6
ediciones
Cambios
→Season 2024/25
==Season 2025/26==
'''2026-Feb-12 to 2026-Feb-15 / 3.5 days / Hiking / EABO / OH-4, OH-2, RR, Variant A, OH-1 / Emily'''
Beautiful section, easy and clear trail with frequent markers. I hiked with a friend, and while the section could easily be completed more quickly, we found it well worthwhile to take extra time to enjoy the vistas and forest. Recent trip reports reflect current conditions, not much to add.
At Border/Pass {16-01} [40.4/1788] I ascended the hill along the border. Highly recommend - an easy climb for great 270 views of the five volcanoes.
Camps
Night 1: -39.458210, -71.978402. Highly recommend, incredible sunset. Space for 1 tent in trees, with another spot around the corner (with small rock wall) and more potential spots 20m before to the left in a small depression. Estero Nilfe was near dry and opaque, however there was a clear flowing stream shortly before at -39.45496, -71.98198.
Night 2: -39.455667, -71.822334. Along a disused pull-out road, plenty of space and well-protected, next to small river. We checked out Chinay but as per previous reports, it appears semi-abandoned and had an odd vibe. If looking to camp here, follow the road along SOBO after the OSM marker, and you’ll come to a bridge and road. The following morning we passed a better camp spot with picnic table just after the CONAF office {16-04} [31.9/996].
Night 3: Lake, Camp [40.2/1597]. Several spots among the trees. Three other hikers camping here. Some trash around unfortunately.
* ''' GPT16 | 2026-02-05 to 2026-02-08 I 3 days | hiking | SOBO I Route: Option 4 (Villarrica Traverse) - Option 2 - RR | Michaela '''
Day 1: I took an Uber to the Ski Center parking area (8.400 CLP). I forgot to ask the driver to stop at CONAF, but I had already bought the entrance ticket for Parque Nacional Villarrica Norte online the day before (11.000 CLP) - in the end it was never checked. I started hiking at about 10:00. Easy trail with very good views.
I camped at Estero Aihue, nice spot with clear water: -39.476814, -71.885906
Day 2: Easy trails, water available along the route. I registered at "Park Ranger {16-04} [31.9/996] (Chinay)". They did not ask for my entrance ticket. Camped near the waterfall: -39.511992, -71.750355
Day 3: I woke up at 03:30 due to strong wind. I had to secure my tent. The wind continued until morning. The campsite was actually very nice, but not recommended in windy conditions.
I planned to climb Volcán Quetrupillán, but the forecast announced heavy rain soon and I wanted to reach Puerto Fuy, so I skipped the ascent. I reached Laguna Azul before noon. No other people and no trash. I took a swim break. The rest of the trail was straightforward and I saw many interesting birds.
Planned campsite - Camp {16} [62.0/486] - appears to be private property. There is a fence and a locked gate, so I continued. I camped hete: -39.684141, -71.856855 . It's not a perfect spot, but at least hidden, near the MR next to a stream.
Day 4: In the morning my tent was completely wet from condensation. I was super lucky then, I only walked a few minutes , then a car passed and I could hitchhike all the way to Liquiñe. I had breakfast there and continued with Section 17.
Attractiveness: 5/5, Difficulty: 2/5
*'''2026-1-29 to 2024-2-1/ 4 days/ Hiking/ SOBO/opt 4, 2, RR, A, 1/Tomas Martinec'''
A beautiful section that is not too difficult and well marked. I really enjoyed the changing volcanic and forest landscapes.
Day 1
I tried to pre-arrange an Uber the night before, but the price was quite high (14,000 CLP). So I left it for the morning, and the price dropped to 9,500 CLP.
The Uber took me to the ski resort parking lot (39.3816607S, 71.9710225W). We couldn’t go any further because there was a barrier down. However, some cafeteria workers were driving by and kindly took me directly to the beginning of the Villarrica trail.
Be careful — after this water point (39.4358367S, 71.9954842W), the next reliable clean water source is about 15 km later at Estero Aihue.
Campspot: Pichillancahue (39.4685929S, 71.8576455W) – one spot on both sides of the bridge.
Day 2
I met a friendly CONAF worker in Chinay. He warned me that storms were expected from midday. About 100 m after Chinay, there is a nice campsite.
