How Many Volcanoes Does Chile Have?
Our database holds 79 volcanoes in Chile, of which 51 have a recorded eruption, plus about 29 more that straddle the Argentine and Bolivian frontiers. Chile's national geological survey, SERNAGEOMIN, takes a broader census: roughly 2,000 volcanic features nationwide, of which 92 are classed as active and 45 are watched in real time by the National Volcanic Surveillance Network (RNVV) as the highest-risk. By any measure, Chile is one of the most volcanically active countries on the planet — a rival to Indonesia and Japan for the title of most active volcanoes per country.
Why Chile Is a Volcanic Spine
Every Chilean volcano is built by the same engine: the Nazca Plate sliding beneath South America along the Peru–Chile Trench, part of the wider Pacific Ring of Fire. But the chain isn't continuous. Where the subducting slab dives at a normal angle, magma reaches the surface; where it flattens out (the "flat-slab" segment around 27–33°S), volcanism largely switches off. That splits Chile's volcanoes into three distinct belts:
- Central Volcanic Zone (CVZ)— the high, dry Atacama in the far north, home to the planet's tallest volcanoes, including Ojos del Salado, Llullaillaco and Láscar.
- Southern Volcanic Zone (SVZ)— the classic snow-and- lake volcanoes of the Lake District: Villarrica, Llaima, Osorno, Calbuco. This is where most of Chile's eruptions and its volcano tourism happen.
- Austral Volcanic Zone (AVZ) — the remote Patagonian volcanoes such as Cerro Hudson, whose 1991 VEI-6 eruption blanketed Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego in ash.
Most of these are andesitic stratovolcanoes — steep, explosive cones — though styles range from Villarrica's gentle lava lake to the sudden sub-Plinian blast that made Calbuco famous in 2015.
Chile's Major Volcanoes, With Eruption Data
These are the highest and most active volcanoes in our Chilean dataset, from the record-holding summits of the Atacama to the frequently erupting cones of the south. "Eruptions" counts confirmed events in the Smithsonian catalog — a good proxy for how restless each volcano has been.
| Volcano | Elevation | Type | Last Eruption | Eruptions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ojos del SaladoChile–ArgentinaThe highest volcano on Earth and the second-highest peak in the Americas. Fumarolic but not historically erupting. | 6,879 m | Stratovolcano | 750 CE | 2 |
| LlullaillacoChile–ArgentinaHolds the world's highest archaeological site — three frozen Inca mummies were found near its 6,739 m summit in 1999. | 6,739 m | Stratovolcano | 1877 CE | 3 |
| TupungatitoChile–ArgentinaA restless cluster of craters near Santiago; one of the capital region's closest active volcanoes. | 5,660 m | Stratovolcano | 1987 CE | 20 |
| LáscarThe most active volcano of the northern Atacama; its large 1993 eruption (VEI 4) was among Chile's biggest of the era. | 5,592 m | Stratovolcano | 2023 CE | 37 |
| MaipoChile–ArgentinaA young cone rising inside the older Diamante caldera in the high Andes east of Santiago. | 5,323 m | Caldera | 1912 CE | 13 |
| Planchón-PeteroaA frequently active complex on the central Andes border, with intermittent ash emissions into 2025. | 3,977 m | Stratovolcano(es) | 2025 CE | 25 |
| Nevados de ChillánA ski-resort volcano whose 2016–2022 dome-building eruption produced frequent explosions and lava. | 3,180 m | Stratovolcano | 2022 CE | 32 |
| LlaimaOne of Chile's largest and most active volcanoes; its 2008 eruption forced evacuations in Conguillío park. | 3,125 m | Stratovolcano | 2009 CE | 58 |
| CopahueChile–ArgentinaHolds an acidic crater lake; recurrent ash-and-gas activity kept it on alert into 2024. | 2,953 m | Stratovolcano | 2024 CE | 22 |
| VillarricaChile's most-erupted volcano (162 events in our data) and one of few on Earth with a persistent lava lake. Yellow alert, September 2026. | 2,847 m | Stratovolcano | 2025 CE | 162 |
| OsornoThe near-perfect snow-capped cone above Lake Llanquihue — Chile's Fuji, and a tourism icon of the Lake District. | 2,659 m | Stratovolcano | 1869 CE | 17 |
| CalbucoIts sudden April 2015 eruption produced a spectacular ash column and forced thousands to evacuate across southern Chile. | 1,974 m | Stratovolcano | 2015 CE | 36 |
| Cerro HudsonPatagonia's giant — its 1991 eruption reached VEI 6, the largest in Chile in the 20th century. | 1,905 m | Stratovolcano | 2011 CE | 15 |
Elevations, types, last-eruption dates and eruption-event counts computed from our Smithsonian GVP records. Border peaks are shared with Argentina or Bolivia. See the full picture on our biggest volcanoes ranking.
