Eight lifts up a volcano, above the araucaria forest
Yes. Start on the carpet and the Escuelita tow at Zorro con Botas, where the ski school and rental are, then move to the long, wide runs back to the base. More than half the mapped run length is easy.
From late June or early July into October, depending on the snow; in 2026 it ran from 23 June to 11 October. The busiest days fall mostly in the second half of July.
By car, about 120 km on Route 181 through Curacautín and Malalcahuello, roughly two hours, with chains in winter. Buses run from Temuco as far as Malalcahuello, 15 km below the lifts.
Yes, in marked freeride zones beside the pistes. Some are patrolled and some are not; go into the unpatrolled ones only with avalanche gear and someone who knows the slope.
Pick a weekday away from the resort's own peak days in July, carry chains in the car, and check the lift status before you drive up: after a storm, only the lower lifts may be running.
Map data: OpenStreetMap.
The volcano. Every lift climbs the southern flank of Lonquimay, a cone of 2,865 metres, and the summit stands straight above the top of the Cumbre tow.
The forest. The hotel and the lower runs sit among old araucaria, the monkey puzzle trees of the Malalcahuello reserve, so the drive up and the first lift run through them.
The room to roam. Marked freeride zones lie on both sides of the pistes, and strong skiers climb to the crater, about three hours on skins, for a view of seven volcanoes.
Check the lift status page before you leave Malalcahuello. After a storm the lower drag lifts open first, and the chairs can take until late morning; skiers have waited half an hour at a closed chair for it to start.
Beginners start on the carpet and the Escuelita tow at Zorro con Botas. Intermediates spend most of the day on the long runs off the Volcán Express, a fast quad chair.
Experts go to the freeride zones, and only with avalanche gear in the ones marked as unpatrolled. Some runs can be kept for race training until noon, so read the board at the base.
Stay at the Hotel Corralco if the skiing is the trip: it sits at the foot of the runs, with a spa and a heated pool. Stay in Malalcahuello, a short drive down, for cabins by the river and the hot springs, and drive up each morning with chains in the car.
The season opens in late June or early July and runs into October; in 2026 it opened on 23 June and closes on 11 October. The resort's own peak days fall mostly in the second half of July, with a weekend in mid-August and 18 to 19 September; a weekday in August or September is the quiet choice.
Where to base yourself, and what to do on a day off the slopes
The town on Route 181 below the mountain, with Conguillío and its araucaria lakes to the south.
The araucaria reserve the resort sits in, with trails from the village in summer.
Indoor thermal pools on the Cautín river, open to day visitors.
The official pages this guide was checked against.
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