Volcanoes & araucaria:
a journey through time
IN PROGRESS - MORE INFO COMING SOON
Organizing an amazing hiking expedition (January / February 2026), to discover the less-known Maule and Araucania regions of Chile.
We’ll embark on multiday hikes along unmarked routes, sleeping in the wilderness. Whether pitching our tents on volcanic sand or beneath the ancient branches of Araucaria trees, we’ll be fully immersed in nature. Along the way, we’ll share moments with local communities, listening to their stories and learning from their wisdom.
Brief itinerary:
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Erosion caused by volcanic eruptions, glacial history, high altitude, and winds has significantly shaped the landscape surrounding Volcan Descabezado (the beheaded volcano). Lakes and rivers bring life to this barren landscape. Vivid flowers grow around the creeks, and wild horses roam the surrounding oases.
WHAT TO EXPECT:5-6 day long trek starting in Parque Nacional Radal Siete Tazas, passing the arid volcanic landscapes, blue lakes and green oases, ending in beech forests of Reserva Nacional Altos de Lircay
optional: summiting a 3.830 m high Volcan Descabezado
2-day stay at Refugio Biota Maule within the national reserve, immersing into the surrounding ecosystems with local biologists and ecologists, including half-day volunteering
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Volcan Sullipulli is a 2.282 m high volcano with a giant 4-km wide caldera filled with a glacier up to 640 m deep. Surrounding landscapes are full of Araucaria trees, moss-filled forests and vulcanic rocks.
WHAT TO EXPECT:spending the night under the majestic volcano
day hike to the volcanic crater, learning about ecosystems within different altitude levels and admiring the breathtaking views
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Araucaria is an imposing conifer tree species that dates back 240 million years ago, deep into the time of the dinosaurs. It is also the most important food source for pehuence - an indigenous group that lives in the region we will hike through.
WHAT DO EXPECT:5-6 days long trek under the majestic branches of Araucaria passing the snow-peaked volcanos (Villarica and Conguillo National Park)
optional: summiting Volcan Villarica (2,860 m) or Quetrupillán (2.360 m)
2-day cultural immersion within the local community (gauchos or Pehuenche), including half-day volunteering
*NOTE: You do need to be fit and capable of walking multiday with a backpack weighting about 15 kg.
A Visual Journey
Some photographs are courtesy of @hey_nature
Previous experiences in different places
I met Anze while travelling in New Zealand and, without him, I wouldn't have done half of my most memorable adventures there. He doesn't only have great adventure ideas, he loves planning them and is visibly passionate about nature and mountains, which is the perfect combination for adventure seekers. Climbing mountains and volcanoes, multi-day hikes, and interacting with locals, he does it all and is the best at it. Together we summited several volcanoes and completed several multi-day hiking trips over mountain passes, summiting more peaks along the way.
Jean-Michel (Canada)
Hiking with Anže on Alta via 1 in Italian Dolomites was a great experience. Everything was well organized. Anže is very communicative and knows his whereabouts. We felt safe and he had his coordinates straight all the time, plus he had ideas about additional hikes, like photographing sunrises and so on. He has a strong pace though, so we told him to take it down a notch, but that is just his enthusiasm toward nature. There are no impossible paths for this guy. Conclusion: He was very well prepared so I highly recommend his adventures. Thank you Anže.
Rok (Slovenia)
Anže took me on an amazing week-long hiking adventure through Nelson Lakes National Park in New Zealand. He was a fantastic guide—enthusiastic, well-organized, and ensuring everything ran smoothly. Always professional and well-prepared for any changes, he made the trip feel safe and seamless. At the same time, he was super knowledgeable and friendly, which made the experience even more enjoyable. I highly recommend him and look forward to another hiking trip with Anže as my guide!
Sandra (UK)
Interested?
Would you like to experience diverse nature and immerse yourself in the local culture of the Maule and Araucania regions of Chile? Are you excited to join an amazing team on a hiking expedition? Are you ready to create memories that will last a lifetime?
Please fill out the non-binding form below to show your interest and I will update you with the latest news!