Hiking the Chaiten Volcano Trail, Chile
Hiking the Chaiten Volcano Trail in Pumalin National Park was a great way to spend time in this part of Chilean Patagonia. Our guide covers essential things to know, what to expect from the trail, or where to find the trailhead.
On one of our favorite trails in Patagonia, we searched for an active volcano.
We had some vision about our Patagonia trip before we traveled in this part of the world, knowing it would be all about nature. But we were not ready that right from the start, the scenery would be so diverse.
You will find this hike right at the beginning of the scenic road Carretera Austral near the little town of Chaiten.
And despite its beauty, it is often overlooked by international travelers heading to the top attractions in Patagonia, and we must admit that Chaiten Volcano has not yet made it to the top of the list.
But we believe this will change soon, and that's why we want to show you this trail and inspire you to add it to your Patagonia travel itinerary.
In our opinion, Chaiten Volcano Trail is the best hike in Pumalin National Park. And if you're deciding which trail to do, we believe this is the one you shouldn't miss.
While the hike carries the name Sendero Volcan Chaiten, you will not actually climb the volcano.
The steep trail will take you to the outer caldera rim, from where you can admire the volcano. The volcano is still active, so it's not safe to climb it.
Despite this fact, the views of the volcano are jaw-dropping and arguably better than from the volcano itself (because you wouldn't be able to see it, right).
Whether you're looking at the red gray active volcano or a navy blue sea behind you, you will not regret the decision to endure this short but strenuous hike.
So here's everything you should know about Chaiten Volcano Trail.
Length and Elevation
Chaiten Volcano Trail is a 5-kilometer roundtrip trail with an elevation gain of 600 meters. It's not much, but it's an honest climb.
Difficulty
While Chaiten Volcano is not the hardest hike in Patagonia, it's not exactly easy. Due to the shortness of the trail, it's a bit grueling experience to get to the top.
However, the views from the outer rim are worth the climb.
According to our watch, it took us about an hour and a half to get to the top (with photo stops). In total, we spent almost 4 hours on this trail.
Therefore, Chaiten Volcano Trail is a half-day hike that allows you to fit another activity or two in your Carretera Austral itinerary.
How to Get to Chaiten Volcano Trailhead
You will find the Chaiten Volcano trailhead 24 kilometers north of Chaiten.
As pretty much everywhere in Patagonia, you have a few options to get to the beginning of the path.
Car
The easiest and fastest way to get to the trailhead is by car.
Renting a car makes sense to people short on time, as it will make getting from one place to another much more comfortable and quicker.
Bus
We traveled long term, and time was not an issue for us. So we opted for public transport.
In the morning (the bus leaves around 9:30 AM), we caught a bus in Chaiten that goes to Puerto Montt and let the bus driver know to drop us off at the trailhead.
We recommend you ask for the current bus timetables at the local visitor center.
Obviously, you need to hitchhike on the way back.
We were lucky that a local tour guide passed by shortly after we returned from the hike and took us back to Chaiten.
The ride was a bit more expensive than the bus, but we saved time which was more important to us as it was raining hard.
Hitchhiking
If you don't have a car or the bus schedule doesn't suit you, you need to hitchhike in order to get to the trailhead.
Tours
You can also take a tour with a local guide, but that would be the most expensive option, and you would not be hiking alone (it depends on your preferences, so that might be a positive thing).
Things to Know Before You Go
Before we dive into the hike itself, there is one more important thing to know about Chaiten Volcano.
After more than 8000 years of being dormant, Chaiten Volcano erupted in 2008, damaging the national park and destroying many structures and houses in the town.
It took several years before things went back to normal in this area, but you can still see the consequences of this natural disaster even now.
As soon as you start hiking, you will see the dead trees but also lush vegetation. It never fails to amaze us to see how quickly nature can recover even from mass destruction on this scale.
The result of this might not be so obvious when you're there, but the trail and the scenery are constantly changing here.
So in a few years, the landscape will look different from what it looks like now (or what it looked like ten years ago).
Hiking the Chaiten Volcano Trail
Sendero Volcan Chaiten, as known in Spanish, is a well-maintained and well-marked trail that also includes basic wooden steps.
The first four hundred meters are almost flat, so you can easily walk the initial section without stopping.
Crossing the Stream
A relatively wide stream that you need to cross sort of marks the start of the hard part. This is the only section that might require some orientation, but when we hiked it, it was clearly marked.
