Tours and Activities:

Quelhue, Mapuche Territory

In the Mapudungun tongue, "Quelhue" means "red earth"; that same color marks the forest trails that cross this rural setting, where walking through native woodland and discovering star-filled skies becomes the guiding idea of the experience.

On the road toward Lake Caburgua lies the Queule footbridge and, very close by, the small locality of Quelhue, an area where visitors can deepen their contact with Mapuche families who live in the region. It can be reached by car along the main road or by bicycle, an option that allows travelers to venture into less populated areas with remarkable scenic beauty.

Over the Trancura River stands the old and picturesque single-lane wooden bridge that served the local community for many years. Beside it rises the newer bridge, built of concrete and designed for two-way traffic. From the first, lower bridge, we could feel the current rushing between the rocks just a few meters below our feet and listen to its constant murmur. From the second, however, the view opens onto three volcanoes, Lanín Volcano, Quetrupillan Volcano, and Villarrica Volcano, which we managed to photograph in all their splendor.

From there, we crossed the grounds where the Kui Kui traditional fair is held, open during the summer months between January and March. In a large open-air space, it brings together regional cuisine, handicrafts, music, and traditional singing, functioning as a meeting point and a place to share and celebrate Mapuche culture.

We continued along an internal gravel road toward Río Plata until we reached a small local initiative in the area inhabited by the Manuel Huaiquivil community group. As part of the Mapuche tourism route, the Esparza H-Colipi family welcomes visitors into their own home and offers a stay rooted in their customs and way of life. To receive guests, they built two traditional rucas used for lodging. Made with native straw and local woods such as hualle (roble pellín), maqui, and willow, these structures have no internal divisions and resemble the communal dwellings historically shared by extended families. Their interiors remain cool in summer and comfortably warm during winter.

Those who stay there take part in the hosts’ daily life, whether during ceremonies near the rehue, a sacred carved tree trunk, or gathered around the fire after dinner. In these moments, stories are shared, traditional meals are prepared, and a deeper understanding emerges of the respectful relationship with nature, considered the only way to truly care for and preserve it.

Many visitors, particularly international travelers, come to the Rucas motivated by the desire to learn about this ancestral knowledge. Together with members of the community, they go on walks through the surrounding landscape or join in games of palín with the younger generations. This traditional sport is played on grass or dirt fields using sticks carved from tree branches and a wooden or plastic ball, with rules similar to those of modern hockey.

For those who choose to explore the area by bicycle, it is important to know in advance that the terrain includes changes in elevation and steep slopes. For everyone, the experience offers a perspective very different from that of large cities and provides a meaningful opportunity to encounter another way of inhabiting and understanding the land.

See also: Hotels in Pucón and other accommodation venues