Unforeseen Ways of Change
In the 1990s, the Chilean government paved the Pucón-Caburgua road and installed running water, electricity, and telephone service. As tourists began exploring the lake's beauty, some residents built cabins, rented rooms, and leased houses. Farmers sold vacationers fruit, vegetables, and meat. With its sandy beaches and surrounding mountains, the lake became popular with swimmers and boaters.
Gradually, tourists acquired property. Land tenure patterns changed. An ambitious real estate venture failed, but others later succeeded. Two Chilean presidents built summer homes by the lake. As a symbol of this progress, the government designed an attractive new school.