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- Volcán Copahue and its crater — An active, steam-venting volcano with a raw, lunar feel. The crater’s acidic lake and fumaroles make for dramatic photos and a real sense of being on the edge of the earth. Access can be limited when the volcano is restless, but when it’s open the short but steep hike to viewpoints is unforgettable. (Personal favorite — the scale and smell of sulfur just can’t be beaten.)
- Termas de Copahue (thermal baths and geothermal fields) — Natural hot springs, mud pools and sulfur pools scattered around the volcano. Some springs are developed into simple baths in Caviahue, others are wild and smoky; great after a long trek and especially nice in cold weather.
- Laguna de Caviahue — A clear, reflective mountain lake framed by volcanic slopes and forests. Calm mornings
- Volcán Copahue and its crater — An active, steam-venting volcano with a raw, lunar feel. The crater’s acidic lake and fumaroles make for dramatic photos and a real sense of being on the edge of the earth. Access can be limited when the volcano is restless, but when it’s open the short but steep hike to viewpoints is unforgettable. (Personal favorite — the scale and smell of sulfur just can’t be beaten.)
- Termas de Copahue (thermal baths and geothermal fields) — Natural hot springs, mud pools and sulfur pools scattered around the volcano. Some springs are developed into simple baths in Caviahue, others are wild and smoky; great after a long trek and especially nice in cold weather.
- Laguna de Caviahue — A clear, reflective mountain lake framed by volcanic slopes and forests. Calm mornings give perfect reflections of Copahue; in summer you’ll find easy shoreline walks and in winter the frozen, wind-swept scenes are otherworldly.
- Valle del Agrio and sulfur streams — A compact, surreal landscape of yellow and white mineral deposits, steaming creeks and acidic waters. Short walks here feel like walking through a chemistry set — colorful and oddly beautiful.
- Andean forests and native flora — Patches of lenga and coihue forest climbing the lower slopes, mixed with high-altitude shrublands. Nice contrast to the volcanic rock, and the shade feels glorious after sunny ridge hikes.
- Wildlife watching (birds and mammals) — Keep an eye out for soaring Andean condors, small foxes and an assortment of mountain birds. It’s not a dense wildlife park, but encounters are rewarding because they feel wild and uncurated.
- Hiking trails and panoramic viewpoints — A mix of short walks to fumarole fields and longer treks that skirt ridges and lakeshores. Trails are often rugged and unmarked; bring a map, good boots and expect simple, authentic backcountry hiking rather than groomed paths.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.