GUNUNG · Chile

Villarrica Volcano

Volcán Villarrica

Information

Elevation: 2.850 m
Country: Chile (CL)
Location / Range: Andes
Mountain type: Volcano
Volcanic?: Yes — volcano
Coordinates: -39.4200, -71.9392
Difficulty: Moderate (guided)
Best Season: November–March (Southern Hemisphere summer)
Permits & Rules: The climb must be guided by a licensed operator from Pucón; access is through Villarrica National Park, with a daily quota & closures when volcanic activity increases.
Hazards: Volcanic gas at the crater rim, active glowing lava, strong winds, and snowy ice terrain that requires crampons and an ice axe.

Description

Villarrica (2,850 m) is one of Chile's most active volcanoes, rising above the lakeside town of Pucón in Araucanía. Its snow-clad cone holds an active lava lake whose glow is visible from town at night. A guided one-day climb crosses snow and ice fields—using crampons and ice axe—to the sulphurous crater rim, with a fast glissade descent; it is also a popular ski-touring and splitboard objective.

Gallery

Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.

Routes

Pendakian Penuh Tanpa Lift (Base ke Kawah)

Sedang–Berat (full elevation gain, terpandu)

+1400 m 1 hari (7–9 jam naik-turun)

Full-gain variant without the chairlift: start from the national park access gate (~1,450 m) and walk 10–12 km through Araucaria forest before reaching the snow line. Longer but richer in nature; a CONAF-certified guide is still mandatory for the snow-ice section.

Rute Normal dari Pucón (Sisi Utara)

Sedang (terpandu, butuh crampon)

+1500 m 1 hari (5–7 jam naik-turun)

Standard guided route from Pucón ski resort: climb the snow-ice slope to the active crater rim using crampons and ice axe, then descend fast via glissade. Climbers may use the ski-resort chairlift (operational mornings) to skip the initial 400–500 m of elevation gain.

Ski Touring / Splitboard (Lereng Utara)

Sedang (butuh keterampilan ski backcountry + crampon near summit)

+1400 m 1 hari (5–6 jam naik, 45 menit turun)

A ski mountaineer's classic: skin or splitboard up the northern slope from Ski Pucón base (~5 km). Switch to crampons and ice axe for the final 200–300 m where the slope steepens to the crater rim. The ski descent with views of Lake Villarrica below is the reward for the effort.

Safety Statistics

Moderate risk

Aggregated for prevention and awareness — not a casualty list. Read alongside the safety tips below.

Indicative — small sample size.

· No structured climber-fatality statistics exist for Villarrica; climber deaths are documented as individual incidents (e.g. 2016 and 2025), usually from slips or falls on the icy slope toward the crater — some while climbing without a guide on unauthorized routes. The figures are therefore indicative, not an official rate. Villarrica is one of South America's most active volcanoes with a persistent lava lake; eruption hazards (a 1964 lahar killed 27 residents; toxic gases in 1971–72 killed at least 15) and alert cycles (the 2015 eruption evacuated 3,385 people; an orange alert in 2023) demand monitoring SERNAGEOMIN and using a certified guide.

Causes of death

Fall est.

💡 The most common cause of climber death on Villarrica is slipping and sliding uncontrolled down the snow-ice slope toward the crater. Master ice-axe self-arrest, wear crampons and a helmet, use a certified guide, and never climb an unauthorized route without a guide.
Source
Other est.

💡 Villarrica has an open lava lake and erupts frequently; its hazards include toxic gas near the crater, lahars from melting summit glacier ice, and sudden eruptions. Obey SERNAGEOMIN alert levels and do not approach the crater or climb when the alert is raised to orange or red.
Source

Notable incidents

1964 1964 Coñaripe lahar — 27 residents killed

On 2 March 1964 a lahar from Villarrica killed 27 residents of Coñaripe. The event underscores that the deadliest hazard of a glacier-clad volcano is not only at the summit but the lahars that flow far into inhabited valleys.
Source
2015 2015 eruption — 3,385 people evacuated

On 3 March 2015 Villarrica erupted with a lava fountain; SERNAGEOMIN declared a red alert, about 3,385 people were evacuated, and part of the summit glacier melted, triggering local flooding. The episode shows how quickly this volcano can shift from a climbing attraction to a serious threat.
Source
2016 2016 — climber killed in a fall on an unauthorized route

A young tourist died after losing balance and falling on Villarrica's slopes; the group was climbing an unauthorized route without a guide. The case illustrates why independent climbing off the authorized route, without a guide and without self-arrest skills, is so risky.
Source
2023 2023 alert cycle — SERNAGEOMIN orange alert

Through 2023 Villarrica's activity rose: on 24 September 2023 SERNAGEOMIN raised the status to orange (the second-highest of four tiers) and widened the danger zone, before lowering it back to yellow on 6 October 2023 with the security perimeter reduced from 5 km to 2 km. Climbers must check the latest alert status before setting out.
Source
2025 2025 — climber killed in a ~500 m fall while descending

A 38-year-old climber died after slipping and sliding about 500 metres on Villarrica's slope while descending with a group. The incident underscores that descending the icy slope is as dangerous as the ascent and demands self-arrest skill and vigilance all the way back to the base.
Source

Statistics source: Source Source

Climbing Experiences

Villarrica (2,850 m) near Pucón is a guided day climb: crossing snow-and-ice fields on crampons with an ice axe to the sulphur-fuming crater rim, then a fast glissade descent. Climbers highlight the active lava lake, the Araucanía lakes panorama, and occasional fierce winds that force a turnaround.

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.