Next water point: 39.4716573S, 71.8263066W
The storm started at 11:00 and finished at 19:00. I stopped walking at 13:00 and waited at the edge of the forest. As I was wet and cold, I decided to set up my tent and stay there for the night.
Campspot: 39.4772464S, 71.8250824W (forest, no water — chosen because of the storm).
Day 3
Nice possible campsite: 39.5030120S, 71.7647070W
Other possible campspots without water:
39.4842887S, 71.8155280W (sheltered by stones)
39.4898674S, 71.7983452W
I had planned to climb Quetrupillán, but when I was passing by, the summit was covered in clouds. So I continued to Laguna Azul.
I had a beautiful night at Laguna Blanca — a really nice place to stay. The only downside was that the water was very still and didn’t look very clean.
Campspot: 39.5393546S, 71.6964447W
Day 4
A very nice walk. It was easy to see all the volcanoes. The trail ends in the forest. I think it’s big advantage to walk this final section with a lighter backpack.
Hitchhiking from Puesco to Currarehue.
<nowiki>* '''</nowiki>'''2026-01-15 to 2026-01-18 / 4 days / Hiking / SOBO / Villarica Traverse / OH 4, OH 3, OH 2, RR, OH A, OH 01 / Lucie Vrat'''<nowiki>* '''</nowiki>
This was my first GPT trail section, and it was absolutely amazing. I had perfect sunny weather, except for strong winds on the final hiking day.
As I went shortly after Greg, the information he provided still applies.
Day 1:
I took an Uber to the ski center for 8,200 CLP. The CONAF office was closed, so I did not register there (I had bought the national park entrance ticket online the day before). As there was no wind, I camped on the plateau about 1 km before Estero Aihue [24 km]— definitely a very nice place to spend the night and take water.
Day 2:
I descended to the CONAF station at Chinay and then continued up to Mirador Los Pinos. I slept cowboy-style at an unofficial spot shortly before Camp Estero Mocho [31.2 km] - another really nice place to stay with water.
Day 3:
I continued on OH-4 towards Laguna Azul and decided to climb the Quetrupillán crater since conditions were perfect OH 3 CC A. I left my large backpack hidden behind a rock. The upper section had some falling rocks but was not too complicated. The views from the top were stunning. On the way down, I crossed a few small snowfields, but they were easy to walk on. I finished the day camping at Laguna Azul, where I met two groups of Chileans who were also camping there.
Day 4:
I walked past Laguna Blanco and Laguna Las Avutardas all the way down to Puesco. The descent was quite tiring on the knees, and in the lower part of the trail I had to avoid or step over many fallen trees, but nothing major. Tabanos and cows were everywhere:) There is a cool café/restaurant right where the trail meets the road. I got a hitch to Curarrehue and then took a bus to Pucón for 2,000 CLP.
Overall: An easy and very attractive section A5/D3.
'''2026-01-12 to 2026-01-16/ 5 days/ Hiking/ SOBO/ Options 4, 3, 2/ Greg Carter'''
Day 2
Hiked to camp at Pichillancahue campsite (-39.46838, -71.85740). Note there is a no camping sign. Whilst there is a river here the water has volcanic sediment which I filtered after straining through a fine cloth.
Along the way there is a small clear lake and a good camping site at -39.44683, -71.98701.
==Season 2024/25==
*'''2025-04-22 to 2025-04-29/ 6 days hiking / NOBO / Villarica Traverse Route from Pucón to Carirriñe Bajo. Ben &Stephanie
Spectacular alpine hiking around Volcáns Villarrica and Quetrupillán, then descend through aracharia forest where pinions are harvested.
We had to cut this stage short due to slow progress hiking in recent snow down to 1000m and rerouted southbound on the RR when the next storm arrived at Lago Azul. Useful tip if you anticipate a lot of snow: bring ice spikes/ultralight crampons -- we purchased some at Volcanica in Pucon, a very comprehensive outdoor gear store. Also: the highest snow accumulation is on Volcan Villarica and stays longer on the south sides of all the slopes. Melting snow means water was always near.
*'''2025-03-10 to 2025-03-13 / 3.5 days hiking / NOBO / Villarica Traverse (OH 04 + OH 02 + RR + OH A + OH 01) / MiaimZelt'''