Villarrica-Pucon, Chile

Mike Taylor - CASA Tours Guide from CANADA writes:

Volcán Villarica is the most popular volcano in Chile, with thousands of tourists summiting each year. Much fewer in winter, but on any opportune winter day there's at least a couple packs of tourists staggering along in single file to the top if they're lucky, and most often they're non-skiers who butt slide/stumble down... it's really not graceful in any way, but very entertaining. One could say Pucón receives its fair share of wind and rain, and the summit days in winter are few and far between. The resort at the base of the cone offers some great skiing (esp. boarding) when the upper chairlifts aren't buried, partially buried, or scarily weighted down with rime. There are a total of 9 lifts, but only a few are really rewarding. In good conditions the summit can be reached in 3 hrs (fr the uppermost chair), and the very top 100 m is the only technical part of the ascent. However, the acidic fumes which continually spew from the open crater can bring you to your knees. But on the bright side, there's always Mamas Y Tapas when you can't ski in Pucón.

2008-07-21