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Welcome to Puerto Varas, a lakeside metropolis filled with adventures, and one in all my favourite locations in all of Chile! There are such a lot of cool issues to do in Puerto Varas — from waterfall-visiting and German town-hopping to kayaking, procuring, and having fun with stylish eating places!
My husband and I ended up in Puerto Varas on a little bit of a whim — and it ended up being one of many highlights of our Chile Argentina honeymoon!
What makes Puerto Varas so German? Within the 1850s, Germans had been inspired to maneuver right here to develop the land, and greater than 200 households made the journey. (Word that this was LONG earlier than World Warfare II. These aren’t the identical Germans who fled to Argentina post-World Warfare II.)
We arrived in Los Lagos, Chile’s Lakes Area, after a number of days within the Atacama Desert, and WHAT a distinction it was — rolling hills of farmland, old school timber homes, flowers in every single place, and probably the most lush, sweet-smelling air.
Puerto Varas is perched on Lake Llanquihue, with views of snow-capped volcanoes within the distance. Chileans come right here for the simple entry to the outside, in addition to the tradition — so you’ll be able to go onerous or take it sluggish.
I extremely advocate renting a automobile to get pleasure from all that this area has to supply. However even when you’re coming in by public transit, you’ll discover a lot to like about Puerto Varas. Let’s have a look!
This submit was revealed in April 2024 and was co-written by Adventurous Kate and Riana Ang-Canning.
Finest Issues To Do in Puerto Varas, Chile
Discover the city heart
There’s tons to do within the heart of Puerto Varas. Begin by trying out two church buildings, Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón, a 1915 Catholic church that overlooks downtown, and Iglesia Lueterana, a 1924 Lutheran church alongside the lake.
Should you love to buy, Puerto Varas is house to a number of small boutiques and secondhand shops. Should you love thrift procuring as a lot as I do, try Loica Liquidadora, a beloved secondhand clothes retailer. Should you want sports activities gear, there’s additionally a Patagonia store on the town!
One of many issues that makes Puerto Varas stand out is its attention-grabbing structure. My favourite was Casa Kuschel, one of many oldest homes in Puerto Varas, a gothic masterpiece that the Addams Household would love.
One other is Casa Gotschlich, a historic German house from the early 1900s. Plenty of German-inspired houses and buildings will be seen dotted across the lake.
Talking of German tradition, you’ll additionally need to bask in some German meals whereas on the town! Germans love their afternoon kaffee und kuchen, or espresso and cake. Right here in Chile, they flip it Spanish and name it kuchenes (KOO-ken-ays)!
Go to Museo Pablo Fierro
You’ll know Museo Pablo Fierro the second you see it — practically everybody stops and stares. Its quirky exterior — that includes bikes, a large clock, and half a ship — just about calls for you cease in.
Inside you’ll discover a assortment curated by artist Pablo Fierro that showcases the intersection of the native Chilote tradition and the German farmers who immigrated to Puerto Varas within the mid nineteenth Century.
In contrast to in most museums, guests are inspired to play and work together with lots of the artifacts on show.
Stroll or bike Cerro Philippi
Simply north of the town heart is Parque Philippi, a lush park providing trails as much as the height of Cerro Philippi. Hikers can take the 0.7 mile (1.1 km) out and again Mirador Cerro Philippi path up the mountain. On a transparent day, you’ll get an important view of the volcanoes!
There are additionally numerous bike trails all through the park. They vary in problem stage, so even novice mountain bikers can benefit from the lovely surroundings.
Calm down on the shores of Lake Llanquihue
Puerto Varas hugs the shores of Lake Llanquihue, Chile’s second largest lake. On a pleasant day, you’ll discover locals and vacationers having fun with a stroll or chilling out with a beer by the water. There’s a little fishing pier referred to as Muelle Piedralplen with a number of benches for having fun with the view.
Not a whole lot of swimming occurs at Lake Llanquihue, as Puerto Varas hardly ever will get heat sufficient for folks to courageous the water. However when you occur to go to throughout a very sizzling stretch of summer time, get pleasure from a dip!
I used to be in Puerto Varas in early December, Chile’s late spring. It was overcast and lightweight jacket climate till the ultimate day, when the solar got here out, the volcanoes revealed themselves, and some intrepid of us jumped into the water!
Eat at Mesa Tropera
After we informed Chileans we had been coming to Puerto Varas, lots of them mentioned the identical factor: “You MUST go to Mesa Tropera.” With that many endorsements, we needed to go!
Mesa Tropera is a pizzeria and cervecería (beer bar — and right here it’s a craft brewery). It’s perched proper on the lake, with big home windows overlooking the volcanoes within the distance.
