The second stop during our trip was at Termas Geométricas (geometrical thermal waters), a colorful place.
They are located in the Parque Nacional Villarica Sur, which is south of the Villarica volcano that heats water pockets, converting them into thermal water springs.
The owner took advantage of a small creek in which there are multiple springs of thermal water. Each spring has a small pool constructed, having all different temperatures which are marked on signs at the entrance of each pool.
The emanating water at 80º Celsius (176 Fahrenheit) is mixed with cold water from the creek lowering it by less than half. However some are very hot, and a warning is made.
To avoid damaging the environment, the architect Germán del Sol designed elevated wooden corridors that take you between the 20 pools along 450 meters (1500 feet), generating the geometric form that gives its name.
At the entrance you show your reservation confirmation, or you can pay directly if there is still capacity. Prices vary based at the time you enter the resort; earlier entrance has a higher price than late afternoon. Children under 3 years old do not pay, older pay full ticket. Irrespective of your entrance hour you can stay until the end of the day 10PM.
If you do not arrive on time to your reserved entrance time, you will not be able to enter losing the long ride.
There will be a refund if you inform 48 hours prior to your visit. However I would recommend reviewing their policy on the webpage http://www.termasgeometricas.cl as when I visited a 40 days ago there was no refund if you did not attend the given date, you could only use the ticket changing it for another day within a year.
If the location is marked in Quarantine (Phase 1 for Chile), you will get 100% refund. It is important to check this on the webpage, as the indication of “closed” is not very big, and casually discovered it while searching some facts to write this post.
Lodging can be made at the town of Coñaripe or in the many cabins along the 19 kilometers (12 miles) road. The last few kilometers are dirt road, which can be slippery on a rainy day.
You need to take your own towels, however you can buy then at the entrance as we did, this is something that changed, as when I made the reservation one month earlier, towels were provided, but due to Covid the change the policy.
As you enter the resort through a wider part of the creek, you will see the strong green color of the large Nalca leaves (Gunnera Tinctoria) covering the creek and contrasting with the red painted corridors and constructions.
Almost all of the geometry points have a pool or small hut to change where you can leave your clothing on lockers that are provided. At the center there is a restaurant where you can eat superb pizzas as well as other items at reasonable prices (menu is on the webpage as well). You cannot enter with food, but they will allow to exit to the car parking so you can eat there and return later.
At the very far end there is a cold waterfall that people rush to enter after staying in the hot pools, I preferred to stay on the warm pools and watch them.
It is open all year, and guess that in winter with snow it can be a special experience.
This is a place worth visiting, the pizzas are also a must.
