If you’ve spent time in towns like Jackson Hole, Stowe, or Banff, you’ll recognize Pucón. Located in the shadow of the Villarrica volcano in Chile’s Lake District, Pucón is headquarters for all sorts of cool adventures.
You can trek to the top of the volcano and peer into the crater, go rafting on nearby rivers, or fill your days with hikes and other outdoor activities. In the winter (June-August), there’s skiing on the volcano slopes. You can also explore the traditional culture of the Mapuche people, Chile’s largest native group, which has a significant population in the region around Pucón. And did I mention the volcanoes?
With all these things to do, you won’t spend that much time in your hotel room. Which makes Hotel Cumbres del Sur, a simple but comfortable boutique lodging that opened earlier in 2016, a good base for your adventures. Here’s the scoop:
Guest Rooms and Amenities
Hotel Cumbres del Sur is located around the corner from Avenida Bernardo O’Higgins, Pucón’s main street, which is lined with adventure travel agencies, restaurants, and bars. Everything you might need in town is within walking distance of the hotel.
In this newly built three-story property, the guest rooms feel fresh and modern, with white linens, flat-screen TVs, and accents in local woods. Reading lamps and electrical outlets over the bed are handy features, and the bathrooms, although not large, are modern, too. Wi-Fi worked well throughout the building.
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My room, a single on the top floor, was tiny, with just enough room to squeeze around the bed to close the curtains. And oddly, this room faced directly into another guest room (although it was unoccupied at the time). Even if I were traveling alone, I might opt for the standard doubles, which while similarly furnished, are more spacious.
Facilities and Services
Room size may not matter, since even when you’re spending time in the hotel, you don’t have to stay in your room. On the main floor, the spacious sitting area is a great place to hang out, with comfy couches, a TV, and a large stock of books and magazines.
Hotel staff is friendly and helpful, and there’s usually someone on hand who speaks English. The hotel provides a convenient, reasonably-priced overnight laundry service, too: give them your dirty clothes in the evening, and they’ll return them clean the next day.
One of my favorite features of the Hotel Cumbres del Sur was the ample buffet breakfast, which featured fresh fruits and juices, yogurts, cheeses and cold cuts, cereals, freshly baked breads (with dulce de leche to sweeten them, if you’d like), and several types of cakes and pastries. Coffee, steamed milk, and a selection of tea are included. The hearty spread provides plenty of fuel for your outdoor adventures.
Rates
Double room rates at Hotel Cumbres del Sur range from US$100-135 per night, including Wi-Fi and breakfast. Rates are highest during the Chilean summer, from mid-December through March. Check agoda.com to see if you can get a better rate.
Hotel review by Vancouver-based travel, food, and feature writer Carolyn B. Heller. Photos © Carolyn B. Heller. Hotel Cumbres del Sur, in conjunction with Turismo Chile, hosted my stay for review purposes.
