Araucanía Region · Chile
Temuco travel guide
Temuco is a city in Araucanía Region, Chile, home to about 282,000 people.
- Best months
- December to March
- Nearest airport
- ZCO21 km · La Araucanía International Airport
- Currency
- CLPChilean peso
- Time zone
- America/Santiago
- Language
- Spanish
About
About Temuco
Temuco is a city and commune, capital of the Cautín Province and of the Araucanía Region in southern Chile. The city is located 670 kilometres (416 miles) south of Santiago.
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.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Temuco
See
- Pablo Neruda National Railway Museum
- Mercado Modelo
Do
- Deportes Temuco
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Temuco
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Temuco are December to March. January is the warmest month, with average highs of 24 °C; June is the wettest, with about 223 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Temuco: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is La Araucanía International Airport (ZCO), about 21 km from the city centre in a straight line; Pichoy Airport (ZAL, 110 km) is also within reach.
Getting in
Temuco is located 675 km from Santiago. The city has an inter-regional bus station called "Rodoviario" and an airport called "Manquehue Airport". It also has an inter-rural bus station near to city center. The city is connected to the rest of the country by the "Panamericana" or "Ruta 5" highway. From Santiago there are many bus companies that offer different levels of transportation service. Long-haul buses run from the Terminal Rodoviario de la Araucania, at the northern approach to town.
Getting around
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. 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). Regular taxis are also available.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
ZCO · La Araucanía International Airport
ZAL · Pichoy Airport
Questions
Temuco: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Temuco?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Temuco are December to March. January is the warmest month, with average highs of 24 °C; June is the wettest, with about 223 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Temuco?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is La Araucanía International Airport (ZCO), about 21 km from the city centre in a straight line; Pichoy Airport (ZAL, 110 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Temuco?
Chilean peso (CLP).
Nearby
Destinations near Temuco
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.