Lake Caburgua

Caburgua is unusual among the lakes here on two counts. Its beaches are white or pale grey sand rather than the black volcanic grit of the others nearby, which is why Playa Blanca is the busiest beach around Pucon in January. And it has no surface outlet: the water leaves through the porous lava at its southern end and reappears a few kilometres away at the Ojos del Caburgua, a set of springs and pools that feed the Trancura river. The lake also warms up more than its neighbours, which makes swimming here bearable rather than merely possible.

Background

Caburgua Lake lies 23 kilometres northeast of Pucón and covers 52.27 square kilometres. It fills a glacial valley carved along the Liquiñe-Ofqui Fault, and during the Holocene lava flows from the Volcanes de Caburgua blocked that valley. Like Villarrica Lake, it belongs to the Toltén River basin. In summer the outflow river can dry up, but so much water filters underground that the Ojos del Caburgua waterfalls never run dry. Huerquehue National Park lies on the eastern side of the lake.

Source: Wikipedia, "Caburgua Lake"

The landscape

• Pale sand beaches - unlike the black grit of the other lakes.
• No surface outlet - the water leaving through porous lava.
• Reappearing at the Ojos - springs a few kilometres south.
• Warmer water - swimmable rather than just enterable.

When to go

December to March. Half a day.

Before you go

Playa Blanca is crowded in January and February and parking is charged and difficult. The road from Pucon is partly gravel. Rain is frequent. Facilities are seasonal.

Nearby

Ojos del Caburgua are south; Huerquehue park is east.

Key facts