And along with actually good pizza (by far the perfect I had in Chile), additionally they serve attention-grabbing tartares (not simply beef, however salmon, octopus, and artichoke) and attention-grabbing fusion dishes, like Italian pasta dishes with Patagonian lamb. The beers are good, too!
I’ll be trustworthy — Chilean meals isn’t the best, however Puerto Varas has a whole lot of good eating places that I loved. Listed below are some I like to recommend:
La Vinoteca — This wine bar and store lets you purchase your wine at retailer costs, however they’ll open and serve it to you. In addition they have an unimaginable octopus appetizer with roasted potatoes, leeks, and cheese. It’s a bizarre combo, but it surely works!
La Chalota: Should you’re searching for a hipster brunch in Puerto Varas, that is the place. They’ve tons of yummy baked items and I extremely advocate their shakshuka.
Japon del Lago: Should you’re within the temper for Japanese meals — or Peruvian-flavored Nikkei delicacies, widespread in Chile — it is a good sushi spot. We went twice as a result of we beloved their tuna tiradito a lot!
Dharma Espresso: I at all times say wherever I journey I’ve to search out the perfect espresso on the town. In Puerto Varas, that will be Dharma Espresso, with scrumptious flat whites and good lake views.
Go to Petrohué Falls
Petrohué Falls (Saltas de Petrohué) is an absolute MUST go to throughout your time in Puerto Varas. These dashing waterfalls are completely gorgeous, particularly on a transparent day, when Osorno Volcano rises completely behind them!
A brief path will take you to those chute-style waterfalls and strolling trails within the space will can help you expertise them from completely different viewpoints. We additionally noticed some lovable foxes, who beloved hanging out on the cafe space. (Please don’t feed them. It’s not good for them.)
My prime suggestion is to time your go to for a transparent day — it’s so a lot better when the volcano rises behind the falls.
Petrohué Falls is a couple of 45-minute drive from Puerto Varas.
Go to Parque Nacional Vicente Pérez Rosales
Vicente Pérez Rosales Nationwide Park is Chile’s oldest nationwide park and residential to the well-known Petrohué Falls, fantastically inexperienced Lake Todos los Santos, and the snow-capped Osorno Volcano. Should you’ve bought time for extra than simply the falls, visiting the entire nationwide park is usually a blast!
To discover this epic park, you’ll be able to head out on this guided mountaineering tour. Out of your resort in Puerto Varas, you’ll drive up into the park, stroll round volcanic craters, get pleasure from a scenic espresso, and hike via the forest to the Petrohué River and Emerald Lake.
Or head throughout the nationwide park to the city of Peulla on today journey. You’ll drive alongside the lake to the city of Ensenada, go to Petrohué Falls and Petrohué River, take a catamaran throughout Todos Los Santos Lake, get pleasure from lunch in Peulla, after which get pleasure from an exercise of your selection within the afternoon, similar to horseback driving, fishing or mountaineering.
An alternative choice is a guided bike tour that visits Petrohué Falls, Lago Todos los Santos, and Osorno Volcano.
Spend a day in Frutillar
On the west facet of Lake Llanquihue lies the lovable German city of Frutillar. This small city appears prefer it was plucked straight out of Bavaria! I couldn’t imagine we had been nonetheless in Chile.
There are two elements of city — Frutillar Alto and Frutillar Baja — and also you need to head to Frutillar Bajo, the beautiful a part of city proper on the lake. You’ll need to {photograph} every little thing in sight!
Admire the attractive structure, the blooming gardens, the great downtown retailers, and pay a go to to the Frutillar German Colonial Museum. Should you time your journey proper, you might also have the ability to attend the annual Semanas Musicales music competition, which takes place in late January and early February.
If you begin to get hungry, I like to recommend Membership Alemán de Frutillar, the place we loved a pleasant schnitzel and these unimaginable potatoes with cheese and bacon, together with some German Chilean beer.
And since you should cease to your each day kuchenes, as German Chileans name it, head to Casa Rosalba for kaffee und kuchen. They make scrumptious espresso-based drinks in addition to apple strudel and cheesecake, and you’ll get pleasure from views from its excessive perch on a hill. It’s cozy and wonderful.
To get to Frutillar from Puerto Varas, you’ll be able to drive (25 minutes), take the bus, or go to as a part of a day tour. Today tour from Puerto Varas stops at each Llanquihue and Frutillar.
Go to different cities on the lake
Frutillar is simply one of many cities round Lake Llanquihue that you just’ll need to go to when you’re in Puerto Varas. Two different cities you’ll be able to try are Puerto Octay and Llanquihue.
Puerto Octay is splendidly low-key city, simply 45 minutes from Puerto Varas. There’s not a ton to see by way of sights, however it’s a lovely city to stroll round and scent the roses (actually, we walked previous a home with a HUGE rose backyard on the nook of Costanera Pichi Juan and Muñoz Gamero).
