfway of their property. the brown one was actively trying to attack us. We fenced them off with our poles, didnt let them circle us and fought our way past them. No owner in sight, noone reacted to our "hola"s. Be prepared.
Water is a struggle. Couldnt confirm the water sources indicated by others, but found one spring at 40.562851, 072.142571 which I didnt encounter last year. It seems simply not reliable. There is very very little snow left. Some rivers were dry, that were flourishing last year. Hot spring had visibly lower water level than usual and defenitly hotter than last year and smelled a bit like piss for some reason.
The river at 40.592226, 072.135329 should be marked in my opinion though. It seems quite resilient to draught.
Climbing the summit was easer than anticipated. It took us less than 2hrs up, 50min down. "Official" estimate is 2:30hrs up. Its not as gravel-ly as other volcanos and we defenitly recommend to take on this extra effort.
If you want to make the bus at 7:30am a suitable campspot with water somewhat closeby is at 40.624894, 072.149846 (near water 75.4).
The refugio was crowded (not even the weekend). We were 12 people, therefore we stayed in our tent. The others didnt bring tents as they intended only to stay the night and summit the next morning.
'''2026-01-24 to 2026-01-27 / 3.5 days / Hiking / NOBO / RR / Basti, Isi, Maija, Steff'''
We did Puyehue NOBO in-and-out to the geysers with a detour to the hotsprings due to missing knowledge about alternative routes and to leave our luggage at Santiago's.
Day 1: We took a bus from Puerto Montt to Entre Lagos and easily got a hitch to the intersection to Hotel Puyehue/Aguas Calientes. We did not get a hitch from there in one hour waiting, but got an offer from the resident in the first house after the intersection to drive us for 20.000$. We started hiking relatively late (16:00) and climbed the fence of Santiago's property and payed 15.000$ pp for the right to use the path. The restaurant is closed, but the campsite could be used for 5.000$ pp. We slept the first night at Refugio El Caulle after a steep but not too difficult ascent. No problems/encounters with mice inside the hut (saw one outside though) and no other people (Saturday night). Very basic plank beds without mattresses, but relatively tidy.
Day 2: We found sufficient water in multiple spots along RR -40.60257, 72.13280 (W1), -40.59183, -72.13529 (W2), -40.56460, -72.14192 (W3), -40.56294, -72.14272 (W4), but afterwards none anymore this day. W1 had more and cleaner water in the morning than W2, but more sediments in the evening on day 3. W4 was superior to W3 and marked by a red canister slightly up the river bed before vanishing underground. We climbed up to the crater from -40.57792, -72.13386 which was short but steep. We made camp at -40.49311, -72.15954 close to the geyser but up the slopes without finding water close by. Due to the humidity of the geyser, we had wet and a little icy tents in the morning.
Day 3: We did the hotsprings -40.46725, -72.20692, some 3kms after the end of the path in OSM, return and found great water at -40.48677, -72.17843 with a stream in the whole valley. We walked back on RR. We slept at -40.60240, -72.13383 which was nicely flat with water closeby (W1, lots of sediments in the evening). Nice star sky. In the night, the wind picked up and it got very dusty though.
Day 4: We climbed up to the crater again, this time the path from the refugio visible on OSM. Easier but more elevation. By the time we came back to the refugio at around 11/12, there were 3 people for the night. Hiked down to the street again and continued to the camping in Anticura for food. Nice restaurant and cheap camping, no store with nice waterfalls close by (possibility so swim).
We really enjoyed the hike! Gaitors would have been nice, the loose volcanic rocks are really tough on shoes and socks. We took the small (and only) early morning bus back to Osorno, around 7:30, stopping both in Anticura and at Santiago's.
'''2026-01-21 to 2026-01-23/ 3 days/ Hiking/ SOBO/ Option 2, RR, Variant D, Variant E, RR, Option 4, RR/ Greg Carter'''
Overall
Incredible volcanic terrain and vistas!
