La Araucanía

Pucón is Chile's undisputed adventure capital — a small lakeside town that swells with visitors drawn by the perfectly conical, near-continuously smoking Villarrica volcano looming above it. The volcano's guided ascent is one of Chile's classic adventures: a demanding day climb across snow and volcanic scree to peer down into an active, steaming crater, with the option to slide back down on your backside using an ice axe for the descent. Around town, the volcanic geology and forested hills fuel a huge menu of outdoor activities — white-water rafting on the Trancura River, canyoning through waterfalls, canopy zip-lines, horse riding and mountain biking — while natural and developed hot springs in the surrounding hills, some with volcano views, offer the perfect end to an active day. Lake Villarrica itself, with the town's black-sand beach, is popular for swimming, kayaking and sunset views of the volcano reflected in the water. Pucón's energetic, youthful atmosphere and dense concentration of outfitters make it easy to fill days here without much planning.

A short drive from Pucón, Huerquehue National Park is one of the Lake District's most rewarding day hikes — a trail climbing through dense native forest to a chain of turquoise lakes framed by ancient, umbrella-shaped araucaria (monkey-puzzle) trees, with views back over Lake Villarrica and its volcano on a clear day. Further north, the larger and wilder Conguillío National Park protects some of the world's most impressive araucaria forests, a tree considered sacred by the region's Indigenous people, growing alongside the black lava fields and cinder cones of the active Llaima volcano — a stark, otherworldly landscape best seen on the park's day trails or from the shore of the turquoise Laguna Conguillío. Both parks require more planning to reach than Pucón's immediate surroundings but reward visitors with some of Chile's most distinctive native forest scenery, largely free of the crowds around the volcano towns.

La Araucanía is the historic heartland of the Mapuche, Chile's largest Indigenous people, and their culture remains a living, visible presence across the region rather than a museum piece. Temuco, the regional capital, is the best starting point — its Ferrocarril market and Museo Regional de la Araucanía present Mapuche history, silverwork and textiles, while the surrounding rural communities run community-based tourism where visitors can share a meal, learn about the traditional round ruka dwelling, and see the intricate weaving and silver jewellery that remain central Mapuche crafts today. Villarrica town, on the lake's quieter western shore, also has a strong Mapuche cultural centre and museum, with craft markets selling textiles and woodwork. Travelling through the region, look out for the ruka-style architecture used in some local restaurants and lodges, and Mapuche ingredients like merkén (smoked chilli seasoning) and muday (a fermented grain drink) appearing on regional menus — an easy, everyday way to encounter the culture that shapes this part of Chile.