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Welcome to Puerto Varas, a lakeside metropolis stuffed with adventures, and considered one of 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, purchasing, 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 Conflict II. These aren’t the identical Germans who fled to Argentina post-World Conflict II.)
We arrived in Los Lagos, Chile’s Lakes Area, after a couple of days within the Atacama Desert, and WHAT a distinction it was — rolling hills of farmland, old school timber homes, flowers in all places, 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 straightforward entry to the outside, in addition to the tradition — so you’ll be able to go laborious or take it gradual.
I extremely suggest renting a automotive to take pleasure in 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 publish was printed 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 middle
There’s tons to do within the middle of Puerto Varas. Begin by testing two church buildings, Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón, a 1915 Catholic church that overlooks downtown, and Iglesia Lueterana, a 1924 Lutheran church alongside the lake.
In case you love to buy, Puerto Varas is residence to numerous small boutiques and secondhand shops. In case you love thrift purchasing as a lot as I do, try Loica Liquidadora, a beloved secondhand clothes retailer. In case 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 residence from the early 1900s. Loads of German-inspired houses and buildings might be seen dotted across the lake.
Talking of German tradition, you’ll additionally wish to take pleasure 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, an enormous 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 middle 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 awesome view of the volcanoes!
There are additionally quite a lot of bike trails all through the park. They vary in issue stage, so even novice mountain bikers can benefit from the stunning surroundings.
Chill out 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 known as Muelle Piedralplen with numerous benches for having fun with the view.
Not loads of swimming occurs at Lake Llanquihue, as Puerto Varas not often 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, take pleasure in a dip!
I used to be in Puerto Varas in early December, Chile’s late spring. It was overcast and light-weight jacket climate till the ultimate day, when the solar got here out, the volcanoes revealed themselves, and some intrepid people jumped into the water!
Eat at Mesa Tropera
After we advised Chileans we had been coming to Puerto Varas, a lot 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 enormous 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 loads of good eating places that I loved. Listed here are some I like to recommend:
La Vinoteca — This wine bar and store permits you to 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, nevertheless it works!
La Chalota: In case you’re searching for a hipster brunch in Puerto Varas, that is the place. They’ve tons of yummy baked items and I extremely suggest their shakshuka.
Japon del Lago: In case you’re within the temper for Japanese meals — or Peruvian-flavored Nikkei delicacies, widespread in Chile — this can be a good sushi spot. We went twice as a result of we beloved their tuna tiradito a lot!
Dharma Espresso: I all the time say wherever I journey I’ve to seek out the perfect espresso on the town. In Puerto Varas, that might 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 speeding waterfalls are completely beautiful, 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 let you expertise them from completely different viewpoints. We additionally noticed some lovely foxes, who beloved hanging out on the cafe space. (Please don’t feed them. It’s not good for them.)
My high advice 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 few 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, superbly inexperienced Lake Todos los Santos, and the snow-capped Osorno Volcano. In case you’ve received 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 mountain climbing tour. Out of your resort in Puerto Varas, you’ll drive up into the park, stroll round volcanic craters, take pleasure in a scenic espresso, and hike by way of the forest to the Petrohué River and Emerald Lake.
Or head throughout the nationwide park to the city of Peulla on at the present time 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, take pleasure in lunch in Peulla, after which take pleasure in an exercise of your selection within the afternoon, akin to horseback using, fishing or mountain climbing.
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 aspect of Lake Llanquihue lies the lovely German city of Frutillar. This small city appears to be like prefer it was plucked straight out of Bavaria! I couldn’t imagine we had been nonetheless in Chile.
There are two components of city — Frutillar Alto and Frutillar Baja — and also you wish to head to Frutillar Bajo, the beautiful a part of city proper on the lake. You’ll wish to {photograph} every thing in sight!
Admire the beautiful structure, the blooming gardens, the great downtown retailers, and pay a go to to the Frutillar German Colonial Museum. In case you time your journey proper, you may additionally have the ability to attend the annual Semanas Musicales music competition, which takes place in late January and early February.
Whenever 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 in your day by 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 may take pleasure in 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. At the present time 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 simply’ll wish 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 when it comes to sights, however it’s a stunning 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 massive hill with a cemetery overlooking the lake. I extremely suggest lunch at Restaurant Willhause (scrumptious and refined German meals, and I had a terrific salmon) and low and cake at Cafe Meson Carpintero. That they had unimaginable cream puffs and possibly the perfect flat white I had in all of Chile!
You may as well go to the city of Llanquihue, which is simply quarter-hour from Puerto Varas. It’s not the prettiest city on the lake, nevertheless it’s value a fast cease to see the German historical past and native dairy farms. In case 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 likely one of the greatest locations to expertise water sports activities. In case you’re feeling adventurous, head out on a rafting tour down Rio Petrohué.
