# Melipeuco Commune, Cautín Province, La Araucanía Region

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/chile/la-araucania/cautin/melipeuco/

Commune · Cautín Province 

# Melipeuco

Melipeuco is a commune of Chile in Cautín Province, La Araucanía Region. It had an estimated **6,297 people** in 2022 on 1,108 km² (about 5.7 per km²). 54 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 56 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 6,297people (2022)
- 1,108km²
- 56mapped services
- 624 mtypical elevation

## How many people live in Melipeuco?

Melipeuco had an estimated **6,297 people** in 2022 — 0.8% of Cautín Province, 295th of 345 communes. There are 1,017 women for every 1,000 men (below the Cautín Province figure of 1,048). Spread over 1,108 km², that is about **5.7 people per km²**, 289th of 345 communes.

18.6% of people are children under 15 and 20.2% are 65 or older; the median age is about 42 years (it is 37 across Cautín Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 63 children and older people.

0–4 ****323**

5–9 ****427**

10–14 ****419**

15–19 ****351**

20–24 ****328**

25–29 ****369**

30–34 ****407**

35–39 ****363**

40–44 ****409**

45–49 ****419**

50–54 ****398**

55–59 ****431**

60–64 ****380**

65–69 ****392**

70–74 ****308**

75–79 ****242**

80+ ****331**

Source: [UNFPA and Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas de Chile (INE) via OCHA HDX, population 2022 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-chl).

## Where is Melipeuco?

Melipeuco lies in [Cautín Province](https://wherepedia.org/chile/la-araucania/cautin/), [La Araucanía Region](https://wherepedia.org/chile/la-araucania/), [Chile](https://wherepedia.org/chile/). It borders 5 other communes: [Cunco](https://wherepedia.org/chile/la-araucania/cautin/cunco/), [Curacautín](https://wherepedia.org/chile/la-araucania/malleco/curacautin/), [Curarrehue](https://wherepedia.org/chile/la-araucania/cautin/curarrehue/), [Lonquimay](https://wherepedia.org/chile/la-araucania/malleco/lonquimay/) and [Vilcún](https://wherepedia.org/chile/la-araucania/cautin/vilcun/). By area it is the 128th largest of 345 communes in Chile. It covers 6.0% of [Cautín Province](https://wherepedia.org/chile/la-araucania/cautin/). The centre of Melipeuco is about 601 km in a straight line from Santiago, the capital. It is about 87 km from Temuco, the main town of Cautín Province. The centre point is at 38.8031° S, 71.6029° W.

Source: [La Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile (BCN) via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-chl).

## Things to see in and around Melipeuco

OpenStreetMap lists 45 named sights in Melipeuco: 21 viewpoints; 8 attractions; 7 waterfalls; 4 nature reserves; 2 beachs; 1 volcano; 1 museum; 1 hot spring.

- Museo Histórico de Melipeuco · museum
- Cascada Chufquén · waterfall
- Cascada Las Tepas · waterfall
- Cascada Trayenko El Canelo · waterfall
- Salto Alpehue · waterfall
- Salto Pichi Truful Truful · waterfall
- Velo de la novia · waterfall
- chufquen · waterfall
- Conguillío National Park · nature reserve
- Parque Natural Nevados de Sollipulli · nature reserve
- Reserva Nacional China Muerta · nature reserve
- Reserva Nasampulli · nature reserve
- Playa Curacautín · beach
- Playa Linda · beach
- Cascada Truful Truful · viewpoint
- Cascadas Truful Truful · viewpoint
- Colada de Lava de 1751 · viewpoint
- Las Mellizas · viewpoint
- Lavas Cordadas de Pangueco · viewpoint
- Mirador Cascada · viewpoint
- Mirador Chufquén · viewpoint
- Mirador Conguillío · viewpoint
- Mirador Lago Arcoiris · viewpoint
- Mirador Los Cóndores · viewpoint
- Mirador Nevados de Sullipulli · viewpoint
- Mirador Pangueco · viewpoint
- Mirador Sendero Huella del Puma · viewpoint
- Mirador Sierra Nevada · viewpoint
- Mirador Volcán Llaima reflejado en el Lago Conguillío · viewpoint
- Mirador de Legnay · viewpoint

…and 15 more.