In Puerto Octay, simply stroll across the city, together with the large hill with a cemetery overlooking the lake. I extremely advocate lunch at Restaurant Willhause (scrumptious and refined German meals, and I had a terrific salmon) and occasional and cake at Cafe Meson Carpintero. That they had unimaginable cream puffs and doubtless the perfect flat white I had in all of Chile!
It’s also possible to go to the city of Llanquihue, which is simply quarter-hour from Puerto Varas. It’s not the prettiest city on the lake, but it surely’s price a fast cease to see the German historical past and native dairy farms. Should you’re not driving, you’ll be able to go to Llanquihue and Frutillar on this half-day tour.
Go rafting or kayaking
Being within the lakes area of Chile, Puerto Varas is without doubt one of the finest locations to expertise water sports activities. Should you’re feeling adventurous, head out on a rafting tour down Rio Petrohué.
This half-day guided rafting tour could have you navigating via Class III rapids as you see volcanoes within the distance. Need an excellent greater adrenaline rush? This rafting tour contains Class III and Class IV rapids!
Or when you want one thing a bit extra laidback, you’ll be able to go kayaking. Paddle via the plush vegetation and swamp forest of the Maullín River on this kayaking tour or spend half a day kayaking round Laguna La Poza, whose calm waters are good for households or rookies.
Go to Salto Las Cascadas
Should you’re within the temper for extra waterfalls, pay a go to to Salto Las Cascadas. That is the antithesis of the well-organized Petrohué Falls expertise — it’s only a filth street to a makeshift car parking zone, adopted by a path via the woods, till you attain a waterfall.
You’ll set out on a 30 minute stroll via the forest and alongside the dashing Rio Blanco Las Cascadas till you attain a tall, skinny waterfall, good for photograph ops.
Las Cascadas is on the east shore of Lake Llanquihue, a couple of 90 minute drive from Puerto Varas. I believe it is sensible to go to these falls as half of a bigger journey to the Petrohué Falls and Osorno Volcano, that are additionally east of the lake.
Expertise the gorgeous Volcán Osorno
Volcán Osorno is without doubt one of the most energetic volcanoes in all of Chile’s Andes Mountains and a definite pure magnificence within the tenth area of Los Lagos. It stands 8,700 ft (2,650 meters) tall and has erupted eleven occasions in recorded historical past, most just lately in 1869.
Whereas nonetheless thought-about energetic, Osorno Volcano is now one of the visited locations within the Lakes area. You may go to as a part of this tour seeing each Volcán Osorno and Petrohué Falls, or this tour which incorporates Osorno Volcano, Calbuco Volcano, and Llanquihue Lake.
Should you’re feeling actually adventurous you’ll be able to ski on the Osorno Volcano Ski Middle or mountain climb on this in a single day guided climbing journey. Climbing an energetic volcano is an expertise I believe each journey traveler ought to have! (Although I didn’t do it right here, I did it a number of occasions in Sicily.)
Go fishing within the Maullin River
Should you like to fish, you’ll want to offer it a strive within the Lakes Area! Should you’re seeking to fish close to Puerto Varas, try this non-public sport fishing tour. From right here, you’ll head out to Llanquihue and fish for brown and rainbow trout on the Maullin River.
Take pleasure in a full day of fishing via the mangroves and lunch on the banks of the river. This non-public tour is ideal for fishing lovers, households, and teams.
Go to Alerce Andino Nationwide Park
Alerce Andino Nationwide Park is a temperate rainforest recognized for its lakes, wetlands, and alerce timber that develop over 147 ft (45 meters) tall and 13 ft (4 meters) extensive. At slightly over an hour from the town of Puerto Varas, Parque Nacional Alerce Andino makes an ideal day journey out in nature.
Be part of this guided day tour to the nationwide park the place a information will take you alongside the paths and share extra in regards to the park’s biodiversity.
Go to Chiloé Island
Chiloé Island is a part of an archipelago in southern Chile. The island is legendary for its historic Jesuit church buildings, which had been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Web site, and houses that sit on stilts out within the water.
The Chiloé archipelago can be a pure paradise recognized for its gorgeous landscapes and attention-grabbing wildlife, together with whales and penguins.
Chiloé has tons of issues to do, particularly when you love the outside, and is healthier visited for a number of days — however it may be executed as a day journey from Puerto Varas. Simply know that the drive is 3.5 hours every strategy to the town of Castro. If that’s cool with you, go for it!
It’s also possible to go to Chiloé on a guided tour from Puerto Varas, leaving the lengthy day of driving to another person.
