Andes Campers Rental company category:Standard
-
Andes Campers TemucoTemucoView map
Hiring a campervan in Temuco means setting off from the heart of Araucanía, the southern Chilean region where forests of araucarias, the candelabra-branched conifers also known as monkey puzzle trees, which live for several centuries, surround the Llaima and Lonquimay volcanoes. A regional capital and trading town, Temuco is also one of the cities where Mapuche culture is most present, from the market stalls to the street names. Two partner companies hand over their vehicles here: Andes Campers and Holiday Rent RV.
From the city, it takes about two hours to reach Conguillío National Park, the shores of Lake Budi on the Pacific or Lake Villarrica, on the way to Pucón.
2 rental partners
Where to pick up your vehicle in Temuco?
Holiday Rent RV Rental company category:Premium
-
Holiday Rent TemucoTemucoView map
Road trip ideas
Road trips from Temuco
1 Conguillío, Llaima and the road to Lonquimay
- Temuco
- Cunco
- Melipeuco
- Conguillío National Park
- Curacautín
- Malalcahuello
- Lonquimay
- Lautaro
- Temuco
Via Cunco and Melipeuco, you enter Conguillío National Park, where the black lava flows of Llaima, one of Chile's most active volcanoes, lie beside araucaria forests and deep blue lakes. The Sierra Nevada trail offers the finest view of the volcano. You leave towards Curacautín and its waterfalls, then go through the Las Raíces tunnel to the pastoral plateau of Lonquimay.
- Distance
- about 400 km
- Recommended vehicle
- Campervan or camper van
2 Lake Budi and the Lafkenche coast
- Temuco
- Nueva Imperial
- Carahue
- Puerto Saavedra
- Puerto Domínguez
- Teodoro Schmidt
- Pitrufquén
- Temuco
The Imperial river valley leads to Nueva Imperial, then to Carahue, built on the site of the old colonial town of La Imperial, and to Puerto Saavedra at the river mouth, rebuilt after the great tsunami that followed the Valdivia earthquake. To the south lies Lake Budi, a brackish lagoon home to black-necked swans, where Lafkenche Mapuche families welcome travellers for a meal or a night.
- Distance
- about 280 km
- Recommended vehicle
- All types of motorhomes
3 The Nahuelbuta range and Lake Lanalhue
- Temuco
- Victoria
- Angol
- Nahuelbuta National Park
- Cañete
- Contulmo
- Purén
- Traiguén
- Temuco
To the north-west, Angol opens the climb to Nahuelbuta National Park: from Piedra del Águila, among the araucarias, on a clear day you can see the Andean volcanoes on one side and the Pacific on the other. You descend to Cañete and its Mapuche museum, near the place where the conquistador Pedro de Valdivia died, then follow Lake Lanalhue to Contulmo, a village founded by German settlers.
- Distance
- about 450 km
- Recommended vehicle
- Campervan or compact camper van
Weather and seasons
When to go in Temuco?
Best time
November, December and March
March, November to December
highs 19 to 22 °C, lows 8 to 9 °C
These months frame the southern summer: long days, moderate rain and parks less crowded than in peak season. In November and December, snow still covers the summit of Llaima; in March, once Chilean children are back at school, campsites become quiet again and the first autumn colours reach the high ground.
High season
January and February
January to February
highs 24 to 25 °C, lows 11 °C
Temuco's warmest and driest months are also those of the main holidays in Chile. The beaches of lakes Villarrica and Caburgua are packed and Conguillío's campsites are full. The Budi coast and the Nahuelbuta range remain quieter at this time.
April, May, September and October
April to May, September to October
highs 13 to 17 °C, lows 4 to 7 °C
Cool, changeable shoulder seasons: the rain returns, but alternates with clear days when the volcanoes appear under snow. In April, the southern beeches turn red in the Andes; in spring, snow lingers at altitude and some mountain tracks open late.
Winter
June to August
June to August
highs 11 to 12 °C, lows 4 to 5 °C
Winter is the rainy season, with more than 200 mm in June. Skiers then head for the slopes of Llaima or Corralco, on Lonquimay volcano. Travelling is still possible, but calls for a heated vehicle, short stages and a good tolerance for grey days.
Climate in Temuco, month by month
Most pleasant months: November to March.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24 °C | 11 °C | 27 mm | 13 h/day |
| Feb | 25 °C | 11 °C | 20 mm | 12 h/day |
| Mar | 21 °C | 9 °C | 66 mm | 10 h/day |
| Apr | 17 °C | 7 °C | 110 mm | 8 h/day |
| May | 13 °C | 6 °C | 131 mm | 7 h/day |
| Jun | 11 °C | 5 °C | 209 mm | 5 h/day |
| Jul | 11 °C | 4 °C | 171 mm | 6 h/day |
| Aug | 12 °C | 4 °C | 155 mm | 7 h/day |
| Sep | 14 °C | 4 °C | 112 mm | 8 h/day |
| Oct | 16 °C | 6 °C | 92 mm | 10 h/day |
| Nov | 19 °C | 8 °C | 52 mm | 11 h/day |
| Dec | 22 °C | 9 °C | 40 mm | 13 h/day |
Averages 2016–2025 computed from Open-Meteo data (ERA5 reanalysis).
Practical tips
Everything to know before hitting the road
La Araucanía Airport, in Freire
Flights from Santiago land at La Araucanía International Airport, south of Temuco, in the municipality of Freire. It is linked to the city by Route 5: allow about half an hour by taxi or shared shuttle. Tell the rental company your arrival time to set the vehicle handover appointment.
