Pucón, Chile, served as a hub for a trip through The Lakes District. My friend Nora and I booked round-trip bus tickets from Santiago to Pucón, but then decided we would figure out everything in between along the way. And we did!

The trip was an adventure thrill-ride — a time for strengthening the bond with a sure-to-be-lifelong friend, meeting new acquaintances, and learning about cultures, the Spanish language and that I still have no sense of direction. In just 10 days, I tasted Chilean fish and locally brewed beer, watched traditional song and dance performances, churned freshly butchered meat over a fire pit, passed by a family of llamas, saw a natural phenomenon of special waterfalls and climbed an active volcano.

Here’s a look at Pucón, the little city that marks both the start and end of a wild chapter.

A snapshot of Pucón, Chile: Rolling hills, dotted with trees, perfectly frame the glistening waters of Lago Villarrica. The base of the volcano with the same name stands boldly in the near distance, but puffy clouds sometimes hide its snow-capped peak. The clouds aren’t enough to block the hills, though, and they roll on for miles in clear view. The fresh air and picturesque landscape are a nice break from smoggy Santiago. Even still, cars and old vans clog the streets and stray dogs wander the sidewalks all the same. Wooden restaurants and shops, reminiscent of old log cabins from a dusty ski town, cater to travelers from dozens of nations. The sounds of Spanish, German, English, French and even Hebrew are prominent tongues clashing with the light noise of rustling leaves, subtle waves and market chatter. The afternoon sun kissed my skin without feeling too hot. And an evening breeze brought in a brisk air from the lake waters. As the sun finally sets behind the hills, light shimmers across the water as boats bob in the waves.

The beautiful Volcán Villarrica

Volcán Villarrica

Pucón is Chile’s staple adventure town, complete with tours of ascending an active volcano, rafting and zip lining. We spent our first day in Pucón wandering within city limits, shopping at the market and admiring the sights. After our volcano tour was canceled due to bad weather on our second day in the city, we skipped ahead to the rest of our route. When we returned to Pucón the following week, it was to sunny skies — perfect weather for completing our ascent to the summit of Volcán Villarrica.

Then, we spent a final afternoon in Pucón exploring the outskirts, which led us to a deserted farm road and Mapuche village. After dragging our sore legs along what we learned to be a 10-mile road, some locals stopped to give us a short lift part of the way. Add hitch-hiking in South America to that aforementioned list. Don’t shake your head, I lived to tell about it. At the village, it was interesting to have a small peek at how the Chilean indigenous people lived, and connect that to the unfortunate classism and economic inequality they still face today.

A hut where the indigenous Mapuche people lived.

Sheep!

Like anything in life, my tour through Chile’s Lakes District had some rough patches. But, the cultural experience and fun with new friends far outweighed the challenges of rainy days, dirty bathrooms and long hikes. The 10-day trip was my first of many more travels in Chile and through South America.

When I left my family, friends, my bunny Clyde, my job and basically everything else I’ve ever known in order to move to Chile on a one-way ticket — it was the biggest risk of I’d ever taken — but I am so grateful I did. The return is tenfold, and this trip was certainly a testament to that.

—JDF