The Laguna del Maule volcanic field straddles the Chilean-Argentine frontier, with most of the complex on the Chilean side. The locality belongs to the Maule Region, of Talca province in the Andes mountain range; it is close to the confluence of the Maule and Campanario rivers in the Maule valley. The city of Talca lies about west. The Argentine section of the field is in the Mendoza and Neuquén provinces, and the city of Malargüe is located about east from the volcanic field. Highway 115 passes through the northern part of the volcanic field, and the Paso Pehuenche mountain pass is a few kilometres northeast of the lake; the region is otherwise sparsely inhabited and economic activity is limited to oil prospecting, pastures and tourism.