Shopping at the Feria Pinto
Near the railway station, the Feria Pinto is Temuco's large open-air market: vegetables, fruit, cheese, merkén, the smoked Mapuche chilli, and in autumn piñones, araucaria seeds eaten boiled. The surrounding streets are congested: park some distance away and stock up on heavy supplies in the supermarkets on the outskirts.
Tolls on Route 5
Route 5, the motorway running past Temuco, is tolled, with several toll plazas towards Santiago as well as towards Valdivia and Puerto Montt. Keep some Chilean pesos and a bank card. If you drive all the way to Santiago, its urban motorways use electronic tolling: ask the rental company how the vehicle is equipped.
Snow on the road to Lonquimay
From June to September, Route 181 to Malalcahuello, the Las Raíces tunnel and Lonquimay, as well as the roads up to Llaima, are often snowy or icy. The Carabineros police may require snow chains or close the road: ask the rental company whether chains are provided and check road conditions before setting off.
What travellers ask
Your questions about a road trip in Temuco
Where can I pick up a campervan in Temuco?
Two partner companies have a depot in Temuco: Andes Campers and Holiday Rent RV. The exact address and handover time are given in your booking confirmation. Allow time for the vehicle briefing, which includes a presentation of the equipment, and let the company know if your flight or bus arrives late in the day.
How much does it cost to hire a campervan in Temuco?
The rate varies with the season, the length of hire and the vehicle chosen; January and February, at the height of the southern summer, are the most requested months. Run a search with your dates: the prices displayed include mandatory fees and can be booked immediately, so you can compare the city's two rental companies.
Can I reach Pucón and Lake Villarrica from Temuco?
Yes, Pucón is 61 km away as the crow flies, or about 110 km of paved road via Freire and Villarrica, an hour and a half's drive. Lake Villarrica, the volcano of the same name, the hot springs and Huerquehue National Park are worth several nights rather than a simple day trip.
Can I return the campervan in another city?
Pucón, Valdivia, Puerto Varas, Puerto Montt and Santiago are also departure cities of our partners. A one-way trip south lets you combine Araucanía and the Lakes District without retracing your steps. Options vary by rental company; any one-way fee appears in the price as soon as you enter the return city.
Can I cross into Argentina from Temuco?
Two passes link Araucanía with the Argentine province of Neuquén: Pino Hachado, via Curacautín and Lonquimay, and Icalma, beyond Melipeuco. Crossing requires the rental company's written consent, notarised documents and insurance valid in Argentina, to be requested when booking. The passes can close for several days in winter because of snow.
Verified customer reviews
They rented in Temuco with CoolDrive Nomad
4.3
818 reviews
They have always responded quickly to all my requests and their website is very functional!
G.
Chile · Sep 2025
Trustpilot
Fast service
K.
Chile · Mar 2025
Trustpilot
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.
J.
Chile · Feb 2025
Trustpilot
Frequently asked questions
FAQ — Campervan and motorhome hire in Temuco
What licence do I need to drive a motorhome in Chile?
Traffic drives on the right in Chile. Rental campervans and motorhomes under 3.5 tonnes can generally be driven with a car licence; with a foreign licence, an international driving permit is strongly recommended and may be requested during a police check. Minimum age and years of driving are set by each company in the offer conditions.
Are the roads in Conguillío National Park suitable for a motorhome?
The roads are paved as far as Melipeuco and Curacautín, but inside the park the crossing is on a gravel and volcanic ash track, narrow and steep in places. A campervan or camper van gets through without difficulty in dry weather. Check on the CONAF website whether entry must be booked online.
Where can I spend the night with a motorhome in Araucanía?
Private campsites on the lakeshores, CONAF campsites in the national parks and campsites run by Mapuche communities offer water and toilets. In the parks and on many beaches, camping outside designated sites is prohibited; elsewhere, ask locally and never park on private land without permission.
What can I discover of Mapuche culture in Temuco?
The Regional Museum of Araucanía traces Mapuche history and the colonisation of the region. North of the centre, Cerro Ñielol, a wooded hill protected as a natural monument, is home to the copihue, Chile's national flower, and has trails overlooking the city. Tourist offices also point to communities that welcome visitors in a ruka, the traditional house.
When should I book a campervan in Temuco?
For January and February, book several months ahead: it is summer and the school holiday period in Chile, and only two partner companies operate in the city. For November, December or March, a few weeks is often enough. Out of season the choice remains wide, but check that the vehicle has heating.
About us
Why start a motorhome trip from Temuco
Temuco's strength is its location: in the centre of Araucanía, on Route 5, it puts the snow-capped volcanoes and araucaria forests of the Andes, the Lafkenche shores of Lake Budi, the Nahuelbuta range and the great lakes around Pucón within a few hours' drive. The city where Pablo Neruda grew up, whose name is borne by the National Railway Museum and its old steam locomotives, it is also the best place in the south to get closer to Mapuche culture.
Andes Campers and Holiday Rent RV hand over their vehicles here, and the regional airport is linked to Santiago, another departure city of our partners, 613 km away as the crow flies. Valdivia, Puerto Varas and Puerto Montt, further south, let you extend the trip one way towards Patagonia. Aim for November to March, when the climate is most pleasant; in winter, rain and snow make the road best suited to well-equipped travellers.