Tours and Activities:

Access to the Villarrica Volcanic Caves

A faint fumarole rises from the summit of Villarrica. Beneath its snow-coveted cone, it holds volcanic caves that tell the story of ancient eruptions and invite us to explore its history from within. 

Cut out on the skyline that separates Villarrica from Pucón, the Villarrica Volcano is part of the daily life of these villages, used to its continuous smoke, which tinges the sky in red at night. It is an amazing fact that its caverns, upholstered in lava from past eruptions, may be accessed. The excursion to the Villarrica Volcanic Caves normally takes place; however, it is important to know that, for safety reasons, it may be temporarily suspended if the volcano shows eruptionsincreased activity.

We got to the hillsides of this geological structure in the company of the guides from the travel agency we had contacted. Once we reached the place known as Casa de los Volcanes (Volcanoes House), we were given a preview of what we were just about to see. We ventured deep into the heart of the mountain, where ancient emissions of solid, liquid, and gaseous materials left their mark, creating incredible inner galleries. The park is open every day within specific hours that vary by season, so visitors must arrive either in their own vehicleon an organized tour, and certain sections may require a 4x4 vehicle with higher clearance.

With a helmet on our heads and a flashlight in hand, we ventured deep into the mountain. In the Mapudungun language, the volcano is known as Rukapillán," house of the devil". One by one, we entered and slowly descended, carefully watching the uneven terrain and the sharp rock edges. Staircases installed at key points helped us navigate the changes in elevation

As the group gathered at one point, the guide said: “There are still vestiges of the 1971 eruption, when a 10-meter-thick and 200-meter-wide lava torrent came down from the crater towards Lake Calafquen and dragged along several rural settlements”.

Thus, we discovered how the masses of solidified lava resulting from those magma movements settled within the underground ecosystem. We had gone 45 meters underground, and we had a strange feeling: we were inside a volcano that had shown its rage and was still alive.

At one point, the guide asked us to turn off our flashlights. We stood for a few minutes in absolute silence, surrounded by a darkness so deep that we could not even see each other. It was a brief but intense experience, etched in our memory as the final stage of the tour, after which we soon emerged into natural light to step once again into the outside world. The entire route, which combines natural trails, walkways, and even a hanging bridge, takes approximately an hour to walk in total. 

Upon leaving, we were left with the certainty of how small humans are in the face of nature´s power. We also learned that the area is home to a monitoring center that constantly observes the activity of Villarrica, an essential safeguard for visitors' safety. The volcanic Caves are, ultimately, a breathtaking experience: a direct encounter with the living history of the volcano, offering a truly unique perspective. 

See also: Hotels in Villarrica and other accommodation venues