How A lot Time to Spend in Puerto Varas
I believe three days is sufficient time to discover Puerto Varas and Lake Llanquihue. However when you’re hoping for a extra laid-back and stress-free journey — or when you want a break in the midst of a busy Chile itinerary, like me — Puerto Varas is a good place to remain for some time.
I spent nearly per week in Puerto Varas, each sightseeing and getting some work executed, and it was good. I beloved the calm atmosphere, the fabulous eating places, and the truth that costs had been a lot decrease than they had been in Patagonia.
The beauty of Puerto Varas is there’s quite a bit to take action you’re not bored, however you don’t really feel strain to do ALL THE THINGS (like in San Pedro de Atacama). You may actually take your time, decelerate, and benefit from the metropolis.
A type of days ought to be spent exploring the sights across the lake. In a single day, when you had been bold, you might drive across the lake clockwise and go to Llanquihue, Frutillar, Puerto Octay, Salto Las Cascadas, and Petrohué Waterfalls earlier than coming again to Puerto Varas.
Should you solely have at some point in Puerto Varas altogether, I’d spend most of your time within the city and do a facet journey to both Frutillar or Petrohué Falls. You might in all probability do each when you began early and ended late (double-check the Petrohué Falls opening hours first, although).
However once more, I actually loved having extra time to chill out in Puerto Varas. I believe you’ll get pleasure from a number of extra days right here, too.
Learn how to get to Puerto Varas
The easiest way to get to Puerto Varas is to fly into Puerto Montt, lease a automobile, and drive to the town. You may fly on to Puerto Montt from different cities in Chile, together with Santiago and Puerto Natales. From Puerto Montt, it’s a 30-minute drive via lovely farmland to Puerto Varas.
Personally, I wouldn’t advocate spending a lot if any time in Puerto Montt itself. We visited briefly to choose up an Apple Watch charger and had been glad we determined to spend extra of our time in Puerto Varas.
You might additionally go to Puerto Varas as a part of a Chilean street journey. To the southwest you will have Chiloé Island, recognized for its historic wood church buildings; 4 hours north of Puerto Varas lies Pucón, an important place for mountaineering and water sports activities; and to the south, you will have the attractive landscapes of Patagonia!
Should you’d wish to increase your street journey to go to extra of South America, you’ll be able to head east previous Cerro Tronador on the border of Argentina to the favored lake city, Bariloche. Bariloche is a 4.5 hour drive from Puerto Varas — although take into account that this border crossing can get busy with vacationers attempting to go to each Chile and Argentina in a single day.
The place to Keep in Puerto Varas
Listed below are my picks for the perfect locations to remain in Puerto Varas based mostly in your price range:
High Rated Luxurious Resort in Puerto Varas: Resort AWA is a beautiful, trendy property with lake and volcano views, complimentary breakfast, and a hearth in each room. In addition they have a restaurant, pool, sauna, spa, sizzling tubs, and a hammam on website! Whereas not central on the town, it’s onerous to beat these views!
High Rated Mid-range Resort in Puerto Varas: Resort Cumbres Puerto Varas affords a compromise between luxurious facilities and a central location, all with lovely views of the lake and mountains. Right here you’ll discover a sizzling tub, sauna, spa and restaurant, all inside strolling distance of a number of the metropolis’s major sights.
High Rated Finances Resort in Puerto Varas: MaPatagonia Hostel is ideal for price range vacationers searching for slightly attraction. Sleep in a personal or dorm room on this restored German house, cook dinner within the shared kitchen, and chill out within the lovely backyard out again.
Discover offers on locations to remain in Puerto Varas right here.
Finest Time to Go to Puerto Varas
Excessive season in Chile is from December to March, when the Los Lagos area enjoys probably the most sunshine and the least rain. Nevertheless, as a result of Puerto Varas is on the sting of Patagonia, it nonetheless experiences a number of the wild climate the area is understood for.
We visited in December and regardless of it being the start of the height summer time season, we needed to put on our coats most days. We solely had one actually heat day proper on the finish. So even when you go to throughout the southern hemisphere’s summer time, convey a coat!
Even with the marginally colder climate we skilled, I’d nonetheless advocate visiting Puerto Varas on the tail ends of peak season: early December or late March. That manner, you get the perfect likelihood of good climate and barely smaller crowds.
Is Puerto Varas Price It?
I had an absolute ball in Puerto Varas! This was one of many final locations we added to our itinerary, and I’m so glad we determined to return right here as a substitute of elsewhere in Chile.
Should you’re on the fence about visiting Puerto Varas and you’re keen on the concept of an journey city on the lake with tons to discover, I believe you’ll get pleasure from your self right here. Go and have the perfect time!
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Have you ever been to Puerto Varas? Any tricks to share?