This half-day guided rafting tour can have you navigating by way of Class III rapids as you see volcanoes within the distance. Need a fair larger adrenaline rush? This rafting tour contains Class III and Class IV rapids!
Or when you desire one thing a bit extra laidback, you’ll be able to go kayaking. Paddle by way of 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 newbies.
Go to Salto Las Cascadas
In case 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 dust highway to a makeshift car parking zone, adopted by a path by way of the woods, till you attain a waterfall.
You’ll set out on a 30 minute stroll by way of the forest and alongside the speeding 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 few 90 minute drive from Puerto Varas. I feel 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 beautiful Volcán Osorno
Volcán Osorno is likely one of the most lively volcanoes in all of Chile’s Andes Mountains and a definite pure magnificence within the tenth area of Los Lagos. It stands 8,700 toes (2,650 meters) tall and has erupted eleven occasions in recorded historical past, most not too long ago in 1869.
Whereas nonetheless thought-about lively, Osorno Volcano is now probably the most visited locations within the Lakes area. You possibly can 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.
In case 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 lively volcano is an expertise I feel each journey traveler ought to have! (Although I didn’t do it right here, I did it a couple of occasions in Sicily.)
Go fishing within the Maullin River
In case you like to fish, you’ll want to present it a strive within the Lakes Area! In case you’re trying 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.
Get pleasure from a full day of fishing by way of the mangroves and lunch on the banks of the river. This non-public tour is ideal for fishing fanatics, 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 toes (45 meters) tall and 13 toes (4 meters) huge. At a bit over an hour from the town of Puerto Varas, Parque Nacional Alerce Andino makes an ideal day journey out in nature.
Be a 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 known 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 also be a pure paradise recognized for its beautiful 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 best visited for a couple of days — however it may be carried out as a day journey from Puerto Varas. Simply know that the drive is 3.5 hours every method to the town of Castro. If that’s cool with you, go for it!
You may as well 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 feel 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 virtually every week in Puerto Varas, each sightseeing and getting some work carried out, and it was good. I beloved the calm surroundings, 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 loads 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 possibly can actually take your time, decelerate, and benefit from the metropolis.
A type of days needs to be spent exploring the sights across the lake. In a single day, when you had been formidable, you can 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.
In case you solely have sooner or later in Puerto Varas altogether, I might spend most of your time within the city and do a aspect journey to both Frutillar or Petrohué Falls. You can 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 loosen up in Puerto Varas. I feel you’ll take pleasure in a couple of extra days right here, too.
The way to get to Puerto Varas
One of the simplest ways to get to Puerto Varas is to fly into Puerto Montt, hire a automotive, and drive to the town. You possibly can 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 by way of stunning farmland to Puerto Varas.
Personally, I wouldn’t suggest 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 can additionally go to Puerto Varas as a part of a Chilean highway journey. To the southwest you will have Chiloé Island, recognized for its historic picket church buildings; 4 hours north of Puerto Varas lies Pucón, an awesome place for mountain climbing and water sports activities; and to the south, you will have the attractive landscapes of Patagonia!
In case you’d prefer to develop your highway 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 needless to say this border crossing can get busy with vacationers making an attempt to go to each Chile and Argentina in a single day.
The place to Keep in Puerto Varas
Listed here are my picks for the perfect locations to remain in Puerto Varas primarily based in your price range:
High Rated Luxurious Lodge in Puerto Varas: Lodge AWA is a beautiful, trendy property with lake and volcano views, complimentary breakfast, and a fire in each room. In addition they have a restaurant, pool, sauna, spa, sizzling tubs, and a hammam on web site! Whereas not central on the town, it’s laborious to beat these views!
High Rated Mid-range Lodge in Puerto Varas: Lodge Cumbres Puerto Varas gives a compromise between luxurious facilities and a central location, all with stunning 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 most important sights.
High Rated Price range Lodge in Puerto Varas: MaPatagonia Hostel is ideal for price range vacationers searching for a bit appeal. Sleep in a personal or dorm room on this restored German residence, prepare dinner within the shared kitchen, and loosen up within the stunning 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 thought 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 might nonetheless suggest visiting Puerto Varas on the tail ends of peak season: early December or late March. That means, you get the perfect likelihood of good climate and barely smaller crowds.
Is Puerto Varas Value 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 come back right here as a substitute of elsewhere in Chile.
In case you’re on the fence about visiting Puerto Varas and you’re keen on the thought of an journey city on the lake with tons to discover, I feel you’ll take pleasure in 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?