### Nearby, outside Melipeuco

- Volcán Llaima · volcano, Vilcún16 km
- Cascada Tiniento · waterfall, Lonquimay18 km
- Salto Tiriento · waterfall, Lonquimay19 km

Source: [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed.

## Know before you go: Melipeuco

- Time zoneUTC−3 (summer UTC−4) · America/Santiago
- CurrencyPeso (CLP)
- Country calling code+56
- LanguagesSpanish
- Plug typesType C, L · 220 V
- Driving sideRight
- Postcode format7 digits (#######)

### Nearest airports

- Pucón Airport (ZPC) · Pucon61 km
- La Araucanía International Airport (ZCO) · Temuco92 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 14.9 hours, sunrise around 06:15) and shortest in Jun (about 9.5 hours, sunrise around 09:02, sunset around 18:30).

Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/).

Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling.

## Villages and localities in Melipeuco

Open gazetteers list **54 villages, towns and localities** in Melipeuco. The largest with a recorded population: Melipeuco (2,733). Settlements here lie between about 417 m and 1,442 m above sea level (median 624 m).

- Asentamiento Molulco
- Baños de Balboa
- Cabeza de Indio
- Carén
- Carén Alto
- Casablanca
- Cherquén
- Comunidad Andrés Huenupi
- Comunidad Antonio Huilipán
- Comunidad Cayumán Painenao
- Comunidad Esteban Romero
- Comunidad Esteban Traipe
- Comunidad Esteban Traipe Oriente
- Comunidad Esteban Trecamán
- Comunidad Francisco Huenchumil
- Comunidad Francisco Ovando
- Comunidad Hilario Lienlaf
- Comunidad Juan Bautista Huichapán
- Comunidad Juan Caniulaf
- Comunidad Juan Huenchumán
- Comunidad Juan José Ayenao
- Comunidad Juan Meli
- Comunidad Juanico Lepín
- Comunidad Lefiñir
- Comunidad Mariano Melillán
- Comunidad Mauricio Montiel
- Comunidad Melivilu Melirayén
- Comunidad Nicolás Huenchumán Dos
- Comunidad Tranol Alonso
- Coyamento
- Coyamento Chico
- El Canelo
- El Manzano
- El Membrillo Bajo
- Escorial
- Huallerupe Alto
- Huechelepún
- Loncotriuque
- Los Copihues
- Melipeuco
- Molulco
- Paile Paile
- Reducción Huichapán
- Reducción Llaima
- Reducción Palihuepillán
- Rumiñano
- Salhuelhue
- Santa María
- Santa María de Llaima
- Termas de Balboa
- Tracura
- Tracura Alto
- Viluco
- Zahuelhue

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

## Landscape and landmarks of Melipeuco

Named natural and historic features inside Melipeuco, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

34 rivers and streams; 2 lakes.

- Estero Cabrero
- Estero Canelos
- Estero Chufquenpalemo
- Estero El Banco
- Estero El Canelo
- Estero El Membrillo
- Estero Folilco
- Estero Huechulepún
- Estero Loncovaca
- Estero Mapocho
- Estero Molulco
- Estero Pallanilahue
- Estero Pichillaima
- Estero Pichitracura
- Estero Quenuco
- Estero Tiuque
- Lago Conguillio
- Laguna Quililo
- Río Alpehué
- Río Cantuco
- Río Carilafquén
- Río Carén
- Río Catrilelfú
- Río Cherquén

…and 12 more.

### Hills and mountains

13 mountains; 1 hill.

