Pucón

History

Pucón was established in 1883 as a fort in the aftermath of the Occupation of Araucanía when the Chilean state subdued the native population of Araucanía Region. It was a strategically advantageous spot because of its location at entrance of the Trancura Valley, where the Argentinean army had once pursued a group of Mapuches through Mamuil Malal Pass during the Conquest of the Desert.

The first hotel in Pucón was the Gudenschwager, established in 1923, but it was in 1934 with the establishment of Gran Hotel Pucón that tourism became a popular activity in the area. In 1940 the first road between Villarrica and Pucón was built and in the 1970s the road to Caburgua Lake was finished.

Demographics

According to the 2002 census carried out by the Chilean National Statistics Institute, Pucón spans an area of 1,248.5 km² (482 sq mi) and has 21,107 inhabitants (10,705 men and 10,402 women). Of these, 13,837 (65.6%) lived in urban areas and 7,270 (34.4%) in rural areas. The population grew by 47% (6,751 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.

Tourism

Pucón is a major centre of adventure tourism in Chile, attracting national and foreigner visitors alike. Due to its striking natural surroundings which include volcanoes, lakes, waterfalls, nature reserves and hot springs, Pucón attracts tourism all year round. During the summer, popular tourist activities include hiking, rafting, horseback riding, bird watching, fishing, canopy trails, and canyoning. In winter and spring, it is possible to go skiing or snowboarding on the slopes of Villarrica volcano or visit one of the several thermal baths scattered around the nearby Valdivian temperate rain forest. These activities are easily arranged from the city itself, which harbours several tourist offices and travel agencies. Despite its relatively small urban area, accommodation infrastructure in Pucón is well developed, ranging from backpacker hostels to luxury hotels. Chilean and international cuisine can be found in one of the several city restaurants. More recently, Pucón has become a major destination for second home investments and amenity migration.

Tourist attractions

Located on the shores of Caburga Lake, Playa Blanca is a quieter alternative to the crowded Pucón beach. It is a small beach with clear water and light coloured sands, surrounded by trees and a small Myrtle wood, which provide useful shelter from the sun.

The most well-known is Villarrica (volcano), but other volcanoes tourists can visit include Mocho-Choshuenco, Quetrupillán and Lanín. The 2,840 meter high Villarrica is part of the Ring of Fire that lie around the basin of the Pacific Ocean. It is an active volcano with more than 82 eruptions since 1558; the most recent of which occurred on March 3, 2015. Despite this, it is possible to climb it throughout the year, if weather and volcanic activity permit. During winter, the summit is completely covered by snow, and offers views of at least seven of the surrounding lakes.

El Cañi, meaning “sight that transforms”, is a private protected area of 500 hectares belonging to a non-profit organization. It contains hiking trails through ancient Araucarias, Lengas (Lenga Beech), Coigues, old volcanic craters and lagoons. It is administered by a group of young farmers who offer an “eco” alternative to tourism. The park is home to foxes, pumas, pudús (a small kind of deer), wild ducks and condors, among many other species. A view point located at 1,550 meters altitude provides views of four nearby volcanoes: Villarrica, Quetrupillán, Lanín and Llaima.

There are many national parks in the area, including: Villarrica National Park, Huerquehue National Park and Villarrica National Reserve.

Pucón’s volcanic caves were formed by volcanic lava that flowed under glacier formations. Tourists can visit one of these caves and walk 400 metres underground with a specialist guide who can explain the process of formation.

Some of the main lakes near Pucón are: Villarrica, Caburgua and Tinquilco, with opportunities to practice watersports or to simply relax on their beaches.

The main river is the Trancura, known for its white water. It is popular for practicing watersports like kayaking and rafting. There are different levels of difficulty on the river, from easy family rides through Level III rapids to more difficult rides through Level V rapids.

There are several hot springs and spas in the commune of Pucón and the surrounding area, including: Palguín, Rio Blanco, Huife, Quimey-Co and Los Pozones. The nearby commune of Curarrehue also contains popular spas, including: Menetúe, San Luis, Trancura, Panqui and Ancamil.

Administration

As a commune, Pucón is a third-level administrative division of Chile administered by a municipal council, headed by an alcalde who is directly elected every four years. The 2012-2016 alcalde is Carlos Barra Matamala (RN).

Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Pucón is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by René Manuel García (RN) and Fernando Meza (PRSD) as part of the 52nd electoral district, (together with Cunco, Curarrehue, Villarrica, Loncoche, Gorbea and Toltén). The commune is represented in the Senate by José Garcia Ruminot (RN) and Eugenio Tuma Zedan (PPD) as part of the 15th senatorial constituency (Araucanía-South).

Education

Previously the area had a German school, Deutsche Schule Pucón.

Sister cities