Lonquimay
(2890 m / 9482 ft.)
In
the realm of the condor
In
the northeast of the Araucanía region and very close to the international highway connecting Chile with
Argentina via the Pino Hachado pass, lies the beautiful Lonquimay. This characteristically
truncated-cone shape volcano, surrounded by a stunning mixture
of Araucaria forests and volcanic ash, spewed lava and gases only
a few years ago. To the north is the majestic Tolhuaca volcano
(2806 m/9206 ft.) and, to the south, the Sierra Nevada mountain range (2550 m/8366 ft.). The Lonquimay last erupted on December 25th, 1988,
creating a completely new crater, called Cráter Navidad (on its
eastern slope), after its eruption.
The
volcano is normally climbed on its southeast side. You also can
enjoy the view of Cráter Navidad from here.
How
to get there
A
paved road leads from Temuco through the little towns Lautaro and Curacautín to Malalcahuello (114 km/71 miles).
After another 5 km (3 miles), we arrive at an intersection. We
turn left onto a gravel road that takes us to the shelter at the
Lonquimay ski center 8 km (5 miles) further along. There are regular
buses from Temuco's rural terminal, on the Erbuc bus line (ph.:
45-272204), that make the trip three times a day (7.30 AM, 10:15
AM, 11:15 AM) as far as the Malalcahuello intersection. There is no public bus transport on the last 8 km (5 miles)
before reaching the ski area.
Going
up from Curacautín, the scenery slowly changes into a mountainous
region covered with native hualle and coigue trees. The Río Cautín
river will captivate you with its crystal-clear blue water and
countless waterfalls. Beyond the green foothills we can see the
volcanic cones and the king of the Andes can be seen frequently
flying in circles high up in the air: the condor.
Admission
All
year round. Admission fee.
Day
1 (3-5 h)
The
route is easy to find and technically not very demanding. There
are no glaciers at Lonquimay and only in winter will you need
crampons and ice picks. After the spring thaw, the trail runs
over loose volcanic rocks.
We
start from the ski center, following the lift up to where it ends.
From here, we turn slightly to the right and cross to the east
side of the volcano. Keep walking straight on for a while and
then turn left to tackle the peak.
The
entire climb of 1400 m/4593 ft. to the summit takes between 3
and 5 hours, depending on the hiker's physical condition. The
descent takes about 2.5 hours. With snow, the climb is much easier
because you can choose between several routes and ski down on
the way back.
Guide for this tour
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