Pucon, Chile
Introduction
Pucon is a friendly and laid back place situated on the slopes of the Villarica Volcano in the Lake District region. It provides the rider with a perfect natural funpark for freestylers and cool freeriding destination. It should keep all snowboarders no matter what your ability, busy and content for a good seven days or more, although the volcano is still live and smoking. The resort is made up of four old creaking chairlifts and three drags, all but one of which are above treeline. Plans are afoot to install a further lift above the long left hand chair to access the steeper higher terrain.
The feeling of riding the mountain is unique. The previous volcanic eruptions and lava flows have left behind a terrain of rollers and deep gullies. While the lift-accessed area is not particularly large and the lift positioning unimaginative, it contains some excellent freeriding/freestyle terrain with neverending hits, corniches and huge natural halfpipes that easily compensate for the lack of steeps. In short it's a playground.
Snow quality varies due to the lower elevation and local climate factors. Storms roll in from the Pacific and drop their load, or the mountain may become fogged in. Winds quite often affect the operation of the old lifts.
Resort Statistics
Resort Type:
Alpine
Winter: June to Sept
Summer: None
Lifts
Total Lifts: 9
Chair lifts: 3
Drag lifts: 6
Max people per hour: 5,380
Board Leashes required: No
Mountain
Total pistes/trails: 22
Total ride area: 1000 acres
Top lift: 2400m
Vertical drop: 960m
First lift: 2591m
Piste suitability
Green runs: 30%
Red runs: 40%
Black runs: 30%
Lift Passes
Lift Passes:
1 Day pass - 13,500
Season pass - 150,000
Lift times:9.00am to 4.00pm
Facilities
Night Riding: :
No
Snowboard Schools:
Private lessons $25 for 55mins
Group lessons $15 for 90mins
Heliboarding: :
Not available
Snowmobiles:
Not available

