Tucapel is a town and commune located in the Bío Bío Province of the Bío Bío Region in Chile. Historically, it was part of the Araucanía region and formerly belonged to the Yungay Department within the Ñuble Province. The name Tucapel is derived from the Tucapel River and also refers to a famous leader from the region who participated in the initial resistance against Spanish forces during the Arauco War.
The commune's administrative capital is the town of Huépil, which became the seat of the municipality in 1967, moving it from Tucapel. In Mapudungun, the name Huépil translates to "to seize or to take by force." A notable local landmark near the town of Tucapel is the Plaza de San Diego de Tucapel.