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Pucón:
This small town (8000 inhabitants) is located 800 kilometres south of Santiago in the Chilean Lake District. It is surrounded by national parks, mountains, rivers and lakes, but the highlight is the smoking Villarrica-Volcano that dominates the view. Its enormous natural potential has made Pucón a centre for adventure tourism and outdoor activities. You can spend easily a week or more doing every day a different trip.
Pucón offers a wide range of restaurants, pubs, discotheques, handicraft shops and even a fancy casino. There are three banks in town with ATM, where you can get cash with your VISA or MasterCard. Exchange rates are pretty bad, especially for traveller cheques, so better change some money in bigger cities like Santiago or Temuco before arriving at Pucón
Pucón's black volcanic ash beaches and fame for watersports, skiiing and climbing continue to make it hugely popular with both Chilean and tourist visitors
Temuco and Pucón are included in the region of Chile which is home to the several hundred thousand remaining Mapuches (Araucanians), one of Chile's native populations. Land farmers and skilled handicraftsmen, their own peculiar language and customs thrive in modern Chile. The Museum Regional de la Araucania, in Temuco, recounts the history of the Mapuche people.
During the Chilean holidays in January and February it is quite a busy place with an active nightlife, sports competitions and sometimes concerts, but it still remains a charming town.
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