Villarrica National Park

Localization

South of Central Chile, 120 km southwest of Temuco

Access

Easy

Characteristic

630 km²; Mountainous region of lateral branch of the Andes mountains range. The centerpiece of the park is a line of three volcanoes stretching transversely to the Andean range: Villarrica (the highest one - 2 847 m), Quetrupillán, and Lanín. Many beautiful mountain lakes. Typical ecosystems: temperate zone forests, lake and river ecosystems, alpine and volcanic biotopes, mountain steppe.

Fauna + Flora

Mammals:

Marsupials - Microbiothers (Microbiotheriidae): Monito Del Monte

Rodents - Coypus (Myocastoridae): Nutria

Carnivores - Weasels, Otters, Badgers (Mustelidae): Lesser Grison

- Skunks (Mephitidae): Molina's Hog-nosed Skunk

- Dogs (Canidae): Culpeo Fox; Argentine Grey Fox

- Cats (Felidae): Puma

Even-toed Ungulates - Deers (Cervidae): Southern Pudu

Birds:

Podicipediformes - Grebes (Podicipedidae): Great Grebe; Pied-billed Grebe; Silvery Grebe; White-tufted Grebe

Ciconiiformes - Herons, Egrets and Bitterns (Ardeidae):  Snowy Egret; Great White Egret; Black-crowned Night-Heron

- Ibises and Spoonbills (Threskiornithidae): Black-faced Ibis; White-faced Ibis

Anseriformes - Gees, Swans and Ducks (Anatidae): Lake Duck; Spectacled Duck; Torrent Duck; Yellow-billed Pintail; Chiloe Wigeon

Birds of Prey - American Vultures (Cathartidae): Andean Condor; American Black Vulture; Turkey Vulture

- Hawks, Eagles, Buzzards, Kites and Old World Vultures (Accipitridae): Harris´s Hawk; Red-backed Hawk; White-throated Hawk; White-tailed Kite

- Falcons and Caracaras (Falconidae): Chimango Caracara; Crested Caracara; American Kestrel

Gruiformes - Rails, Crakes, Coots and Gallinules (Rallidae): Red-gartered Coot; White-winged Coot; Spot-flanked Gallinule

Charadriiformes - Wading Birds (Scolopacidae): Wilson´s Phalarope; Whimbrel

- Plovers (Charadriidae): Southern Lapwing

- Terns (Sternidae): Snowy-crowned Tern

Columbiformes - Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae): Chilean Pigeon

Psittaciformes - Parrots (Psittacidae): Austral Parakeet; Slender-billed Parakeet

Strigiformes - Owls (Strigidae): Austral Pygmy Owl

Apodiformes - Hummingbirds (Trochilidae): Green-backed Firecrown

Coraciiformes - Kingfishers (Alcedinidae): Ringed Kingfisher

Piciformes - Woodpeckers, Wrynecks and Piculets (Picidae): Chilean Flicker; Magellanic Woodpecker; Striped Woodpecker

Perching Birds - Ovenbirds or Horneros (Furnariidae): Bar-winged Cinclodes; Dark-bellied Cinclodes; Thorn-tailed Rayadito; White-throated Treerunner; Des Murs´ Wiretail

- Tapaculos (Rhinocryptidae):  Chestnut-throated Huet-huet; Andean Tapaculo; Chucao Tapaculo; Ochre-flanked Tapaculo

- Tyrants (Tyrannidae): Fire-eyed Diucon; White-creasted Elaenia; Dark-faced Ground-Tyrant

- Plantcutters (Phytotomidae): Rufous-taled Plantcutter

- Swallows and Martins (Hirundinidae): Blue-and-white Swallow; Chilean Swallow

- Thrushes and Chats (Turdidae): Austral Thrush

- Mockingbirds, Catbirds and Thrashers (Mimidae): Chilean Mockingbird

- Blackbirds, Orioles and Cowbirds (Icteridae):  Yellow-winged Blackbird; Shiny Cowbird; Long-tailed Meadowlark

- Buntings, American Sparrows, Juncos, etc. (Emberizidae):  Common Diuca-Finch; Patagonian Sierra-Finch

- Finches (Fringillidae): Black-chinned Siskin

Amphibians:

Frogs - Cycloramphidae:  Darwin´s Frog (Rhinoderma darwinii)

- Toads (Bufonidae): toad Bufo variegatus

Plants:

Conifers:

Araucariales - Araucariaceae: Monkey Puzzle Tree (Araucaria araucana) - higher elevations

Dicotyledons:

Laurales - Atherospermataceae: Laureliopsis philippiana

Canellales - Winteraceae: Drimys andina and Winter´s Bark (Drimys winteri)

Ranunculales - Berberidaceae: Barberries (Berberis serratodentata and B. trigona)

Oxalidales - Cunoniaceae: Weinmannia trichosperma

Saxifragales - Grossulariaceae: Current (Ribes magellanicum)

Fagales - Nothofagaceae: Coigue (Nothofagus dombeyi ) - wettest areas; Rauli Beech (Nothofagus alpina) - lower elevations; Roble Beech (Nothofagus obliqua) - lower elevations

Proteales - Proteaceae: Lomatia ferruginea

Malpighiales - Flacourtiaceae: Azara lanceolata

Celastrales - Celastraceae: Maytens (Maytenus disticha and M. magellanica)

Myrtales - Myrtaceae: Myrceugenia chrysocarpa

Gentianales - Rubiaceae: Makole (Nertera granadensis)

Boraginales - Desfontainiaceae: Taique (Desfontainia spinosa)

Lamiales - Gesneriaceae: Asteranthera ovata; Sarmienta repens

Solanales - Solanaceae: Nightshade (Solanum valdiviense)

Asterales - Asteraceae: Common Nipplewort (Lapsana communis)

Monocotyledons:

Poales - Grasses (Poaceae): Chusquea Bamboo (Chusquea culeu) - dominant grass

Possible activities

Very good conditions for walking and trekking - lots of hiking trails. Climbing up to the crater of the volcano with the view of the boiling lava in the interior.

Fishing, sea kayak, white water kayak, rafting, mountaineering, horseback riding (suitable even for beginners), mountain bikes, skiing (ski center), spelaeology - lava tunnels exploring

Note

Accessible all year round

Villarrica volcano is considered to be the most active volcano in South America.

Hot springs

Picture - source wikipedia