Chile is a long country, more than 4,300 kilometers long, with the mighty Andes to the east and the shimmering Pacific Ocean to the west. The South American country, due to its location in an area of intense seismic and volcanic activity, is home to several breathtaking stratovolcanoes and volcanoes covered in snow. Only one of them, Nevado Ojos del Salado, tops the list of the world’s tallest mountains.
These towering peaks are fantastic for exploring because of the abundance of great views on display throughout the area. They are often surrounded by breathtaking landscapes, such as shimmering lakes or deserts. These massive volcanoes and their breathtaking landscapes have become popular tourist attractions in Chile.
10. Licancabur
: A stunning view of Licancabur volcano in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. Image source: Fernando Tatay/Shutterstock.com
Licancabur, which straddles the border between Bolivia and Chile, looms large above the barren, parched landscape of the Atacama Desert. At an astounding 5,916 meters, it is typically blanketed in snow, the melting of which feeds Licancabur Lake, the world’s highest.
Ancient lava flows have disfigured the steep, unsteady slopes that lie below its brilliant crater lake at the peak. This makes the ascent difficult and dangerous, but the views from the peak are unquestionably stunning.
The cliffs of Licancabur, revered by the Atacameno people, are a magnificent sight when seen from across the clear waters of Laguna Verde.
9. Lascar
A dramatic view of Lascar volcano in Atacama, Chile. Image source: Olga Danylenko/Shutterstock.com
Lascar, at a towering 5,592 meters, is located in the Central Volcanic Zone, which is both one of the world’s tallest and driest volcanic regions. Because of this, the land around the stratovolcano is very dry, with just a few bushes populating its lower slopes.
The formidable mountain consists of two separate cones and is crowned by a wide ridge and many boiling holes. The Atacama Desert is nearby, and this route links it to other towering peaks and lava domes.
The stark and forbidding landscape of Lascar, located close to the border with Bolivia and Argentina, offers an unforgettable travel experience.
8. Quetrupillan
A group of hikers making their way to Vulkan Quetrupillan in Chile. Image source: iFerol/Shutterstock.com
For thousands of years, Quetrupillán, a vast region in Villarrica National Park, was formed over thousands of years by earlier stratovolcanoes and calderas. It is located between Villarrica and Lanin, two other notable volcanoes, and has a stunning crater that spans seven kilometers in diameter.
At an elevation of 2,360 meters, it is home to both magnificent lava domes and disintegrating cinder cones, as well as saddly receding glaciers. Quetrupillán’s granite protrusion above its crater is very striking, although the mountain as a whole tends to be neglected in favor of its more famous neighbors.
7. Puyehue
A breathtaking view of the mountain landscape in Chilean Patagonia. Image source: MAV Drone/Shutterstock.com
Within its beautiful namesake national park, the 2,236-meter-tall Puyehue towers above the ruined landscapes left by its cataclysmic eruption in 1960.
Over the course of millennia, Puyehue and Cordon Caulle merged to create one enormous and imposing volcanic mountain, thus the volcano’s common name, Puyehue-Cordon Caulle. Many craters and calderas dot the landscape surrounding them, as do cinder cones and lava domes.
The large volcanic complex is fascinating to explore, and the summit of Puyehue is the most recognizable landmark. In addition to all this, there are wonderful opportunities for hiking, rock climbing, and skiing in the park’s surrounding areas, not to mention the lush woods and bubbling hot springs.
6. Lonquimay
A stunning view of Río Cautín and Volcán Lonquimay in Malalcahuello, Chile. Image source: Claudiography/Shutterstock.com
Lonquimay is located in a beautiful part of Malalcahuello National Reserve, with views of the surrounding slopes and farms. The snow-capped stratovolcano rises to a height of 2,865 meters, making it a prominent feature in the landscape. Its crater is particularly impressive.
When a new vent, appropriately named Christmas Crater, opened on Christmas Day in 1988, it erupted suddenly for the final time. People from all over the world go to Lonquimay to enjoy skiing, hiking, and rock climbing. Up to 14 volcanoes may be seen jutting up against the sky on a clear day.