It's hard to say how much water will be running through the creek bed on the day of your visit. We crossed it even without the need to take off shoes, but that might be different for you.
After heavy rain, the water level will be definitely higher. Take your time to find the best place to cross it, as it will probably be changing its course over time.
It's also the only place on this hike where you can potentially refill your water bottle.
Hiking Up the Chaiten Volcano Trail
Now the fun parts start. But it's like with the band-aids. Just try to rip them off quickly.
Fortunately, there is quite a lot to see on the way up. As we made our way through the lush, almost jungle-like forest, we could see flowers, plants, but also more dead trees.
While you climb up, don't forget to look back from time to time. We had some showers on the way up, but even the sun popped up from behind the clouds.
If you're lucky, you can even see the sea, and for example, Isla Talcan.
We were not that fortunate, and even though we could spot the sea through the clouds, the remaining features of the Golfo de Ancud stayed mostly hidden to us.
In the northwest part of the Patagonian region, it was still relatively warm, so we could even walk wearing just a shirt.
At least when we were hiking up and when it wasn't raining.
Near the end of the trail, the vegetation became scarce, and we entered a moon-like scenery with an almost sand-like path surface.
Volcan Chaiten trail is very different from the usual scenery you can see further down in Patagonia in places such as Laguna Cerro Castillo or Patagonia National Park.
But that's what we loved so much about this part of Pumalin National Park.
The lush forest with a combination of a surreal volcanic landscape was something we fell in love with immediately.
Caldera Rim Viewpoint
Once you reach the top, you can simply turn right or left and explore the rim a bit more.
It was pretty windy up there, so we sat behind a fallen dead tree trunk and had our snack while enjoying the views of the valley.
The awesome part about Volcano Chaiten is that you get 360 degrees views from the rim.
But the view of exposed scarlet slopes with steaming vents, massive caldera, and two differently colored lagoons on the right stole our hearts.
Packing Tips
But it also reminded us of how active the area is, and we felt respect for this powerful place.
If it's windy at the top and you made it there all sweaty, make sure to put on a dry and windproof layer to stay nice and warm.
Down jacket will do wonders in Patagonia.
As it's a common feature of in-and-out trails, retracing our steps via the same path was a bit less exciting.
On the other hand, we could enjoy the scenery in front of us a bit more. If you have trekking poles, they will come especially handy during the descent.
Crowds
Unlike some top hikes in Patagonia, such as Laguna de Los Tres or Mirador Las Torres, we met only a few people on the Chaiten Volcano Trail.
In fact, we had the entire rim just for ourselves, which is quite unfathomable on the hikes mentioned above.
Needless to say, we started relatively early in the morning, so it can be different when you arrive in the afternoon (as more visitors might be arriving in Chaiten from the Hornopiren direction).
Is It Safe to Hike Chaiten Volcano Trail
Hiking along the official trail is considered a safe activity, as you are staying at a relatively safe distance from it.
For your safety, don't attempt to climb down to the bottom of the caldera. It comes without saying that climbing the active volcano is out of the question. It's not worth risking your life.
It might seem like there is no imminent danger, but the volcano's slopes are a hostile environment full of loose rocks, toxic gases, and other potential hazards.
As the volcanic activity might change, make sure to visit the local visitor center to find the most up-to-date information.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
Parking
There is a little free parking lot at the Volcano Chaiten trailhead, which is quite convenient when arriving by car. While there are only a few parking spaces, it should be enough.
Entrance Fee
Chaiten Volcano Trail is located within Pumalin National Park, and there is currently no entry fee to the park.
If you're traveling on a budget, then you shouldn't miss this area.
It's a great alternative to Queulat National Park or Huerquehue National Park, which do have entrance fees.
Where to Stay
Chaiten offers relatively good accommodation options. Just be prepared for higher prices and more basic services.
When camping, you can even find some campgrounds directly in the town or its surroundings.
If you plan to hike the volcano, staying directly in the town makes sense to avoid unnecessary driving.
Budget | Paraiso Patagonico - Nice and cozy accommodation with great location and friendly hosts, Paraiso Patagonico is a good place to stay while in Chaiten.
Mid-range | Chucao Bosque y Cabanas - Lovely cabins with comfortable beds, well-equipped kitchen, and quiet location.
Mid-range | Posada de Expediciones Kahuel - Located about 4 kilometers outside the Chaiten, Posada de Expediciones Kahuel offers a peaceful atmosphere, access to the beach, and charming rooms.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
