Summary

General Information

Parque Nacional Villarrica

Glaciar Pichillancahue

Country: Chile

Region: Región de los Ríos

Area: Parque Nacional Villarrica

Nearest city: Coñaripe

Number of journeys: 1

Total distance: 7,2km (ida y vuelta)

Trail Markings: Frecuente y clara

Trail: Claro y marcado

Route type: Ida y vuelta

Glaciares

Cascadas / Ríos

Bosques

Panorámicas / Paisaje

Graduations (8)

Difficulty:

Atractive:

Information:

I did it

Author

Date

Camila Veloso

26/02/2023

Hiking routes
Introduction

One of the best options for seeing Volcano Villarrica from one of its lesser visited faces is to complete the route which leads to the Pichillancahue Glacier. This route is found in the Parque Nacional Villarrica, a Conaf run national park created in 1940. The trail is 7.2km (there and back) and allows you to go deep into the area dominated by Volcano Villarrica through Araucaria forests at the beginning and then over volcanic terrain, from where you will have an amazing view of the eastern face of the volcano and the beautiful glacier which hangs from it.


The name Pichillancahue comes from Mapudungun and means “small place of green stones”. The route leads to the foot of the glacier, and provides great views of the other volcanoes in the area such as Lanín, Quetrupillán and Mocho-Choshuenco.

Appropriate season

From when the access road is free of snow in Spring, to when it is covered once more in Autumn.

Access

From Temuco to Coñaripe


From Temuco head south along route 5 for 26km until you reach the village of Freire where you should take route 199 towards the town of Villarrica. After 55km you will reach this town alongside the lake with the same name, and from here take the road that leaves heading south towards the village of Licán Ray. After another 26km you will reach Licán Ray and from here continue along the northern shore of Lake Calafquén along a paved road, to arrive after 21km at Coñaripe.


From Coñaripe to Parque Nacional Villarrica


From Coñaripe, head north along the same dirt road that leads to the thermal springs at Vergara, Geométricas and Rincón and to Parque Nacional Villarrica – it is signposted as “termas” (thermal springs). After passing the entrance to these three thermal springs, continue along the dirt road to the entrance of the Parque Nacional Villarrica. From the entrance continue for another 3km along a dirt road in bad condition, so we recommend that only 4x4 vehicles continue along here. If you do not have a 4x4, you can walk the 3 remaining kilometres to the start of the route which is correctly singposted.


The road continues towards the sector of Palguín, but it is in very bad condition so we do not recommend that any vehicle continue any further.


At the time of publication, there were plans to improve this road which would provide access to the start of the route from the north from the popular town of Pucón and would create a road all the way round the volcano.


There is currently no form of public transport between Coñaripe and the start of the route.

Permits / Prices

The entry fees to the Parque Nacional Villarrica are as follows: adult CLP$1000 (approx. US$2), child CLP$500 (approx. US$1).

Accommodation / Facilities

A little distance from the Conaf park wardens’ refuge there is a campsite.

Recommendations

  • Ask Conaf about the state of the road before going further than the park wardens’ refuge.

Gear

  • Trekking boots or high-ankle boots.
  • Trekking poles (optional).

Schedule

  1. Coñaripe - Pichillancahue Glacier - Coñaripe

Comments

Glaciar Pichillancahue
Camila Veloso 05/05/2023

Punto alcanzado: 1700 msnm

Fecha expedición: 26/02/2023


      

Punto alcanzado: Laguna glaciar Pichillancahue

Fecha expedición: 31/12/2022

Precioso sendero para conocer la vertiente oriental del volcan Rukapillán/Villarrica, con vistas al Lanín, Quetrupillán, Mocho-Choshuenco, Colmillo del Diablo... El camino Palguín-Coñaripe en pésimo estado, sobre todo en la cuesta antes de llegar a caseta CONAF, si no se cuenta con 4x4 y un auto lo suficientemente alto se deberá  caminar los 4 km (8 km ida y vuelta) hasta el inicio del sendero. Desde el inicio del sendero hasta los glaciares de roca, ida y vuelta fueron 10 km.
Agustin Peña 22/11/2022

Fecha expedición: 03/08/2020


      
Joaquín Metzner 10/04/2021

Fecha expedición: 16/02/2015


      
Álvaro Vivanco 23/03/2015

Punto alcanzado: Glaciar Pichillancahue

Fecha expedición: 06/01/2015

En un día espectacular hicimos este bonito sendero. Muy recomendable para ver otra cara del Villarrica.

Tracks and Waypoints

Glaciar Pichillancahue

Colaborador: David Valdés
Fecha: 17/06/2015