What to see in Puerto Varas & chilean lakes district?

Puerto Varas is a wonderful place from where you can make many incredible visits and enjoy lakes, mountains, forests, volcanoes, falls, and more, much more. Take a look to the following list and see what to do during your trip to the lakes district in Chile.

Puerto Varas

Puerto Varas was found in the 1850s by German immigrants who settled on the shore of Lake Llanquihue, and thanks to it until today there is a strong European influence. When walking around the city, you might notice straight away that the architecture is a bit different than anywhere in Chile or generally in South America. Puerto Varas is exceptional for its traditional German architecture, houses built from wood reminding us houses in European mountains.

One of the best examples of the German architecture is Sacred Heart of Jesus Church located on a small hill, but you can find other houses every now and then when aimlessly walking around the town.

Chiloe Island

Chiloe Island is a wonderful place, with unique traditions and great gastronomy. When you arrive to Chiloé you will be surprosed by the magical world blessed in nature and culture.

Enjoy the local architecture, based in palafitos, colorful houses built on stilts above the water,  and discover the wit and warmth of the Chilote people whose traditions give this unique archipelago its inimitable character. Explore this mythical island with its colorful wooden churches, 16 of which have been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO!. Try the traditional curanto, a dish of mixed seafood and other typical ingredients cooked over hot stones in the ground, and discover the hundreds of colorful potato varieties for which Chiloé is famous.

Nature lovers will delight in the island’s striking landscapes. Take one of the many trekking routes or hop in a kayak to explore awe-inspiring sea channels. The Chiloé and Tantauco National Parks will captivate you with their intense evergreen vegetation.

Llanquihue Lake, Frutillar and Puerto Octay

A great excursion is the one that includes the visit of Llanquihue, Frutillar and Puerto Octay. The city of Llanquihue is famous for its cured meats and the origin of the Maullín River, which forms
part of the old Route of the Settlers and then we will border Lake Llanquihue to head towards Frutillar.
This city is a beautiful town reminiscent of Bavaria, where its first settlers came from. It emerged in 1856 as a shipping dock, soon appearing tanneries, mills, breweries, etc.
We will walk around its beautiful old German-style houses, admiring its well-kept gardens and its incomparable view of the Osorno and Puntiagudo volcanoes.

Optionally, passengers will be able to access the German Colonial Museum that shows the life of the settlers, and on its Costanera we will observe the Lake Theater where the famous “Frutillar Musical Weeks” are held annually with worldwide attendance.
From here we will go to Puerto Octay, also located on the north shore of the lake, marked by the German influence and the first port of departure for agricultural products to Osorno. We will visit its old streets and Plaza.

Osorno and Calbuco Volcanoes

Osorno Volcano is an icon in the area. May be the most famous one in the area, as it is possible to climb its slopes. In the other hand, Calbuco Volcano is the more active one.

Although you can admire those two snow-capped iconic volcanoes from distance. If you`re an adventure person, you can try to climb the Osorno for better panoramic views. In the area, there is one other similarly popular activity, climbing Villarrica Volcano in Pucon.

Petrohue Falls

Parque Nacional Vicente Perez Rosales is one of the oldest protected areas in Chile, and for all nature lovers, it is the must-visit place near Puerto Varas. One of the highlights inside the national park are Petrohue Falls.  Petrohue Waterfalls alias “Saltos de Petrohue” is a powerful fall which would have been the must-visit attraction anyway, but it is famous more for Osorno Volcano in the distance as the combination of the rushing water, and the volcano creates a perfect photo opportunity.