Ojos del Salado: The Highest Volcano on Earth
No volcano in our database sits higher than Ojos del Salado, which tops out at 6,879 m on the Chile–Argentina border in the Atacama. That makes it the highest volcano on the planet and the second-highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere after Aconcagua — which, notably, is not a volcano. The volcano is not extinct: it has active fumaroles and steaming ground high on the cone, but no confirmed major historical eruption (our records place its last dated activity around 750 CE). It ranks #1 by height in our biggest-volcanoes analysis, where we break down why "biggest" means different things by height, volume and footprint.
Villarrica: Chile's Restless Lava Lake (Yellow Alert, Sept 2026)
If Ojos del Salado is Chile's superlative, Villarrica is its heartbeat. With 162 recorded eruptions in our data, it is the most active volcano in the country, and one of only a handful worldwide to hold a persistent lava lake in its summit crater. In September 2026, SERNAGEOMIN raised Villarrica's alert to Yellow(level 2 of 4) after seismic and surface signals indicated the lava lake was rising toward the rim; SENAPRED issued an early-warning alert for Villarrica, Pucón, Curarrehue and Panguipulli. This is characteristic behaviour — Villarrica's past eruptions have repeatedly produced lava flows and lahars from melted summit snow, the same hazard that makes any escalation here a serious concern for the towns below.
Climb or Tour Chile's Volcanoes
Chile is one of the world's great volcano-travel destinations: the guided Villarrica summit climb from Pucón, high-altitude expeditions on Ojos del Salado, and Atacama tours past Láscar and the Lascar geysers. Status changes fast here — a Yellow alert can close a summit overnight — so check the current SERNAGEOMIN RNVV level and read our volcano hiking safety guide before booking.
Compare guided hikes, crater walks, and day trips near Villarrica Volcano from local operators in Chile.
VolcanoDB may earn a commission on bookings made through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Beyond Villarrica: Osorno, Calbuco and Patagonia
South of Villarrica, the Lake District strings together some of the most photogenic volcanoes anywhere. Osorno — a near-perfect snow cone over Lake Llanquihue — is Chile's answer to Mount Fuji and a tourism emblem, though it has been quiet since 1869. Calbuco is the opposite: it slept for over four decades, then in April 2015 erupted with almost no warning, throwing a towering ash column across southern Chile and Argentina and forcing thousands to evacuate. Farther south still, in Patagonia, Cerro Hudson produced Chile's largest eruption of the 20th century — a VEI 6 in 1991 that ranks among our largest volcanic eruptions.
Chile's volcanoes are best understood as one link in the Andean chain. The same subduction engine builds the volcanoes of Colombia, Mexico and Guatemala to the north, and you can watch which of them are restless today on our active volcanoes tracker or the interactive volcano map.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many volcanoes are in Chile?
Our database catalogs 79 volcanoes in Chile, 51 of them with a recorded eruption, plus roughly 29 more shared along the Argentine and Bolivian borders. Chile's national geological survey, SERNAGEOMIN, counts about 2,000 volcanic features in the country and lists 92 as active, monitoring 45 of the highest-risk ones in real time. That makes Chile home to one of the densest concentrations of active volcanoes on Earth.
What is the highest volcano in Chile?
Ojos del Salado, at 6,879 m on the Chile–Argentina border, is the highest volcano in Chile — and the highest volcano anywhere on Earth. It is also the second-highest peak in the Americas after Aconcagua (which is not a volcano). Llullaillaco (6,739 m) and Tupungatito (5,660 m) follow. Ojos del Salado has fumaroles but no confirmed historical eruption.
Which Chilean volcano is the most active?
Villarrica, above the resort town of Pucón, is Chile's most active volcano with 162 recorded eruptions in our database and one of the world's few persistent lava lakes. Llaima (58 eruptions) and Láscar (37) are close behind. In September 2026, SERNAGEOMIN raised Villarrica to Yellow alert after signs its lava lake was rising toward the surface.
Is any volcano erupting in Chile right now in 2026?
As of September 2026, Villarrica is at Yellow alert (level 2 of 4). SERNAGEOMIN reported seismic and surface changes consistent with the lava lake rising, and SENAPRED declared an early-warning alert for Villarrica, Pucón, Curarrehue and Panguipulli. Laguna del Maule, a large restless caldera, is also at Yellow. Neither is in a major eruption, but both are watched closely.
Can you climb Villarrica volcano?
In normal conditions, yes — a guided summit climb from Pucón is one of South America's classic volcano hikes, reaching the crater rim to peer at the glowing lava lake. Guides supply crampons, ice axes and gas masks, and the ascent takes 5–7 hours. Access is closed the moment SERNAGEOMIN raises the alert, so always check the current level before booking; the volcano was elevated to Yellow in September 2026.
Continue Exploring
Biggest Volcanoes
Why Ojos del Salado tops the height ranking — and what else 'biggest' can mean.
Villarrica Volcano
Full eruption history of Chile's restless lava lake.
Active Volcanoes Now
Which volcanoes are erupting around the world today.
Volcanoes in Colombia
The northern end of the same Andean volcanic chain.