Pucon

Pucan: The Villarrica Volcano..

We arrive in Pucon at about 8pm get off the bus and one the opposite side of the road we see a BBQ party getting started in a hostel..... turns out it was our hostel!! Result... for about £8 each we had unlimited meat, wine and beer. The BBQ drinking continued to a bar... and we very quickly made friends with everyone staying in the hostel, including James worked at the hostel and his friend Tim who was visiting. Amoungst those staying in the hostel were some really cool guys Shawn, Andrew and Robbo, and girls Jan and Bec. In true Terry style, he bought a few pitchers and started filling up any empty glasses bar - including locals people we had never met. Terry got me a Terremoto: ("Earthquake"):

A typical Chilean drink that consists in a mix of pineapple ice cream with pipeño (like white wine) and grenadine in a pint glass - this on top of the wine finished me off.. and i ended up wrestling in the road with one of the ski instructors from the local tour agency. NOT COOL!!!

Next morning we were both in a bad way and managed to get up at 1pm, making a very bad impression on our newbut hostel mates! Still drunk we agreed to go hydrospeeding with everyone.... hydro speeding for those like me who had never heard of it is like river rafting but without the raft!...

We meet or hydrospeeding guides.. and realised that they were the men that Terry had been filling their glasses with beer the night before - so they probably felt as bad as we did!

So 8 of us, plus 3 guides set off in the minivan heading towards the river after getting dressed into our 2 wet suits.... no-one quite realising what we let ourselves in for the bus was silent.....

We get given instructions of how to float down the river and how to get back on the float when you fall off!

The weather was miserable, grey and raining, the water so cold...... as the water is melted ice from the volcanoes. Terry and I just looked at each others as if to say what the hell are we doing!!!
However, if you could forget for 5 minutes that you were freezing, floating and hitting the rapids on a float was great fun..

and a brilliant hang over cure!!!

We took it easy that night to ensure we were fit for skiing the next day...

We headed up the Villarrica Volcano.....

Terry gave me some lessons and instructions which i didnt really understand, but after 4 hours of skiing down and walking up a stretch of snow good about 20 meters long i managed to learn how to stop and turn.

Still not being ready to do the big slopes I let Terry go off with the other guys for some proper skiing!!

After a good day on the slopes of the volcano, we had a drink and then out to a club (Mamas and Tapas). Again too much alcohol.... and getting in sometime early next morning.... the next day was a right off.... pretty much the whole hostel sat around recovering and watching films the next day!!

We got an early night ready to climb the active volcano next morning!
An early start, up at 6 and at the tour agency for 6.45 we gear up in our snow boots and waterproofs. Becs not liking the cold, is wearing 4 pairs of trousers and pretty much the entire contents of her bag on top.... and just in case she wasn't warm enough Feet and Hand warmers!!!

We get to the base of the volcano. Its pretty windy. The guides are not sure whether or not we will be able to reach the top..... we decide to try!
We start off on our 5 hour trek. The snow is deep, there is fresh powder and the wind is chilly.

Half way up we put on our crampons, its still really windy but the guides dont seem too bothered! The hiking is tough going - especially with the weight of the crampons on our feet.


We start to take off layers and the sun is out and we are working up a sweat. As we reach the glacier the wind drops and we can enjoy the views without snow blowing in our faces!!

After about 5-6 hours we reach the summit. We were not lucky enough to see lava as thats only in the summer months but there was smoke coming from the top.

Quite amazing and to have hiked to the top of an active volcano. You immediately forget how tough the trek was because the view from the top was stunning - felt quite an achievement.

Some crazy people had carried their ski's and snowboards all the way up to ski or snowboard down.... I cant imagine how much more diffiuclt that would be... for the rest of us it was sledging down!!!

Sledging was lots of fun!!! Slightly sore on the behind!

Then we had to walk the last bit knee deep in the snow...

Of course we celebrated our success of reaching the summit with a few drinks that evening...
Few drinks in the hostel gerden...

Next day we took a smaller, less demanding 3 hour trek to Salto el Claro, with Andrew another english guy from the hostel.
The Salto el Claro is a beautiful waterfall 85 meters tall. To reach it we followed a map provided bu the hostel.
Treking uphill for 1 hour...

Jumping barriers and fences and descending a steep path to the bottom of the waterfall...

Definately worth the walk...

That night we changed hostel for 1 night whilst the owners vanihed the floor and did some repairs. The hostel was run by some crazy man called Benny who encourgaed us to play a mad drinking game but spinning a wheel. This game lated hours and we ended up in bed once again in the early hours of the morning

Next day we joined James and Tim for a little bike ride around Lago Caburhua.......... Well 'little' in James's opinion..... 55km and at almost half of this uphill.

First stop to some waterfalls....

Anything for a photo we decided to climb to the top of the waterfall.... Bad idea... Becs fell in to her waist!!

Then after a long and uphill ride we cylced to the lake (Becs with very wet feet), where we stopped for some well deserved lunch and beer on playa Blanca. Legs were burning and Becs was so out of puff needed an asthma pump!

beer..

playa blanco

On the way back James and Tim fled off ahead whilst we struggled the last part of the journey... but eventually made it back to Pucan.. with very sore behinds!!

Back to hostel El Refugio James arranged some wine tasting.... a much more civilised evening with more expensive wines and nibbles. Then of course out for a sneaky drink afterwards.

Next day the weather was gloriuos so we (with Tim and Andrew) chilled at the local lake and beech. We spotted some Kayaks on the lake, which inspired our next days activities.....
James and Tim said they would join us for a Kayaking trip to a more beautiful lake. In the end 7 of us headed by bus to Lake Calafquen where we hired Kayaks.


Terry and I were not exactly experts and it took us a long time to get a good rhythm and be able to go in a straight line!!
The lake was beautiful. The sun reflecting in the water, you could see the snowy volcanoes in the background and we felt like we were the only 2 people on the lake. Would have been very romantic if we were not accompanied and also concentrating so hard not to fall in!!

James, after partying hard and his non-stop adventure attitude finally got the better of him on the way back...

Arriving back in Pucon we took advantage of 2 x 1 beers in Lattitude 39 and had a bite to eat. The burgers and Fish Tacos were amazing.

So friday night our last night in Pucon... the Hostel organised another BBQ. James was leaving with Tim for a few days and felt a BBQ would be a good send off!!!
Tim wearing his googles to protect his eyes from the onions...

The BBQ was sooo good.... meat and wine...

Started of very civilised...

Until we played some drinking games and went to the club...

Terry with Teo my wrestling partner from the first night... a ringer for Laurent Blanc..

Food after ...

before i had to put the boys to bed at 6am!!!

Next day - again very hung over... we hung out in Lattitude 39 for the best burger in the whole of south america, before getting the night bus to Valpariso.

Our 3 nights in Pucan turned into 10 days of adventure and good times drinking.... the Hostel and people we met were brilliant and Pucan its self has lots to offer. Definately a MUST when visiting Chile!!