Temuco is a commercial center of 263,000 people (2012) for Southern Chile. Temuco's central place in Araucanía with easy access to the Andean valleys, lakes and coastal areas makes it a hub for tourism, agricultural, livestock and forestry operations, but itself has little to offer the tourist.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
Temuco sits in a valley in the center-south of Chile, equidistant between the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Andes to the east. The city is surrounded by a landscape typical to central-southern Chile, consisting mostly of plantations of exotic species used in forestry along with prairies. Because burning wood is the primary source of heat during the cold months in Temuco, air pollution is a recurrent problem during autumn and winter. Air quality in Temuco is the third lowest in Chile. Temuco is home to two large universities, and Nobel Poets Gabriela Mistral and Pablo Neruda lived in Temuco for some time. Temuco is known as "La ciudad del deporte", the city of sports.
Near to city center there is an inter-rural bus station. Temuco is connected with almost every town in the Araucania region and schedules are well known by locals and these are available in the places where you buy tickets. There are also private bus companies that have their own bus stations. For example "Buses Jac" offers regular trips to Pucón, Villarrica, Lican Ray, etc. Buses and collective taxis are the most popular modes of mass transit. The bus fare is 150 pesos for students and 700 pesos for adults; the colectivos charge 500 pesos (650 pesos at night).
1 Pablo Neruda National Railway Museum, Av. Barros Arana 565, between Valparaíso and Bascuñán, ☏ +56 45 973940. Cerro Ñielol: The Ñielol Hill houses the original temperate forest at this latitude in southern Chile as it was before the Spanish people colonised it. It has also a special meaning for the Mapuche people living in the Region, housing near the top a ceremonial area called La Patagua. We can also find a restaurant at the top of the Hill and a viewpoint of the east side of the city and Padre Las Casas, across the river. It is easily accessed by foot or car. The Southern Andean Volcano Observatory has its office there. Feria Pinto: One of the most traditional places in the city.
1 Deportes Temuco, Av. Pablo Neruda 1110. The local football (soccer) team and its women's team play at the German Becker stadium. (updated May 2021)
Restaurante Rapa Nui, (on Aldunate near the central market). This local favorite has the best Churrascos and Completos and Chilean "family food" in town. It is always very clean, and service is prompt, and the prices always reasonable. Ask any local in Temuco for "Rapa Nui" and they'll get you there. Restaurante Las Tranqueras, (in front of the Hotel Dreams). It's expensive but has good food.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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