Attraction: 5
Difficulty: 3
Access on Variant D
I contacted (full name) Enrique Fernando Nuñez (+56 9 8817 1134) on WhatsApp to arrange access on Variant D. He asked me to come to his house in Riñinahue so he could give me a key, and said the access cost is CLP 10,000 per person. Unfortunately he lives almost 2km from the start of Option 2, here: -40.32940, -72.22500. I walked to his house, had a nice chat and found out that he manages the forest in the vicinity of the black gate (-40.42611, -72.11122) on Variant D. He showed me a video of where he hides the key for the gate. However when I arrived there the gate was not locked!
I suggest that if you want to arrange access you ask Enrique to meet you in Riñinahue town when you arrive, to avoid the hassle of a 4km round trip to his house.
Day 1
I hitched easily a few times, up to the new bridge under construction [37.3/296] (Rio Nilahue). The RR from there is a tedious walk up a MR. On the way I found a spring flowing across the road: -40.39866, -72.09008. There is also a bridge with a flowing stream: -40.40579, -72.10656, and good flowing water in a gully: -40.40810, -72.11114.
At the intersection of the RR and Variant D I saw that the gate across the RR was locked, so considering that I had arranged access, I turned right up variant D. See the note above for access through the black gate. Not far beyond this is another gate, which was also open.
Needing water and curious about the availability of water I turned onto Variant E. I found a little stream at -40.42948, -72.11325.
I then rejoined the RR.
Day 2
This day was far more enjoyable and interesting, especially once above the treeline, with geysers, numerous lava fields, ridge walking and mountain views (despite low cloud for most of the day).
I encountered no water until the good flowing spring (previously noted) at -40.56313, -72.14318.
The next water encountered was at -40.59196, -72.13544, a good flowing stream.
I camped close to the next water [71.9/ 1610], where there is a large flat circular area: -40.60241, -72.13381. This is a good base camp for the summit climb.
Day 3
This day started with clear blue sky and no wind, perfect for the summit. The caldera was stunning, as were the 360 degree views to all the other peaks and volcanoes in the region. For me this bumped the attraction up to 5/5 from 4/5.
The walk out was easy but involved a lot of steep downhill sections. When I passed Santiago’s place I said I had paid Enrique, and was not asked for money. There is cellular coverage around Santiago’s place.
At the main road I hitched to the Chile/ Argentina border, intending to get to Bariloche. To my surprise the border officials wouldn’t let me through on foot unless I had arranged transport with someone with a vehicle. Only then could I get an exit stamp. I found a ride by hanging out in the car park and approaching people who looked the most likely to help.
''' GPT19/ 2026-1-5 to 2026-1-7/3 days/ SOBO/RR/Denis, Robert '''
The road from Lake Maihue is pretty easy going only thing is ford of river Hueinahue, it is wide but narrow no problem. After ford I would try to stay next to the river and go down stream and join the road lower instead of following trail. We had to jumped over two fences and go through some bush, but possible. Last water around 50 km.
Before the gate we first called Erwin +56 9 7306 4535 but he redirected us to Sra Nery Raddatz +56 9 9776 9352. After asking for permission he said that if we are not afraid of dogs we can jump over the fence and go up. We didn’t need to pay anything. The trail is bit overgrown after fence.
Next small stream we found here (-40.56274, -72.14291) and then proper water source at 71 km.
We hitchhiked to Entre Lagos from. Anticura it went pretty smooth busy traffic.
Difficulty 3/5
Attractiveness 4/5
*''' 2025.28.12 / 2 days / Hiking / SOBO / RR + Var. D + H / Kris, Stiina and Bailey'''
==Season 2024/25==
31-MAR-2025 to 06-APR-2025 / 7 days / hiking / NOBO / RR, Variant B / Ben, Stephanie
Route from Licán to Rupameica Bajo on Lago Maihue and then to Caicayén across the spectacular Volcán Puyehue, lava flows, geysers
Several people have cabanas on offer in Caicayen; just walk the highway and you will see the signs
* '''2025-03-10 to 2025-03-16 / 6 Days / Hiking / NOBO / RR + 2A / Tim + Magdalena'''