5. Ojos del Salado
the stunning view of the Ojos del Salado volcano in the Atacama Desert, Chile. Image source: DaryaU/Shutterstock.com
Ojos del Salado, the highest active volcano in the world, is located on the boundary between Chile and Argentina. Its staggering height of 6,893 meters also makes it the second-highest mountain in all of America, after Argentina’s Aconcagua.
Located so close to the Atacama Desert, everything that can be seen in the area, except ancient lava fields and scorching fumaroles, makes for a bleak and barren backdrop. The Spanish name for this mountain means “Snowy Saline Eyes” because of the snow that covers its summits in the winter and the salty lakes that dot its barren slopes. One of the most impressive volcanoes in the Andes, Ojos del Salado, is a sight to see.
4. Llaima
the picturesque view of Llaima volcano in Conguillio National Park, Chile. Image source: Henner Damke/Shutterstock.com
Conguillo National Park is dominated by Volcan Llaima, one of the biggest and most active volcanoes in the country, which has two glistening snow-capped summits. The snowy cone atop its summit is 3,125 meters high, whereas Pichillaima, its lower and less impressive peak, is just 2,920 meters.
However, from either one, you can take in breathtaking vistas of the Sierra Nevada stratovolcano and Conguillo Lake. Llaima is a beautiful place to hike, despite the fact that its slopes are very barren owing to the volcano’s repeated eruptions. There are several deep valleys and ravines in the area, as well as many sparkling rivers and lakes.
3. Calbuco
the massive Calbuco volcano located near Puerto Varas in Chile. Image source: SL-Photography/Shutterstock.com
The massive Volcan Calbuco is awe-inspiring to see, as it looms above Lake Llanquihue, Chapo Lake, and the communities of Puerto Varas and Puerto Montt. The enormous stratovolcano in Llanquihue National Reserve has many summits, the largest of which is 2,015 meters high.
There are several hiking routes and walkways that weave their way up the volcanic scree slopes of a big and impressive-looking crater in the center of this area. Calbuco’s foothills are covered in beautiful woods and flower-filled meadows, in stark contrast to its desolate, lava-scarred top reaches. Those who make the trek to the peak are rewarded with stunning panoramas of the Chilean Lake District and the majestic Volcan Osorno.
2. Osorno Volcano
the stunning view of Osorno volcano and Llanquihue Lake in Chile. Image source: Sabine Hortebusch/Shutterstock.com
Volcan Osorno is one of Chile’s most well-known geographical features, and it’s often been likened to Japan’s most well-known mountain, Mount Fuji. Its snow-covered cone reaches 2,652 meters, and its top slopes are covered with beautiful glaciers.
Located in the middle of the Chilean Lake District, the beautiful stratovolcano towers above the glistening waters of Todos los Santos Lake and the opposite end of Llanquihue Lake. The volcano is one of the most active in the southern Chilean Andes, despite its seemingly peaceful appearance.
Osorno is surrounded by stunning landscapes on all sides, so there are plenty of opportunities to take in the sights and engage in a variety of enjoyable leisure pursuits on its mild slopes.
1. Villarrica Volcano
the scenic view of Villarrica volcano in Chile Patagonia. Image source: Vaclav Sebek/Shutterstock.com
Volcan Villarrica, always blanketed in snow and ice, makes a striking contrast with the surrounding landscape and the clear blue sky. The mountain, which is 2,860 meters tall, can be found in a beautiful national park and towers over the nearby Lake Villarrica and the city of the same name, which is a major tourist attraction.
Its beautiful natural surroundings and wide variety of outdoor pursuits make this park and volcano an attractive destination. The major attraction is the snowy cone of Volcan Villarrica, which conceals a lava lake in its crater and serves as the island’s highest point.
Verdant woods cover its lower slopes, and the mountain is peppered with volcanic caves and cinder cones. Villarrica is unquestionably one of the most spectacular volcanoes in all of Chile, and it is also a fantastic site for going hiking, skiing, or snowboarding.
