Pucón, Chile

       Pucón is arguably one of the best places I’ve been to: it’s relatively inexpensive (if done right), breathtakingly gorgeous, full of friendly people, and it offers a variety of fun activities. I always describe it as a South American version of Jackson Hole, Wyoming--it’s fresh, outdoorsy, authentic, and exciting. I traveled to Pucón from Santiago, Chile with a group of friends, and our trip was all about the outdoors. It was in March-- which is late summer or early fall in Chile-- so we got the opportunity to enjoy some of the great warm-weather activities that the area has to offer. Some highlights? Rafting, climbing the Villarica volcano, and bathing in natural hot springs. Each endeavor was an adventure in its own right, full of the somewhat questionable, exhilarating moments that always seem to characterize the very best of my experiences abroad. My motto quickly became to embrace the unexpected. With rafting, for example, we were told in the booking office that we were to face level 2 and 3 rapids, which was ideal for the beginners and the squeamish. Then, on the way to the river, the driver sheepishly admitted that the rapids were actually levels 3 and 4. Finally, when we were in full gear--wading into the river with raft and paddle in hand-- our guide let us know that there were also a couple of level 5 rapids, and that we would have to hike and jump off of a small cliff in order to avoid one of them. Embrace the unexpected.

    Here’s the breakdown of some tips and tricks I learned along the way. Keep in mind, it was still pretty warm and we were far from five-star travelers:

• What to bring: This was definitely an REI/Patagonia kind of trip. Since you’re in and out of buses and planes, it’s best to use a multi-day hiking backpack instead of a suitcase. For footwear, you can’t go wrong with a good pair of tevas and some sturdy, all-weather hiking boots. As far as clothes go, it’s all about layers and quick-drying fabrics (this applies to towels, socks, and pajamas too). Always pack some extra gallon-sized zip loc bags to keep any damp or dirty things isolated, and don’t forget to think about the basics: water (it’s not safe to drink from the tap in the lakes region of Chile), flashlights, sunscreen, earplugs, dry shampoo or body wipes (just in case the bathing situation is questionable), etc,.   
• Where to stay: We stayed at Hostal Wohlenberg. It was centrally located, inexpensive, safe, and had all of the basics--wifi, a kitchen, and bunk bed-style accommodations. You could even book tours and adventures in the same building, though we found better prices at the shops on the main road.
• Where to spend: We chose to spend most of our money on the adventure activities, which means that we cooked our own meals and didn’t make any purchases in town. That being said, that’s certainly not the only way to go: Pucón had a surprisingly good shopping scene-- offering everything from trendy boutiques to artisanal Chilean goods-- and some great restaurants and sweet shops. You can really make it into any kind of trip you want, which is yet another reason why Pucón is at the top of my list.