3/29/24, 8:07 PM 3-minute Travel Guide: Villarrica, Chile - UCEAP Blog

TRAVEL LEARN LIVE 

3-MINUTE TRAVEL
GUIDE:
VILLARRICA, CHILE

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3/29/24, 8:07 PM 3-minute Travel Guide: Villarrica, Chile - UCEAP Blog

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DON’T FORGET TO PACK Cold-weather clothing!

The seasons in Chile are opposite that of the US, so it will be early spring when you arrive
and very cold. You’ll want lots of layers and warm clothing. The area has lots of hot
springs though, so don’t forget to pack a swimsuit. You’ll also need good hiking boots to
take full advantage of southern Chile’s natural beauty. Finally, if you like spicy food, I
recommend packing hot sauce because you won’t find anything remotely spicy in
Villarrica.

BEST LEFT AT HOME Fancy clothing. People dress fairly casually in Villarrica. It’s also safe
to leave behind bug spray. I never needed to use it.

WHERE TO LIVE Stay with a host family, if you can. They are an amazing resource for
learning about Chilean culture and history, travel trips, and practicing your Spanish! I’m
still in touch with my host mom today, and the conversations I’ve had with her and the
rest of my host family are one of the most valuable parts of my experience abroad.

BEST EATS NEAR CAMPUS Eco Mapu Villarrica was a destination for many of the students
in my cohort. This tiny cafe has yummy sweet treats, drinks, and WiFi. While Villarrica

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3/29/24, 8:07 PM 3-minute Travel Guide: Villarrica, Chile - UCEAP Blog

doesn’t have a wide variety in terms of types of food, it does have lots of small bakeries
and cafés, so I’d recommend exploring to find your favorites!

FAVORITE CHILEAN ACTIVITY Hiking at El Cañi, a beautiful temperate rainforest preserve

in the Huife Valley. The hike is uphill almost the entire way, but the view of four volcanoes
at the top is well worth the effort.

WHERE TO STUDY I mostly studied at my homestay. Studying at cafés in Chile is not as

common, so you may be asked to leave in the middle of a study session.

MUST-TRY LOCAL DISH Towards the end of the year when the weather warms up, the
Villarrica embarcadero will be lined with street vendors selling churros, completos (Chilean
hot dogs with lots of toppings), and more. Look for mote con huesillo, a unique Chilean
beverage made from dried peaches cooked in sweet cinnamon water and served with
wheat berries. It may sound strange, but it is super yummy! Mote con huesillo is only
available in the summertime, but sopaipillas, a kind of fried bread, served with a Chilean
salsa called pebre, are another tasty snack available year-round.

BEST PHOTO OP Anywhere along the waterfront, you are almost guaranteed a stunning
view of the Villarrica volcano over the lake. It’s gorgeous at sunset. For views of both the
town and the volcano, walk along the old bridge across the Toltén River. There is also a
small park along the river on the opposite side.

BIGGEST FAIL Attempting to find an automatic rental car—they basically don’t exist in
Chile! Learn to drive a manual before you go if you plan on renting a car.

BUY THIS Fresh fruit and veggies from fruterías, local produce stores, and vendors outside
grocery stores. These sellers often have fresher and tastier produce than the grocery
stores do. Digueñes, an edible Chilean tree fungus, are available from some of these
vendors around October.

NOT THAT At the beginning of summer, the many tourist-oriented shops in town will open
up. These are fun to look around in, but most items aren’t made to last, so I wouldn’t
spend too much money there.

BEST LOCAL EVENT The Villarrica Cultural Center has lots of programming that’s worth
checking out. My favorite was a tango concert.

BEST PART OF THE PROGRAM Traveling and exploring southern Chile—it is truly one of
the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. You’ll have plenty of long weekends and breaks,
so take advantage of them! Bus travel is fairly inexpensive and can get you to most places.

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UNFORGETTABLE WEEKEND TRIPS One of the best weekend trips I went on was to
Valdivia, a town near the coast about a 3-hour bus ride from Villarrica. My friends and I
stayed at the Airesbuenos Hostel, an eco-centric hostel with excellent showers and
breakfast included. Trip highlights included visiting the Feria Fluvial, an open-air market by
the river with tons of fresh produce, taking the bus to Niebla on the ocean, amazing meals
at El Growler, and my first sighting of the endangered Chilean bumblebee.

BONUS PRO TIP Your Chilean student ID card will often get you discounts at parks and
events—it’s always worth asking!

PHOEBE GOULDEN
Study Abroad Program: Social-Ecological Sustainability
Program Location: Santiago and Villarrica, Chile
Other Countries Visited: Argentina
Home University: UC Berkeley
Major: Environmental Studies
Year: Senior (class of 2021)

Phoebe is a Northern California native, nature lover, and

foodie. Her time abroad inspired the topic of her senior thesis,
which explored the role of environmental concerns in a
momentous Chilean social movement, the estallido social, that
occurred while she was studying abroad. Phoebe graduated
from UC Berkeley in 2021 and now works in local government
on climate action and adaptation efforts. She loves to cook,
hike, and explore the Bay Area in her free time.

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