Pucon

01.02.2011 - 04.02.2011 25 °C

We arrived in Pucon, and being the adventurous backpackers that we are (or just plain unorganised!) we had no accommodation booked. Having read the Lonely Planet guidebook, we'd shortlisted a few hostels, with the intention of rocking up, checking out the rooms, and then using our negotiating skills to get ourselves a good bargain. What we hadn't factored in was this was summertime, and half of South America descends into the region to enjoy their holidays. Eventually we found a quaint hostel called La Bicicleta (there was even a bike on the roof!) with super friendly owners. We wondered around town, admiring the Volcan Villarico in the distance. We hired some bikes to do the 40km ride to Olga Caburga, a series of waterfalls. We made it about half way before turning back - some serious hills, draining gravel tracks, hot temperatures (about 35 degrees!) and getting attacked by bugs the size of your hand absolutely destroyed us (we tried again a couple of days later - it was absolutely chucking it down, but we made it! At one point Rav got chased by some stray dogs...so funny!). Unfortunately bad weather spoilt the latter part of our stay in Pucon, with the cloud and rain preventing us from climbing to the summit of the Volcano. Typical sod's law...the day we left Pucon was the same as when we arrived - beautiful sunshine and clear blue skies. Chile part I complete, we headed through the Andes across the border into Argentina...

A sunny day in Pucon - great views of the Volcan Villarica...and some random Indians too!