1009 - The Lakes District of Patagonia

Crossing the Andes from Argentina to Chile by lake!
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Crossing the Andes by Lake, from Argentina to Chile!

If you`re looking to focalize your visit in the Lakes District, it`s a great tour for you. It`s a 6-night program that combines Bariloche in the argentinian side, with Puerto Varas in the chilean side. The program is focused in a beautiful area full of lakes, mountains and great forests. In Bariloche, you will enjoy Nahuel Huapi National Park, Victoria Island and Arrayanes National Park. You can add some great visits to Tronador Mount, San Martin de los Andes, or enjoy incredible adventure ativities like horseback ridings, rafting, canopy and more. To cross to Chile, we will take a combination of boats and buses in a great activity called Lakes Crossing. It`s a full day cross from Bariloche to Puerto Varas, visiting unique imposing landscapes and see condors! Then, you will arrive to  Puerto Varas, and from there you will visit Frutillar and Puerto Octay, and the incredible Chiloe Island, place full of history and beautiful landscapes.

Are you ready to enjoy the Lakes District of Patagonia in Argentina and Chile?

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Itinerary

Day 1

BARILOCHE: Arrival to the lakes district in Argentina

Welcome to Bariloche, gate to visit different national parks and amazing landscapes full of lakes, mountains and forests. Once in your hotel, you have free time to rest. There are some interesting optionals you can choose. Check below

Day 2

BARILOCHE: Boat navigation to Victoria Island and Arrayanes Nat Park

After breakfast, we will start a jorney to navigate the Nahuel Huapi Lake and enjoy two great attractions in the area: Victoria Island and Los Arrayanes National Park. We will start from your hotel in the morning, to go directly to Puerto Pañuelo, located in front of the amazing Llao Llao Hotel & Resort. We will embark in a modern catamaran to travel across the waters of Nahuel Huapi Lake towards Quetrihue Port, gate to arrive to our first visit, a forest full of trees called Arrayanes, and a formation called Los Arrayanes National Park with trees over 500 years old! You will enjoy this unique place in earth watching this beatiful tall myrtle tree forest while you walk along the island trails leading you through the ancient Arrayanes National Park. Our next stop is Victoria Island, so we will return to our boat to cross to Puerto Anchorena where you will explore different pathways to incredible natural viewpoints of the Nahuel Huapi National Park where you’ll be able to observe rare native species of flora and fauna. The island is very natural, full of green beautiful trees and typical humidity. After our visit, we will go back to our cathamaran to return to Puerto Pañuelo, and go back to your hotel in Bariloche.

Day 3

BARILOCHE: Choice of activities to do in the area

After breakfast, you have a free day to choose from many different activities available in the area. There are many options, like the visit to San Martin de los Andes via 7-lakes circuit, or the incredible visit to Tronador Mount. You also can visit El Bolson, local village to the south of Bariloche, or choose an adventure activity like a hourseback riding or a white water rafting. Check options available below!

Day 4

BARILOCHE to PUERTO VARAS: The Lakes Crossing!

After breakfast, we will start a wonderful trip to cross the Andes by lake! Yes, a combination of bus and ships to cross to Chile in the famous Lakes Crossing trip. A unique crossing, sailing through The Andes Mountains across three beautiful lakes that are connected by four overland legs, from San Carlos de Bariloche in Argentina to Puerto Varas in Chile. A journey that can be enjoyed on any day of the year, exploring the beauty of mountainous landscapes that take you through the most colorful region of the Patagonia. Arriving to Chile in just one day, you have the option of extending your trip to two days or more with accommodation at the midway point in Puella and/or Puerto Blest.

BARILOCHE – PUERTO PAÑUELO
8:00 – 10:00 En route, you’ll be marvelled by the beautiful Swiss-style architecture that characterizes the constructions of the area. Beautiful gardens and flowers color the landscapes all the way to Puerto Pañuelo.

PTO. PAÑUELO – BLEST
10:00 – 11:00 We’ll sail from Puerto Pañuelo to Puerto Blest aboard the Gran Victoria, navigating across Lake Nahuel Huapi. You’ll observe the grandeur of the landscapes, the green tones of the forests, the birds that fly close and you’ll learn more about the destination’s fascinating history. (Boarding tax is not included. US$3 approx).

BLEST – FRÍAS
11:00 – 12:00 Arrival to Puerto Blest. We travel by bus along River Frías to Puerto Alegre, and then continue the sailing trip across Lake Frías, aboard the Victoria del Sur. Along this stretch of the lake, we’ll experience beautiful views of Cerro Tronador. After a short sail, we’ll arrive to Puerto Frías where we will complete the necessary steps at the border.

FRÍAS – PEULLA
12:00 – 14:00 We’ll continue by bus to Peulla with beautiful views of the Andes Mountains.

ALMUERZO PEULLA
14:00 – 15:30 Arrival to Peulla, an ecological lodge and a paradise for nature lovers. Lunch (additional cost).

PEULLA – PETROHUE
15:30 – 17:30 We’ll sail to Petrohué, navigating across Lake Todos los Santos. If the weather permits, different and breathtaking views of the Osorno and Puntiagudo volcanoes and Cerro Tronador can be seen.
PETROHUE – PTO. VARAS
17:30 – 20:00 We’ll continue to Puerto Varas, passing by Lake Llanquihue. Impressive views of Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes dominate the landscape. Arrival to Puerto Varas.

Once in Puerto  Varas, transfer to your hotel and overnight.

Day 5

PUERTO VARAS: visiting Frutillar and Puerto Octay

After breakfast, we will enjoy a full day visit to Frutillar, a city and commune located in southern Chile in the Los Lagos Region. The bay of Frutillar is placed on the banks of Lake Llanquihue, the largest lake entirely within Chile. Frutillar is known as the “City of Music”. The village was founded by Vicente Pérez Rosales in 1856, after a period of clearing up the land and upon the arrival of German settlers from Hamburg in 1852 and other cities of Germany in sailing ships to the ports of Valdivia and Puerto Montt.

