🧭 Every country, and the places worth the trip NEW 26,489 places written across 243 countries 🎮 Guess the country As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases
Meridiela.

Ojos del Caburgua

Turquoise pools and falls where a lake that vanished underground comes back out of the rock.

Saved in this browser only - no account, nothing sent anywhere. See your map

WhereAraucania Region
Nearest cityPucon about 15 km
Best seasonDecember to March
Time to allowHalf a day
Getting thereSignposted off the Pucon to Caburgua road; a short walk from the parking to the viewpoints
EntryEntry fee to the landowners

Lake Caburgua drains through the lava rather than over the ground, and the water surfaces here: a set of springs pouring out of the rock face into pools of intense turquoise, with falls dropping between them into the Trancura river below. The colour comes from the water having filtered through volcanic rock and from the depth of the pools. Wooden walkways and viewing platforms run along the edge, built by the landowners who charge for access - the site is private, and there is more than one entrance with separate owners and separate fees, which confuses visitors regularly.

What you actually see

  • Water coming out of rock - the lake's underground outflow surfacing.
  • Turquoise pools and falls - dropping into the Trancura.
  • Wooden walkways - along the edge above the water.
  • Separate private entrances - with separate owners and fees.

When to go

December to March. Half a day.

Honest expectations

There are several entrances charging separately and it is not always clear which you are paying for. Swimming is not permitted at the main pools. The site is small and takes an hour. It gets busy at midday in summer.

Nearby

Lake Caburgua is north; Pucon is south-west.

What to pack for Ojos del Caburgua

Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.

All packing kits →

Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.

← More nature & outdoors in Chile

One postcard a week.

A short Friday email: one place worth knowing about, the story behind it, and what is in season right now. No noise - leave whenever you like.