POST QUAKE UPDATE
Our thoughts are with those who have lost family members and their homes. We are receiving donations of food, drink, blankets etc here at the hostel. They will be taken to Concepcion and surrounding areas over the coming weeks. We are all fine here in Pucon, just saddened by the devastation. THE NATIONAL PARK TO CLIMB THE VOLCANO IS NOW FULLY OPEN AND ASCENTS ARE LEAVING EVERY DAY. All other activities are continuing as normal, river rafting, Huerquehue National Park etc.
There is NO increased risk of volcanic eruption, the Villarrica volcano has NOT registered any augmented activity since the quake. Buses south are as normal, buses north to Santiago are running only during the day and take 12-15 hours instead of 10. The backlog of flights is being alleviated and should be back to normal after this coming weekend. We have lowered our room prices so call or mail us if you have any questions or to make a reservation. Please keep coming to Pucon, the local and national economy needs tourism to continue.
The Tree House Hostel provides innovative backpacker's accommodation in Pucon, southern Chile, to all you travellers making your way through Chile and through neighbouring countries. Regardless of budget, our safe and relaxing hostel has been specifically designed to optimise the meeting of like-minded travellers, the sharing of travel tales and the acquisition of unbiased advice.
We have comfortable hammocks in our garden, up-to-date maps (and advice!) in our information centre, freshly brewed coffee and Infusion herbal teas to accompany your time, and a choice of DVDs (and local brews!) in our relaxation area. Alternatively, we offer a chance to escape from your hectic travelling schedule by watching the sunset over the Villarrica volcano, alone or with friends, from our purpose built tree house.
Our ground level hostel has been created from native wood with lots of space around the buildings to enjoy being outside. Our 7 rooms, numbered in the local Mapudungun language, sleep 18 guests in total. Some of our rooms have shared bathrooms and some have private bathrooms, some have bunkbeds, some single beds and one a double bed. Click on the "Our Rooms" link to the right for more information.
As founders and managers of the project, both Sarah and Cristian have spent many years working in tourism, and as tour leaders throughout Latin America. We offer a personalised service which includes a wide range of extras such as:
- unbiased local activity information
- concise itinerary suggestions
- a strategic network of similar hostels throughout Chile and further afield
- opportunities to visit and get involved in the local Mapuche community
- benefit from the cultural enrichment of our international student programme
- acquire historical, cultural and ecological information about the region
- learn how to reduce your eco-footprint at home by learning from our worm composting system
- inadvertently support LOCAL FOUNDATIONS and the UK based organisation Tourism Concern
- learn about the medicinal properties of local herbs and taste them in our unique infuser cups provided exclusively by Infusion Tailormade Teas
- enjoy the view of the Villarrica volcano from our purpose-built wooden tree house
Pucon is at latitude 39 degrees south and is the first major stop on any traveller's itinerary south of Santiago. The town is reached by comfortable overnight buses costing between 6,000 and 50,000 Chilean pesos - the latter if you want super comfort better than 1st class air travel! Tur Bus The journey takes about 10 hours approximately and the majority of the buses travel overnight arriving around 8am.
Pucon is the adventure tourism capital of Chile and offers a wealth of activities, the most popular being an ascent of the Villarrica volcano, white water rafting on the Trancura river, canopy rides over the native forests, hiking and camping in the Huerquehue National Park, water sports on the fresh water lake, lazing in the many outdoor hot springs, or pure relaxation on the volcanic beach. We can arrange all of this and more for you in advance of your arrival - provided that you book a couple of nights with us in the hostel of course!
So, we ask you to come along...relax in our inspiring garden, refresh your body, mind and aching feet, and redefine what you want to get out of your trip by taking advantage of our ideas, links and local and international programmes.