Vicente Perez Rosales on a later expedition towards the south of Valdivia changed the course of the incoming colony to Lake Llanquihue. Rosales was searching for more land for the German settlers, south of Valdivia, as many sailing ships were arriving to the port of Valdivia from Germany sent by Bernardo Philippi under the official colonisation program of Southern Chile. This program was granted by President Manuel Bulnes and executed by president of Chile Manuel Montt naming officially Vicente Perez Rosales the head of the German colonisation of Llanquihue, as a continuation of the initial efforts done by Bernard Philippi.

There is an interesting local german museum. Travel back in time as you browse exhibits with your guide and then enjoy free time to wander around the town at your leisure. Return to your hotel in Puerto Varas and free evening. Overnight.

Day 6

PUERTO VARAS: Visiting Chiloe Island

After breakfast, we will start our full-day tour to Chiloe Island. We will take the route to the south for about 130 kilometres to arrive to a small town called Pargua. Once in this city, we take a ferry that will allow us to cross the Chacao Canal and reach the Isla Grande de Chiloe. Chiloé Island is the second largest island in Chile, after the Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, and the fifth largest in South America. We will go to Chacao, one of the oldest villages of the island founded in 1567 which has a typical square where stands a curious and picturesque building of strong color. We will visit the old and interesting church.

The Churches of Chiloé are a unique architectural phenomenon in the Americas, and one of the most prominent styles of Chilota architecture. Unlike classical Spanish colonial architecture, the churches of Chiloé are made entirely in native timber with extensive use of wood shingles. The churches were built from materials to resist Chiloé Archipelago’s humid and rainy oceanic climate. The churches represent the fusion of European Jesuit culture and local native peoples’ skill and traditions: an excellent example of mestizo culture.

The Churches of Chiloé were designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2000. The University of Chile, Fundación Cultural Iglesias de Chiloé and other institutions have led efforts to preserve these historic structures and to publicize them for their unique qualities

We will go to the city of Ancud, to visit the Plaza de Armas, the Church, the crafts market, the Museum, the Gulf of Quitalmahue, Cerro Huaihuén and Fort San Antonio, historic site located in the uptown built in the late eighteenth century, all in the midst of stories of customs and myths of one of the larger islands of South America. Ancud is the second largest city of Chiloé Archipelago after Castro. It was established in 1768 to function as the capital of the archipelago and held that position until 1982.

Later we will go to Castro, capital of Chiloé Island. Castro is Chile’s third oldest city in continued existence. Rodrigo de Quiroga as the temporary governor of Chile in 1567 launched a campaign led by his son in-law Captain Martín Ruiz de Gamboa to conquer Chiloé Island, establishing the city of Castro there, and pacifying its inhabitants, the Cuncos. From its founding on 12 February 1576 until 1767 Castro was the administrative centre of Chiloé Island. In 1594 Castro had 8.000 inhabitants most of whom were farmers. Up to the mid of the 17th century the town was looted by Dutch pirates several times. In 1767, during the time of the Bourbon Reforms that sought to modernize the Spanish Empire, Chiloé was separated from the General Captaincy of Chile to which it had previously belonged and made a direct subject of the Viceroyalty of Peru.

The town hall and many of the wooden palafitos houses ( typical constructions made wooden pillars on water), were destroyed or damaged by the earthquake and the tsunami of 1960. Only in 1982 did Castro regain its role as capital in Chiloé Archipelago.

We will visit the local Church which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000, handicrafts market and the Mirador del Barrio Gamboa to appreciate the famous “Palafitos”. We finish our tour visiting Dalcahue, famous for its craft fair on Sundays where locals bring from the outer islands of the archipelagos the most varied handicrafts for marketing. During the tour we will have time for lunch in a typical restaurant Chiloé Island. It`s a full day trip. Return to your hotel in Puerto Varas and overnight.

Day 7

PUERTO VARAS: Good bye Lakes District!

After breakfast, free time until tranfser to pier, airport or bus station. If you have some free time during the day, you can add some of our optional activities. Check the list below.

 

Good bye Puerto Varas!

End of our services. We can personalize your program, by adding or deleting nights, add new destinations, or make any necessary change. Just let us know. Optional activities you can see below each day, are just suggested options. You can add any of these activities to your quotation, or ask for any other available in each destination.

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BUENOS AIRES EXTENSION!

Welcome to Buenos Aires! The Argentina capital city and one of the most important cities in South America and the world. Add this package to enjoy a 3-night stay and visit La Boca, San Telmo, Recoleta, the Obelisk… taste a typical “asado criollo”, enjoy the unique Tango Dance, and taste the famous malbec wine:

DAY 1 – Arrival to Buenos Aires!
DAY 2 – City Tour visiting the best of Buenos Aires & Dinner Tango Show
DAY 3 – Choose from visit to a typical estancia or farm in the Pampas, visit the Tigre Delta, enjoy a walking tour, or take a polo lesson.
DAY 4 – Transfer out. Good bye Buenos Aires!

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SANTIAGO DE CHILE EXTENSION

Enjoy the best of Santiago de Chile, the capital city with a wide variety of international attractions. Enjoy a wonderful city tour, take a journey to Viña del Mar and Valpariso, and enjoy wineries and vineyards in the area of Maipo Canyon!

DAY 1 –  Arrival to the capital city!
DAY 2 – City Tour visiting the best of Santiago
DAY 3 – We visit Viña del Mar and Valparaiso!
DAY 4 – Good bye Santiago de Chile

It`s just an starting point, we can quote any special program for you

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