Pucón is a small town on the shore of a lake and under the shadow of a massive volcano Villarica. We stayed in the cheapest hostel with three level bunk beds. Getting into the top bunk bed is a proper climb, especially after you’ve had a few :). The hostel has amazing rooftop terrace with views of the volcano. In the evening I sat there for a glass of wine gradually people joined into a big party. The owner (while drinking) tried to explain to me the history of the local tribe Mapuche in Spanish. According to what I understood the Mapuche are the only South American tribe never gave in to Spaniards. Later he brought up music instruments and we “played” mapuche and normal flutes. The screaming angry neighbors convinced me it was time to go climb the three levels to my bed :).
Then we went for a trek in Huerquehue national park. Entrance to the park was crazy – it was a public holiday, there were plenty of park rangers. They were shouting at people what is all prohibited in the park. Among other things, it is prohibited to make a fire, even lighting a cigarette is not allowed! They also attached a paper listing the prohibitions in English and Spanish to our backpacks in case we forgot.
The next day we descended to Termas Río Blanco. We plunged into the warm water after trekking and there we lazzied there for 2 (1 rainy) days. On the 2 day hike back we got soaked by rain again. We arrived arrived to Pucón about half-past nine in the evening completely drenched. This time we hired a private room and started to dry everything.
We joined a tour to climb the Villarica volcano. We went very slowly because to two fat French girls that did not want to take the lift (extra charge). And they were complaining all the time >:[. In the crater we saw lava being spit up! It looks a bit as if you would have poured a bit of water on a frying pan with heated oil :). Then you slide down the volcano!
Strange you can’t light up a smoke in one National Park, and then in the next the hills are spitting out flames…