Skiing/Snowboarding

From July to September skiing and snowboarding are the main winter activities in Malalcahuello. Cross country or backcountry skiing is a much lesser known activity for Chileans so most of the activity centres around Corralco ski resort on Volcano Lonquimay https://www.corralco.com/

The website of Corralco boasts 1800 skiable area with 29 pistes and 6 ski lifts. The centre is located within the National Reserve Malalcahuello that is over 31,000 hectares in size and includes the majestic Volcano Lonquimay. The highest chair lift gets you to within 465 metres of the summit (1525 ft) so some fit and expert skiers climb the rest of the way to ski into the crater or to ski down one of the faces of the volcano.  If you are not such an expert, Corralco has many other options from a nice wide, gentle beginner slope to everything in between.

Thermal baths

There are several commercial thermal bathing operations within driving distance from Malalcahuello. The closest one is around one and a half kilometres ( 0.9 mi) from the town centre. It is a beautifully designed construction of Oregon pine, testimony to the prior use of the area as a native timber processing area. The indoor thermal pool is large with options of all kinds of massage and therapies. It also has a restaurant on site as do most of the thermal bathing centres https://www.malalcahuello.cl/

The most natural thermal bathing centre is a little further from Malalcahuello, approximately 40 minutes by car, half of that along dirt roads. Cañon del Blanco offers small pools surrounded by native forest and rivers. They offer nocturnal bathing, staying open until midnight in peak season, which most of the other centres don´t offer http://canondelblanco.cl/termas/

Snow shoeing/sled dog tours/backcountry skiing/splitboarding/tobogganing

If you are not into skiing or snow boarding, but would like to get out in the snow, snow shoeing is an easy option. It involves strapping some wide, flat plastic “shoes” to your boots and walking. It´s a fairly natural action, you just find that you have to walk with your legs a little further apart than usual. Stocks can help you to keep your balance. A popular alternative for children is tobogganing which can be hired at many places in Malalcahuello.

There are many places within and outside of the reserve to go snow shoeing and guides who offer their services for snow shoeing, climbing or backcountry skiing/splitboarding.

One company offers short tours with snow dogs, trained especially to take customers on sleds through the snow.

Cabin-based activities

If none of the above activities sounds like you, or if the day is miserable, it may be a more suitable option to stay in the cabin by the log fire (yes, many still have slow combustion heating), read a book, play cards or board games. Many cabins also have hot tubs and some have spas or other activities which one can enjoy without having to go far, for example www.chilewild.com

Snow

From July one is guaranteed to experience snow. Sometimes  it starts  snowing solidly from June, sometimes from the first or second  week of July. When it snows Malalcahuello awakes from  its slumber  and comes alive with activity as skiers and snowboarders from all over the globe come to the ski centre Corralco.

Corralco ski centre is located on Volcano Lonquimay within the national reserve Malalcahuello where Corralco Hotel is the only accommodation permitted. The hotel  boasts 54 rooms accommodating  up to 140 people and includes a wide range of facilities and services. During the winter season it tends to get booked out by international visitors, particularly ski teams and professionals  from the northern  hemisphere who are looking  for a place to train during their summer months. Outside of the Reserve http://www.chilewild.com, there are many other options for accommodation suitable for all budgets, although winter is the peak season for Malalcahuello so prices are at their highest. Some  places offer restaurant, hot tub or guided activities.

Apart from Corralco ski centre, there are many other slopes inside and outside of the Malalcahuello reserve for people who practise randonnée or backcountry ski/splitboard. Some  of the areas are accessed using snowmobiles and others by the traditional means of human power.  One can take an expedition with a guide who  knows the local areas and conditions

Thermal baths

In and around Malalcahuello there are several places offering the healing experience of thermal bathing. They are all commercial operations so charge a fee and offer facilities and services such as restaurant, change rooms, massage services etc. Within  Malalcahuello, Las Termas  de Malalcahuello, offer a large  indoor pool and a range of massage services in an attractive parkland setting. Other thermal baths offer outdoor bathing and are further away, requiring  vehicle transport to get there. Cañon del Blanco (white canyon) offers the most rustic of the bathing  experiences as  it has small pools located within a native forest setting in a beautiful rural  valley overlooked by the snowy Sierra Nevada volcano.

Transport

There are many options for arriving to  Malalcahuello from the  north, south or even from Argentina, as Malalcahuello  is located on an international route. Public transport is extremely limited within  Malalcahuello, however, there are private  options for getting to and from the attractions and your accommodation.  Malalcahuello is approximately 1.5 hours drive from an international airport (Aeropuerto La Araucanía), close to the city of Temuco where it is possible to hire a car.

There   are  many  options for lodging,  ranging from  camping (better in  summer) to the  luxury  Hotel  Corralco. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, cabins are a good choice and there are plenty of them in and around Malalcahuello. It is a good idea,  however, to book early as they get booked out during  the ski season. Cabins offer  easy social distancing and independence.

The key to safety   in terms of health is social  distancing, we all have that message internalised  now. Corralco ski  centre has developed  its protocols and put them into practise in September/October 2020,  which was a success  in terms of heath and safety and a  great ski  experience for visitors. Due to the necessity to reduce the numbers of skiers on the slopes and lift lines etc.  it would be wise to book early (now)  in order  not to be disappointed. Corralco  offers some good ticket deals towards the end of summer and the  surrounding lodgings  have  availability.

A good  place to start  looking for accommodation is at https://www.malalcahuello.org/  which is the website of the local tourism  association  including members registered  with  the  relevant  Tourism  organisation (Sernatur) ,committed to maintaining COVID-19  protocols and quality of  service,  suitable for a range of budgets. Apart  from  social  distancing,  we  know that hygiene is important. The members of the  local  tourism association  have implemented the cleaning protocols provided by the ministry of health  in Chile.

Before you  book, be  sure  to ask about the cancellation policy, in  case of a COVID-19  incident or other.  Many establishments are  offering return of deposit or credit for a fixed period. Contact us if you want to find out more about our offer.