Permits
CONAF Rules: Permits, Guides and Park Fees
You cannot legally walk up Villarrica alone unless you hold accredited mountaineering credentials. How CONAF's permit system works.
Check dates and availability ↗Villarrica ascent — permits and fees. CONAF rates published for 2026; confirm current prices at pasesparques.cl before you travel.
| Item | Chilean visitor | Foreign visitor | Where to arrange it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry — adult (18+) | Resident rate — see pasesparques.cl | Higher non-resident rate — see pasesparques.cl | pasesparques.cl, in advance |
| Park entry — adolescent (12–17) | Resident rate — see pasesparques.cl | Higher non-resident rate — see pasesparques.cl | pasesparques.cl, in advance |
| Park entry — child under 12 | Free (confirm) | Free | Still counted at the gate |
| Summit-ascent pass | Separate charge — see pasesparques.cl | Separate charge — see pasesparques.cl | pasesparques.cl — event 'Ascensiones Volcán Villarrica' |
| Guided ascent with gear and transfer | Set by the operator — get a quote when you book | Set by the operator — get a quote when you book | Pucón operator, or book online in advance |
| Chairlift ride (optional) | CLP 17,000–20,000 | CLP 17,000–20,000 | Pay at the ski centre on the day |
Why a guide is effectively compulsory
CONAF authorises the summit ascent for three categories only: registered tour operators, athletes holding current FEACH mountaineering-federation credentials, and mountaineers with demonstrable prior experience arranged by prior coordination with the park. There is no fourth category for a fit tourist who has read a blog. For the overwhelming majority of international visitors, a licensed Pucón operator is not an upsell but the legal route to the crater — and a sensible one on a glaciated, gas-emitting volcano where weather turns quickly.
Buying the right pass, before you arrive
Villarrica has two separate products in the national-park booking system, and buying the wrong one is a common mistake. General park entry admits you to the Rucapillán sector; it does not admit you to the summit. Anyone intending to reach the crater must buy a pass in advance through pasesparques.cl, selecting specifically the event Ascensiones Volcán Villarrica. Passes are not reliably available at the gate. Most operators handle this — but confirm explicitly, in writing, that both the ascent pass and park entry are included in your quoted price.
The 07:00 to 09:00 registration window
Registration is mandatory and must be completed in person at the CONAF control booth in the Rucapillán sector between 07:00 and 09:00. This is why guided climbs leave Pucón so early: miss the window and the day is over before it starts. Note this sits earlier than general park opening hours, which listings show as 08:30. CONAF also closes sectors on Mondays for scheduled maintenance, with published exceptions, so check the calendar for your specific date rather than assuming daily operation.
What park entry costs
CONAF sets national-park tariffs annually and, as across the Chilean park system, charges international visitors a higher rate than Chilean nationals; children under 12 enter free. The summit-ascent pass is a separate charge on top of general park entry, bought through the same pasesparques.cl portal. Rates are revised each season, so treat any figure you see elsewhere — including on this page — as out of date and confirm the current price on pasesparques.cl before you travel.
The rules that apply on the mountain
Three CONAF conditions matter most and all are enforceable. You must travel exclusively on the authorised official route for the entire activity — ascent, summit and descent. Time at the summit is capped at 30 minutes, which manages both gas exposure and a single-file route. And registration is per ascent, not per visit, so a weather-cancelled attempt means registering again on the new day. Guides also carry the authority to turn a group around, and on this volcano that decision is made frequently.
If you genuinely are an experienced mountaineer
Independent ascents are not impossible, but they are administrative rather than casual. CONAF's route is prior coordination by email with the park administration, presenting either current FEACH federation credentials or evidence of relevant prior experience. Expect to be asked for documentation rather than assurances, and expect the answer to depend on the volcano's alert status and conditions on your requested date. This is not a channel worth attempting from abroad a few days out.