Curacautin and Lonquimay cities are connected by Las Raices tunnel, the second longest tunnel in Latin America with 4.5 Km. Both cities have a wide range that reflects  identity of its people, especially Pehuenche because here you can have a  true ancestral cultural experience of our country participating in local rituals.

Llaima, Lonquimay and Tolhuaca volcanoes are the stars of postcards and part of major tours on their surroundings. Restless Llaima and Lonquimay attract travelers, curious and scientists who study its high activity every year.

The Nalca-Malalcahuello National Reserve can walk it by Piedra Santa path, with 7.5 km total length, surrounded by lengas, coigües, oaks and raulies with Sierra Nevada, volcanoes and Cautin river valley views,.

Manzanar, Tolhuaca and Malalcahuello hotsprings help alleviate illness and recover from stress. With hotels and good restaurants, La Araucania becomes a place of relaxation and tranquility.

In winter ski resorts stand out as attractions. Corralco, just 20 minutes from Lonquimay, has tracks decorated by beauty native araucaria forest. You can also practice winter sports such as backcountry randon and airboard.

If you are looking for calm and see incredible scenery, you must go to Galletue lagoon, where you can rent boats for family trips . Also in this sector can practice horseback riding in the middle of postcards full of lakes, volcanoes and araucaria.

How to get there

By Bus. Several companies, especially local bus enterprises go all day to Lonquimay and Curacautin from Temuco. Also between this two cities.

By Car. From Santiago, on 5 sur route, then take Victoria turnoff (611 km) to reach Curacautin (56 km) and then Lonquimay (64 km).

From Temuco, north to Lautaro (32 km) and east to Curacautin (55 km) and Lonquimay (64 km).

Activities and Attractions

In Conguillio National Park discover their ancient araucaria and lava slag, a landscape very similar to the time when great dinosaurs lived.

In its 60 000 hectares is a perfect blend of loneliness, beautiful scenery and ideal terrain for outdoor sports like biking, trekking and kayaking. For those who wish to do trekking, this park has 12 trails of varying difficulty. Those who are physically fit can not miss the six-hour hike (round trip) to Sierra Nevada, a route that reaches three viewpoints where visual reward is unique.

Other easier route is "woodpeckers path," which goes from information center to Captren lake. Here you can see woodpeckers obviously. This endemic bird iof Chile is the bigest of its kind in the world. Main attraction is at 20 km of this path, the "Araucaria Madre", oldest specimen of the park with over a 1800 years of life.

Las Raices mountain range is an ideal area to be explored by bicycle. On hillsides covered by centennial araucarias, summits of this arm of Los Andes give away beautiful Lonquimay and Curacautin postcards.

In February Lonquimay celebrates the Tourism Week, an instance to publicize the best of this town and its surroundings, as well as various cultural performances. Event concludes with a big roast goat, typical preparation of this area of ​​La Araucania.

The Pehuenche circuit , located 14 km from Lonquimay in Las Raices hills is a place to contact local guides that help travelers to delve into Pehuenche traditions.

In foothills of La Araucania,  spas and hotsprings are central axis of Curacautin, surrounded by Malalcahuello, Manzanar and Tolhuaca hotsprings.

In Manzanar baths have direct nature experience at its rustic spa pool with 48 ° C  water surrounded by lush beauty of La Araucania. Its hotel was built in 1954 and is kept in perfect condition.

Malalcahuello hotsprings have a luxury spa and been declared healing water source by Health Ministry of Chile. You can swim against tide on 38 ° C water. It has a whirlpool.

33 km from Curacautin are Tolhuaca hotsprings. Nestled between two cliffs with 90 ° C hotsprings that flow to surface, with a high minerals content and healing properties, especially suitable for rheumatism, muscle aches and respiratory problems. A plume nearby main pool provides heating and hot water for hotel.