4x4 camper vans at the foot of the Villarrica volcano
Compare campervan and motorhome rental companies à Pucon to find the best price, and book at the price shown, mandatory fees included.
Campervan hire in Pucón puts your starting point on the eastern shore of Lake Villarrica, beneath the smoking cone of the volcano of the same name, one of the most active in the Chilean Andes. A small outdoor town in Araucanía, Pucón lives from hiking, rafting on the Trancura and the hot springs that rise in the neighbouring valleys; the araucaria forests of Huerquehue National Park are less than an hour's drive away. Our partner Camper Travel hands over its camper vans here, most of them with four-wheel drive.
To the east, the Trancura valley climbs towards Argentina; to the west and south lie the Seven Lakes and their thermal baths.
Public ratings collected on October 28, 2026 from independent review sites.
| Vehicle | Winter July | Spring October | Summer January | Autumn April |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campervan | from €126/day median €188/day | from €148/day median €214/day | from €150/day median €217/day | from €127/day median €191/day |
Daily prices observed on October 26, 2026 for a 15-day rental: CoolDrive selling price, mandatory fees included, 1 rental companies compared. 0% of offers with unlimited mileage. Median excess: €2,000.
North-east of Pucón, a short road leads to the Ojos del Caburgua, turquoise waterfalls hidden in the forest, then to the white sand beach of Lake Caburgua. Huerquehue National Park comes next, with its trail climbing through the araucarias to small high-altitude lakes. On the way back, the pools of Los Pozones and Huife, on the banks of the Liucura river, are a relaxing end to the hike.
Via Villarrica, you follow Lake Calafquén to Licán Ray and Coñaripe, where a gravel road climbs to the Termas Geométricas, pools linked by red wooden walkways at the bottom of a ravine. You then reach Panguipulli, Choshuenco and Neltume, gateway to the Huilo Huilo reserve and its rainforests, as far as Lake Pirehueico at Puerto Fuy.
To the east, the road climbs the Trancura valley through Curarrehue, a village where Mapuche culture can also be discovered at the table, then crosses the Puesco sector of Villarrica National Park to the Mamuil Malal Pass, facing the snow-capped cone of Lanín. On the Argentine side, Junín de los Andes and San Martín de los Andes, on Lake Lácar, open up the Neuquén lake district.
The best months to set off from Pucón: long days, moderate rain and sites less crowded than in midsummer. In November, snow still covers the summit of Villarrica and the rivers swollen by the thaw are ideal for rafting; in March, after the Chilean school year starts, the lake shores empty out.
The heart of the southern summer and of the Chilean holidays: Pucón becomes one of the busiest resorts in the south of the country. There is little rain, the black volcanic sand beaches of Lake Villarrica are packed and guided ascents of the volcano quickly sell out.
The shoulder seasons are cool and changeable. In April, the southern beeches of Huerquehue take on autumn colours, but rainfall rises sharply from one month to the next; in September and October, spring returns slowly, with frequent showers and lengthening days.
The southern winter is the wettest season: June and July bring the heaviest rainfall of the year and snow whitens the volcano. The trip then centres on the hot springs, delightful in cold weather; a heated vehicle and short stages, suited to the short days, make the stay comfortable.
Most pleasant months: January to February.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 23 °C | 13 °C | 65 mm | 12 h/day |
| Feb | 23 °C | 14 °C | 49 mm | 12 h/day |
| Mar | 20 °C | 12 °C | 125 mm | 10 h/day |
| Apr | 17 °C | 10 °C | 210 mm | 8 h/day |
| May | 14 °C | 8 °C | 244 mm | 6 h/day |
| Jun | 11 °C | 6 °C | 377 mm | 4 h/day |
| Jul | 11 °C | 5 °C | 310 mm | 5 h/day |
| Aug | 12 °C | 5 °C | 316 mm | 6 h/day |
| Sep | 13 °C | 6 °C | 216 mm | 8 h/day |
| Oct | 15 °C | 7 °C | 168 mm | 9 h/day |
| Nov | 18 °C | 10 °C | 122 mm | 11 h/day |
| Dec | 21 °C | 12 °C | 99 mm | 12 h/day |
Averages 2016–2025 computed from Open-Meteo data (ERA5 reanalysis).
Pucón has supermarkets, petrol stations and mountain equipment shops; beyond it, Caburgua, Curarrehue or Coñaripe only have small grocery stores. Fill up with fuel, water and gas before leaving, and bring cash for the thermal baths and rural campsites.
