Playa Blanca and Playa Negra on Caburgua Lake

Caburgua Lake lies 23 km northeast of Pucón and covers about 52 km² (source: Wikipedia, "Caburgua Lake"). Its two most visited beaches are named after the color of their sand: Playa Blanca ("white beach"), with light sand, and Playa Negra ("black beach"), with dark sand, a few meters further along the shore (source: Interpatagonia, "Lago Caburgua, placer estival"). Here is how to get there, what each beach is like and the Maritime Authority's swimming rules.

Getting there from Pucón

• By car: take the road to Caburgua, which leaves Pucón heading northeast; it is about 25 km from downtown (source: Interpatagonia). On the way you pass the turn-off to Ojos del Caburgua, on the left in the Carhuello area, about 15 km according to Interpatagonia and 21 km according to Pucón Tourism (puconchile.travel).
• By bus: we found no official timetable. A local guide says the company Buses Caburgua runs minibuses between Pucón and Caburgua (source: El Camino Pucón, "Caburgua 2026", October 6, 2026). Check timetables and the departure point in Pucón before you go, especially the last bus back. More options in Getting around Araucanía without a car.
• By bike: Pucón Municipality mentions cycling as a way to reach Ojos del Caburgua, on the same road (source: Pucón Municipality tourist guide). We found no official source on a bike lane to the lake, so expect to share the road with traffic.
• Not in Pucón yet? See How to get to Pucón.

Access and parking

• Pedestrian access to Playa Blanca: in November 2025 the municipality finished a paved walkway about 66 m long and 2.30 m wide on the path down to the beach. It is the first of at least three stages, and the mayor described it as the beach's only public access (source: Pucón Municipality, November 25, 2025).
• The beach belongs to everyone: permits granted by the Maritime Authority on these beaches give no ownership of the land and require free public access, with no charges, fences or barriers (source: Lago Villarrica Harbor Master, rules for minor permits, summer 2025-2026).
• Parking: we found no official information. A local guide says nearby parking lots are mostly private and charge by the day, and asks visitors not to park on the road shoulder (source: El Camino Pucón, October 6, 2026).
• No cars on the sand: vehicles are banned from river and lake beaches (source: Ministerial Order No. 2 of 1998, cited in the Lago Villarrica Harbor Master's rules).

What each beach is like

• Playa Blanca: light sand. For 2026-2027 the Harbor Master offers five swimming areas (green) of about 90 m, plus an area of about 20 m for renting non-motorized boats; in 2025-2026 there were two swimming areas (source: Lago Villarrica Harbor Master, 2026-2027 rules, July 6, 2026).
• Playa Negra: dark sand; you reach it on a path running parallel to the shore, and it is usually quieter (source: Interpatagonia). It has four swimming areas of about 100 m, areas for renting non-motorized boats and others for motorized boat activities (source: Lago Villarrica Harbor Master, 2026-2027 rules, unchanged from 2025-2026).
• The landscape: the lake fills a glacial valley that was dammed by lava flows from the Caburgua volcanoes (source: Wikipedia).
• The water: Interpatagonia describes it as warm and clear; we found no official measurement of its temperature.

Safety and rules

• Green flag and lifeguards: Villarrica's harbor master asked visitors to use only approved beaches with lifeguards and a green flag; wear a life jacket for kayaking or stand up paddle, and a helmet on a jet ski (source: Villarrica Harbor Master, quoted by Megatiempo, January 4, 2026).
• Approval changes during the season: on December 26, 2025, the Navy's list had no approved beaches in La Araucanía (source: Emol, December 26, 2025); by January 4, 2026, Playa Blanca and Playa Negra were listed as available (source: Megatiempo). Check the flag when you arrive.
• Lifeguards: whoever runs a swimming area under a Maritime Authority permit must have lifeguards certified by that authority (source: Lago Villarrica Harbor Master, 2025-2026 rules).
• Fires, tents and alcohol: those in charge of each area must report vehicles on the beach, drinking, picnics with fires or camping to the Maritime Authority, the police (Carabineros) or municipal inspectors (same source).
• Pets: we found no official rule on pets at these beaches; ask Pucón Municipality.

Season and lake level

• Beach permits for the 2025-2026 season ended on March 15, 2026, and those for 2026-2027 run from December 1, 2026 to March 15, 2027 (source: Lago Villarrica Harbor Master, 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 rules). See more ideas for summer.
• The lake level varies: in 2024 the water advanced more than 350 m from its lowest records, according to the Vigilantes del Lago group, and in early 2026 residents warned of a new drop, with strips of sand exposed again (source: El Desconcierto, June 21, 2026). The shoreline may look different from one summer to the next.

Nearby

• Ojos del Caburgua: turquoise pools on the same road from Pucón.
• Huerquehue National Park: 35 km from Pucón along the Caburgua road (source: Sernatur, chile.travel). Guide: How to get to Huerquehue National Park.

Information reviewed on October 15, 2026. Swimming areas, bus timetables and conditions change every season: confirm them with the Lago Villarrica Harbor Master and Pucón Municipality before you go.