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Lake Villarrica, Chile

Lake Villarrica in Chile shares its name with one of Chile’s most active volcanoes on its southern shore and a city on its western shore. All three combine to make the area one of the top tourist destinations in Chile that offer year round excitement and adventure tourism known as Chile’s Lakes District, a place of lakes and volcanoes. Lake Villarrica is also known as “Mallolafquen” which…
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    • All About Lake Villarrica, Chile

    Lake Locations: Chile - Central Chile Region -

    Lake Villarrica in Chile shares its name with one of Chile’s most active volcanoes on its southern shore and a city on its western shore. All three combine to make the area one of the top tourist destinations in Chile that offer year round excitement and adventure tourism known as Chile’s Lakes District, a place of lakes and volcanoes. Lake Villarrica is also known as “Mallolafquen” which is its pre-Hispanic name that means “cretaceous water.”

    Lake Villarrica, with an area of 42,749 acres, was formed by glaciers in the last ice age. During the summer months with water temperatures in the 70’s, this large lake offers visitors opportunities for boating, kayaking, sailing, waterskiing, swimming and beaches for sunbathing and relaxing. Sport fishing is a big business and many guides are available to take you to just the right spot for a memorable catch of trout, rainbow trout, and salmon.

    The city of Pucon, one of Chile’s top tourist destinations, is located on the eastern shore of Lake Villarrica. Pucon offers vacation rentals from spas, cabins, hostels, five star hotels, condos, and privately owned summer homes. In this city, there are well groomed beaches on Lake Villarrica for swimming, pedal boats, sunbathing and relaxing. Along the streets are casinos, restaurants, pastry shops, bars, and shopping venues. White water rafting along neighboring rivers offers excitement as well as horseback riding along the many trails around the lake and area that can also be used for hiking or biking.

    The road that connects Pucon to the city of Villarrica, approximately 15 miles, borders Lake Villarrica and is filled with condos, chalets, and garden homes that make this location a prime real estate opportunity. With the tourist industry and people seeking summer homes, frequent buying and selling make land ownership opportunities and property values rise in this area. Villarrica is more rural than Pucon but benefits from the area’s popularity. Besides tourism, the area’s main economic activities include grain and dairy farming and forestry in Huerquehue National Park. Here vacation rentals are available for a more modest budget and include bed and breakfast inns, lodges, motels, and camping areas. Restaurants and local eateries will tempt your palate with dishes of fish, fruit, and local vegetables.

    No matter where you choose to stay at Lake Villarrica, the great Villarrica Volcano can be seen from anywhere in the area. During the warm summer months, guided tours will take you on a hike up the volcano where you can peer into the bubbling lava inside the crater or gaze at the beauty of the area from your high altitude perspective. During the winter, great skiing and snow boarding are available down the slopes of the active volcano. Zip line rides through the forests are available for the daring. All of this fun is located in the Villarrica National Park, but you can choose to hike the many trails throughout the park and gaze at the beauty of the park’s unusual plants, rare animals or the natural hot springs that are a result of the volcano heating the nearby springs.

    Picture yourself hiking up one of the world’s most active volcanoes and then cooling off with a swim in beautiful Lake Villarrica. Or, if you prefer colder climes, then imagine swooshing down the side of the volcano on skis and warming up with a soak in one of the hot springs. It is up to you to choose which season to visit, but Lake Villarrica will be a destination that brings life long memories.

    Things to Do at Lake Villarrica

    These are some activities in the Lake Villarrica, Chile area visitors can enjoy:

    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Sailing
    • Swimming
    • Beach
    • Kayaking
    • Whitewater Rafting
    • Water Skiing
    • Camping
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Hiking
    • Biking
    • Snowboarding
    • Horseback Riding
    • National Park
    • Shopping
    • Casino Gambling

    What Kind of Fish Are in Lake Villarrica?

    Lake Villarrica has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Rainbow Trout
    • Salmon
    • Trout
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    Find Places to Stay at Lake Villarrica

    If you’re considering a Lake Villarrica lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

    Note: These are affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase. Read our full disclosure policy here.

    More Sites to Book a Lake Villarrica Vacation

    Our interactive Lake Villarrica lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Lake Villarrica Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Dammed

    Surface Area: 42,749 acres

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 755 feet

    Maximum Depth: 165 feet

    Trophic State: Mesotrophic

    Lake Villarrica Map

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