La Araucanía airport, near Freire, is the most regular air access: allow about an hour and a half by road to Pucón, by transfer or bus. Pucón airfield only receives seasonal flights, when they are scheduled, and overnight coaches also link Santiago to the town.
Villarrica is permanently monitored and its alert level can close some roads on its slopes. Check the official bulletin before driving up towards the volcano, spot the evacuation route signs in town and never park overnight in the beds of the rivers flowing down from the cone.
In January and February, the main street and the area around La Poza beach are saturated; a camper van is hard to park there during the day. Leave the vehicle at the campsite or in a car park at the entrance to town and walk or cycle to the lake.
The roads to Huerquehue, the Liucura baths or the Termas Geométricas include stretches of ripio, compacted gravel where you need to slow down and keep your distance to protect the windscreen. After rain, the muddy climbs justify the four-wheel drive of the 4x4 models.
Our partner Camper Travel, the only company observed in Pucón, hands over its vehicles in the town itself; the exact address and appointment time are in your booking confirmation. For more choice, other companies depart from Temuco and Valdivia, the nearest departure cities, both to the west.
The rate depends on the season, the rental length and the chosen model: a departure in the height of the southern summer is not priced like a week in May. Run a search with your pick-up and return dates in Pucón to see Camper Travel's real prices, mandatory fees included, bookable straight away.
Our searches found five models: the Calafate Camper 4x4, the Pucon Camper 4x4 and the San Pedro Camper, for two people; the Ushuaia Camper 4x4, which carries four passengers but only has two berths; and the Chiloé Camper 4x4, the only one sleeping four, for a family or two couples.
Only if the rental company allows it: it then provides a notarised authorisation for the vehicle to leave the country and insurance valid in Argentina, to be requested several days before departure. The Mamuil Malal Pass, via Curarrehue, is the nearest crossing; check the offer conditions to see whether a surcharge applies.
Our partners also depart from Temuco, Valdivia, Puerto Varas, Puerto Montt, Santiago and Valparaíso. A one-way trip from Pucón is only possible if the company serves the return city: enter it in your search to see the available offers, with any one-way fees included in the displayed price.
They have always responded quickly to all my requests and their website is very functional!
Fast service
The booking process is very smooth. I had very good communication with the Cooldrive team. As for the follow-up, it will be seen on site during the vehicle pickup.
Visitors drive in Chile with their national licence together with an international driving permit, which the Carabineros may ask for during a check, common on the road to the pass. The vans offered in Pucón can be driven with a car licence; the minimum age and years of driving required are set by the company in the offer conditions.
Yes, when the alert level allows it: the climb is a day trip, normally with a certified guide from a Pucón agency, with crampons and ice axe provided, from the northern slope. The crater can remain closed for several weeks; choose a flexible date and keep a spare day in case of wind or cloud.
Campsites are plentiful on the Caburgua road, on the shores of Lake Villarrica and in the Trancura valley, but several close out of season. In Huerquehue and Villarrica national parks, you may only sleep on designated pitches. Lake shores are often private: ask the owner's permission before stopping there.
Yes, most have a car park: Los Pozones and Huife on the Liucura road, the Termas Geométricas above Coñaripe, Menetúe and San Luis on the road to Curarrehue. The last few kilometres are often steep and on gravel, and the best-known establishments ask you to book a time slot in summer.
Often: snow falls on the Puesco sector and at the pass, which is sometimes closed for several days, while it remains rare in town and around the lake. The Carabineros may require snow chains; check with the rental company that they are provided and check the border crossing status before leaving Pucón.
For January, February and the end-of-year holidays, book several months ahead: with only one company in town, southern summer dates go fast. For November, March or winter, a few weeks is usually enough; if you want a specific model, especially one with four berths, book early.
Within a few dozen kilometres, Pucón brings together everything southern Chile is famous for: an active volcano you can climb, two large lakes, centuries-old araucaria forests, rafting rivers and a constellation of hot springs. Starting here avoids long transfers from the big cities: the first campsite on the shores of Lake Caburgua is only half an hour's drive away.
Camper Travel offers five observed models here, mostly 4x4, from the van for two to the Chiloé Camper 4x4 with four berths. The climate is most pleasant from November to March, and Argentina is within reach via the Mamuil Malal Pass. Temuco, Valdivia, Puerto Varas, Puerto Montt, Santiago and Valparaíso, other departure cities of our partners, also open up one-way trips across the country.
