29
ediciones
Cambios
→Season 2025/26
==Season 2025/26==
'''2026-01-12 to 2026-01-16/ 5 days/ Hiking/ SOBO/ Options 4, 3, 2/ Greg Carter'''
Overall
The Villarrica Traverse is a wonderful hike with immersion in spectacular volcanic terrain, and beautiful Araucaria forests. Although the hike is well-known I saw only 2 other hikers.
Attraction: 5/5
Difficulty: 3/5
Day 1 (Monday)
I started from Villarrica early afternoon by taking an Uber to the parking for Centro de Ski, for CLP 10,000. On the way up there is a ranger station for registration. However it was closed so registration was not possible (the park is closed on Mondays). I prepaid an online entry pass (11,000 CLP) starting on Tuesday, but this was never checked.
The trailhead/ start of the GPT is approx 2km uphill on a dirt road from the car park. Despite the park being closed I was not stopped from starting the trail.
There are many streams with heavy volcanic sediment which would be difficult to filter. It’s best to bring sufficient water for at least the first 10km (from the carpark) to the spring/ water point described below (**which may not be reliable later in summer**).
I camped at a major trail intersection here (-39.43578, -71.99362), close to a signed water point (-39.43583, -71.99545) fed by a spring, connected by a hose to a tap and water trough.
Day 2
Hiked to camp at Pichillancahue campsite (-39.46838, -71.85740). Note there is a no camping sign.
Along the way the only good source of clean flowing water is the Estero Aihue at -39.47765, -71.88646. I highly recommend you fill up here. This is also a good camping spot.
Day 3
Hiked to camp 3 (-39.51371, -71.75336) at the intersection with Option 3, where there is a good clear stream. There is also a fairly big waterfall nearby, and possibly a flat area for camping above it, which I saw from above but did not investigate.
Early in the day the rangers at Chinay {16-04} [31.9/996] required registration but did not check my pass. Shortly after the ranger station, where the trail turns to the right, there is a good stream to fill up. The trail then climbs steadily through Araucaria forest to reveal increasingly better views of Volcán Villarrica. On the way up there is a good flowing spring (signed, 20m downhill from the trail) at -39.47179, -71.82628.
Above the treeline there is an easy path to a scenic pass, followed by a spectacular ridge walk, with views of Volcáns Villarrica, Quetrupillan and Lanín.
Day 4
Hiked Option 3 to the N/S intersection, left my main pack and climbed Volcán Quetrupillan. This was a little challenging, as it required skirting several snow fields on the GPT route. However micro-spikes were not necessary. Some careful scrambling is required (due to loose rock and scree) to gain/ descend the summit ridge, and to climb/ descend the summit itself. There were amazing views from the top, including Laguna Azul, and Volcáns Villarrica and Lanín.
Afterwards I intended to continue east to connect with Option 1 (Rio Trancura), but I accidentally fell over when I wasn’t concentrating and broke a pole soon after setting off (insert expletive!). I repaired the pole but decided it was best to return to Pucón (to buy new poles) by the easiest route, which was Options 3 and 2. That night I camped at -39.52414, -71.80216, on a disused side road, uphill from a bridge with a good flowing stream.
Day 5
I hiked out on Option 2, which is an easy dirt track. At -39.51765 -71.83974 there is a big double gate system (?!) just before a bridge over a running stream. I found a gap where there is a missing fence post on the right hand side (facing west), which I squeezed my pack and myself through. It would be very difficult to climb over the second gate.
I then hiked to the road at Termas El Rincón, where I hitched almost immediately to Coñaripe. Then I caught 2 local buses, first to Villarrica, then to Pucón, (from memory) for CLP 2,300 and CLP 1,500, respectively.
I understand that the Termas El Rincon has wifi if you need it.