- Nevado de Sollipulli · 2,098 m
- Cerro Coyán · 1,863 m
- Cerro Cóndor · 1,833 m
- Cerro Peñón · 1,776 m
- Cerro Treguamahuida · 1,754 m
- Cerro Treupillan · 1,699 m
- Cerro Lallán · 1,644 m
- Cerro Allillonco · 1,641 m
- Cerro Pangueco · 1,617 m
- Cerro Campanamahuida · 1,595 m
- Cerro Loncotiuque · 1,543 m
- Cerro Cheñe · 1,357 m
- Cerro Negro · 1,239 m
- Conillio · 1,207 m

### Forests and nature

2 parks; 1 nature reserve.

- Conguillio National Park
- Parque Nacional Los Paraguas
- Reserva Nacional Conguillío

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in Melipeuco and the best time to visit

Using the climate of Cautín Province, the warmest month is Feb (average 14 °C) and the coolest is Jul (4 °C), after allowing for this place being about 414 m higher than the climate reference point (about 6.5 °C per 1,000 m). About 1,073 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jun (182 mm) and the driest Jan (30 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **December to March**.

- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 14 30 

Feb 14 31 

Mar 12 48 

Apr 9 74 

May 6 130 

Jun 4 182 

Jul 4 162 

Aug 4 139 

Sep 6 88 

Oct 8 83 

Nov 10 61 

Dec 12 46 

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Melipeuco

Need Nearest mapped Distance 

Bank Banco Estado · Melipeuco 10 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-38.85499&mlon=-71.70084#map=17/-38.85499/-71.70084) 

Petrol pump YPF · Melipeuco 8.5 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-38.84959&mlon=-71.68060#map=17/-38.84959/-71.68060) 

Hotel Hospedaje Familiar Nicomacc · Melipeuco 3.9 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-38.83387&mlon=-71.62347#map=17/-38.83387/-71.62347) 

School Escuela Particular Carén · Melipeuco 6.2 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-38.84343&mlon=-71.55387#map=17/-38.84343/-71.55387) 

Police station Retén Melipeuco · Melipeuco 10 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-38.85528&mlon=-71.70091#map=17/-38.85528/-71.70091) 

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Straight-line distance from the centre of the division, within 40 km.

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Melipeuco

Places mapped inside Melipeuco in open map data, by type.

- Banks1
- Petrol pumps2
- Hotels25
- Schools9
- Pharmacies1
- Restaurants16
- Police stations1
- Dental clinics1

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Other communes in Cautín Province

- Carahue
- Cholchol
- Cunco
- Curarrehue
- Freire
- Galvarino
- Gorbea
- Lautaro
- Loncoche
- Nueva Imperial
- Padre Las Casas
- Perquenco
- Pitrufquén
- Pucón
- Saavedra
- Temuco
- Teodoro Schmidt
- Toltén
- Vilcún
- Villarrica

## Quick answers

- Where is Melipeuco?In Cautín Province, La Araucanía Region, Chile
- What is the population of Melipeuco?6,297 (2022 estimate)
- What is the median age in Melipeuco?About 42 years (2022 estimate)
- What is the population density of Melipeuco?About 5.7 people per km²
- What borders Melipeuco?Cunco, Curacautín, Curarrehue, Lonquimay and Vilcún
- What is there to see in Melipeuco?Araucaria Madre Milenaria, Casa del Colono, Cascada Chufquén, Cascada Las Tepas
- What time zone is Melipeuco in?UTC−3 (summer UTC−4)
- What currency is used in Melipeuco?Peso (CLP)
- What language is spoken in Melipeuco?Spanish (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Melipeuco?54 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Melipeuco?Settlements lie between 417 m and 1,442 m
- What is the highest point in Melipeuco?Nevado de Sollipulli (2,098 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Melipeuco?December to March
- Where is the nearest bank to Melipeuco?Banco Estado, about 10 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to Melipeuco?YPF, about 8.5 km from the centre
- How many banks are in Melipeuco?1 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Melipeuco?2 mapped
- What is the P-code of Melipeuco?CL09110 (OCHA common operational dataset)