If you want to go volcano climbing in Chile, you absolutely want to check out Araucania, which is in the Southern part of the company. This region is located right on the Pacific Rim of Fire’s eastern edge so you can expect many volcanoes. The climbs are highly-scenic and you can so easily enjoy weeks of perfect hiking.
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Obviously, with so many volcanoes present, you can choose out of different paths and unique experiences in Southern Chile. Those that have to be recommended as the very best are definitely those below.
Villarrica
Villarrica is one of the most active volcanoes in the country. It is also a wonderful climbing destination for mountaineers that are not experienced. The volcano has the title of the most climbed mountain massif in the Americas region, with statistics showing that around 14,000 people reach the summit every single year.
This stratovolcano has a height of 2,860 meters and is the easternmost volcano located in the entire Pacific Rim of Fire. The ascension that you will be on is of around 1,575 meters, with a climbing difficulty level characterized as being moderate.
You can reach the summit in 5 hours so a trip here only needs one day. In the event that you also want to explore Villarrica’s slopes, join a 2-day excursion. Many tourists are thrilled to visit right to the huge crater located right at the top since the volcano did erupt in 2015. Smoke can sometimes be seen so make sure you take your camera with you.
Lanin
Close to Villarrica you can find Lanin, which is located in the same fault zone. This volcano enjoys the title of the most iconic in the entire Northern Patagonia region. The summit is blanketed in a beautiful glacier, being a peak with a height of 3,776 meters. You can basically easily see it from a distance, being located right on the border with neighboring Argentina. This is why you can reach the summit from both Chile and Argentina.
Usually, you need two days to reach the summit. However, many guides take tourists on 4-day trips to include some extra climbing and mountaineering. Two routes exist:
- The normal one starts in Chile and is mostly hiking, with the necessity to use good crampons and ice axes.
- The more difficult one starts in Argentina and should be considered just by the more advanced hikers.
Llaima
Llaima is located in Chile’s Araucania Region and has a height of 3,125 meters. This is an active volcano and is now the largest in the country. The last time it erupted was in 2008. Experts think that in the following 20 years the volcano will erupt 2 more rimes.
Mountaineers often consider Llaima as it is the tallest mountain in the entire area. The views here are truly remarkable and the entire are is renowned for natural beauty. At the same time, fewer people visit than Villarrica, mainly because of the remote location of the volcano.
It will take some time to reach Llaima and then climb to the top. However, the climb is not that difficult. You do need minimal mountaineering experience though. Guides usually offer 3- or 4-day excursions. Only moderate ice and rock climbing appear.
Lonquimay
This site is located around 40 kilometers from Llaima to the north. It is smaller but is active. The last time the volcano erupted was between 1988 and 1990.
Llaima has a height of 2,865 meters and stands out as a wonderful mountaineering destination in Southern Chile. It is less crowded than the other more popular volcanoes mentioned above. You can choose out of different routes that take you to the volcano. The really easy one is the one considered to be the normal route. You just need crampons and a quality ice ax. Then, you will reach the top.
When Should You Go Volcano Climbing In Southern Chile?
The 4 volcanos above are great choices but when should you visit? The very best period is between December and April. Even so, there are guides that offer winter trips that are usually best-suited for the advanced mountaineers.
When you go during summer, you can expect an average temperature of 22 degrees Celsius. However, the higher you go, the lower the temperature gets. Make sure that you dress in layers so you do not end up sweating or being too cold.
