Temuco
The capital of Araucania, founded at the end of the Mapuche wars and now the centre of the land conflict.
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Temuco was founded in 1881 as a fort during the campaign the Chilean state called the Pacification of Araucania, which ended the independence the Mapuche had held south of the Biobio since the sixteenth century - including through the entire Spanish colonial period, which they were never conquered in. The city grew on that ground and is now the centre of Chilean Mapuche life: the Feria Pinto market sells the produce, herbs and crafts of the region, and the Museo Regional de la Araucania sets out the history. The land claims that followed the confiscations of the 1880s remain unresolved and are the central political question of the region.
What you actually see
- Founded in 1881 as a fort - during the campaign against the Mapuche.
- A people never conquered by Spain - independent until the Chilean campaign.
- The Feria Pinto market - produce, herbs and crafts of the region.
- Unresolved land claims - the region's central political question.
When to go
December to March. A full day.
Honest expectations
The city is functional rather than scenic. The Mapuche land conflict is live and occasionally involves roadblocks and unrest in the surrounding countryside. Museum framing of the 1880s campaign varies. Rain is frequent.
Nearby
Lake Budi and the coast are west; Villarrica and Pucon are east.
What to pack for Temuco
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.