Villarrica Volcano ascent

I had a great experience with Richard climbing the volcano Villarrica, the hike and the views are wonderful and totally worth the effort! The tour wasn’t cancelled even though I was the only person that signed up for it (not to take for granted) and the gear they gave me was in perfect conditions. Richard was very caring, kind, reliable and safe, helped whenever I needed and yet was a very fun person so the day was super pleasant. I have great pictures and memories to keep from my adventure, super recommended!

For over a decade I’ve dreamed of reaching the summit of one of Chile’s many volcanoes. Towards the end of the Chilean summer – early March 2024 – I teamed up with Terra Volcano for my long awaited introductory trek up Volcán Villarica rising above Pucón. This acclaimed outdoor town offers an almost overwhelming number of outfitters eager to book you a tour and it can be baffling to choose one; I was thrilled to connect with Terra Volcano by word of mouth from four enthusiastic Brazilians I’d met the previous day. I made first contact via WhatsApp and bilingual (English and Spanish) business owner Richard responded within half an hour (!) with information regarding which tours still had availability for the immediate future. I am not a traveler who typically plans out my entire trip (or even a fraction of it) weeks or months in advance – and Richard was eager to work with me to find something that fit my limited and last minute schedule. In short order he helped me book a spot on a tour just two days later. Amazing. The following afternoon I went by in person to get acquainted with their headquarters, put down my cash deposit and meet Richard and his wife, co-owners, who welcomed me in warmly and made me feel like family from the very beginning. These two have crafted a handsome space for their company, featuring handmade woodwork that lends itself to an energizing yet laid back and earthy vibe. The prerequisite paperwork was appropriate and did not require more than a few minutes of my time. Richard has been climbing mountains since he was just fourteen years old – less than half my age as a total beginner. We are the same age, born only months apart, and he impressed me from the moment we first met as a dedicated and conscientious guide. His experience and professionalism are well matched by his innate enthusiasm for introducing visiting travelers to his beloved local peaks and to the sport of mountaineering – which he quickly taught me is andismo in the Andes (where it’s alpinismo or alpinism in the Northern Hemisphere, referring to the Alps of Europe). His goal as a guide is to provide an experience that is as educational as it is exciting, thus making it doubly memorable. I had the rare privilege of jumping on board a semi-private tour – shared with just one other traveler – ascending Volcán Villarica on a sun-soaked late summer’s day. Richard picked me up from my campground en route – which I considered a total bonus (no need to hitchhike down to the valley floor early in the morning), and delivered us to the trailhead. All requisite gear was provided (from backpack to helmet and ice axe to the sliding suit we’d employ for our descent!), although I opted to use my own hiking boots for comfort. Richard did an excellent job looking out for me (a fair skinned Gringo) in kindly reminding me to reapply sunscreen at intervals throughout the day. I’m still humbled by the intensity of the Patagonian sun. The ascent up Volcán Villarica was essentially a very long uphill hike, for those who hike regularly. Late in the summer the snowpack was minimal, and Richard took us to a bonus stop along the way up to keep things interesting. When we reached the snowline (my long awaited introduction to any level of mountaineering), Richard helped us demystify the installation process for our crampons and expertly taught the two of us how to hike with, hold, and use the ice axe, including for the eventuality of self-arrest, demonstrating each step of the process. From that moment upward, I was hooked. And although we were unable to fully summit the volcano (on that particular day outpouring toxic gases legally prohibited any climbers going to the very top in such conditions), we were rewarded handsomely with an impressive sweeping panoramic vista from our turnaround point. Perhaps the best part of our entire day was our descent: the snow slide! Included within our gear, Richard had carefully prepared a snow sliding suit and flexible portable sled for a swift and exhilarating ride down each of the snowfields that lay below us – our speed controllable via our ice axes as a brake and rudder. This part of the day I had been dreaming of since I was about six years old – a total blast. Along with the adventure, teaching, and camaraderie that Richard provided us throughout our day on the mountain, he also made sure to snap some photos along the way of each of us to remember this landmark day and share it with our loved ones. Richard chaperoned us back to town; happily tired, we adjourned to the Terra Volcano HQ where we returned our gear and recharged & feasted on cold local beers and decadent snacks – an unexpected bonus. I count this day not only as one of the very best of my entire two month sojourn – it also immediately became a highlight of my life on this beautiful planet. Muchísimas gracias a Richard y a todo el equipo de Terra Volcano. I would highly recommend this outfitter to anyone traveling to Pucón – and of course, Terra Volcano offers more rigorous and multi-day summit adventures for the more seasoned mountaineer. Before bidding me farewell, Richard keenly encouraged me to return in October or November for a much more extensive and continuous snow sliding experience. I can’t wait to make that happen.

It was an absolutely amazing experience,climbing the most active volcano in south America and seeing the gases and the smoke closer and closer coming out of it as we were climbing to reach the summit! Richard and his team are very knowledgeable and passionate about their job and always wants to make their group feel safe and in good hands! I would recommend this group 100%

The walk up the Volcano Pucon was perfect with Richard our guide for the group of 3. Together as well with David. The full day was very nice. Very professional as taking care of all with the gear as well to take care if it should be needed. I highly recommand it to do it by Terra Volcano Pucon. As you walk up you can see the surrounding, and last parts as it was Summer with crampons walking up till 400m below the Volcano you have to stop at its active Then with some slides through the snow you make some parts easy before getting down... and walking way back. It was really one of my highlights in Chile! For sure something to do in the area of Pucon.

we had an amazing experience and the staff were great and helped us a lot. the views from the mountain were incredible and sliding the way down was really fun.