Temuco

A rather unattractive city, Temuco (population 210,000), capital of the IX Region (La Araucania), has little of interest, but is a jump off point to Andean national parks and Mapuche villages. The town was founded in 1881, after a landmark treaty signed on Cerro Nielol between the Chilean government and the Mapuche. Today, the Mapuche presence is felt more strongly here than most southern cities, especially around the many markets. Be very circumspect about taking photographs, though, as people resent it. Temuco is 675krn south of Santiago.