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. (Be aware that this was LONG earlier than World Conflict II. These should not the identical Germans who fled to Argentina post-World Conflict 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 style 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 simple entry to the outside, in addition to the tradition — so you may go laborious or take it sluggish.

I extremely advocate renting a automobile to take pleasure in all that this area has to supply. However even in case 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 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. 

For those who love to buy, Puerto Varas is residence to a number of small boutiques and secondhand shops. For those who love thrift procuring as a lot as I do, take a look at Loica Liquidadora, a beloved secondhand clothes retailer. For those who 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 fascinating 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. Plenty of German-inspired houses and buildings may 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 ideal view of the volcanoes! 

There are additionally numerous bike trails all through the park. They vary in issue stage, so even novice mountain bikers can benefit from the lovely 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 referred to as Muelle Piedralplen with a number of benches for having fun with the view.

Not numerous swimming occurs at Lake Llanquihue, as Puerto Varas hardly ever will get heat sufficient for folks to courageous the water. However in case you occur to go to throughout a very scorching stretch of summer season, take pleasure in 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 people jumped into the water!

Eat at Mesa Tropera

Once we instructed 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 very best I had in Chile), additionally they serve fascinating tartares (not simply beef, however salmon, octopus, and artichoke) and fascinating fusion dishes, like Italian pasta dishes with Patagonian lamb. The beers are good, too!

I’ll be sincere — Chilean meals isn’t the best, however Puerto Varas has numerous good eating places that I loved. Listed here 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. Additionally they have an unbelievable octopus appetizer with roasted potatoes, leeks, and cheese. It’s a bizarre combo, but it surely works!

La Chalota: For those who’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: For those who’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 cherished their tuna tiradito a lot! 

Dharma Espresso: I all the time say wherever I journey I’ve to seek out the very best 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 mean you can expertise them from completely different viewpoints. We additionally noticed some cute foxes, who cherished hanging out on the cafe space. (Please don’t feed them. It’s not good for them.)

My high suggestion is to time your go to for a transparent day — it’s so significantly 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, superbly inexperienced Lake Todos los Santos, and the snow-capped Osorno Volcano. For those who’ve bought time for extra than simply the falls, visiting the entire nationwide park is usually a blast!

To discover this epic park, you may 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 via 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, resembling horseback using, fishing or mountain climbing.  

Another 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 cute 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 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} all the things in sight!

Admire the attractive structure, the blooming gardens, the great downtown outlets, and pay a go to to the Frutillar German Colonial Museum. For those who 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.

If you begin to get hungry, I like to recommend Membership Alemán de Frutillar, the place we loved a pleasant schnitzel and these unbelievable potatoes with cheese and bacon, together with some German Chilean beer.

And since you should cease to 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 may 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 whilst you’re in Puerto Varas. Two different cities you may take a look at 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 low and cake at Cafe Meson Carpintero. That they had unbelievable cream puffs and possibly the very best flat white I had in all of Chile! 

You too can 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. For those who’re not driving, you may 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 finest locations to expertise water sports activities. For those who’re feeling adventurous, head out on a rafting tour down Rio Petrohué. 

This half-day guided rafting tour may have you navigating via Class III rapids as you notice volcanoes within the distance. Need a good greater adrenaline rush? This rafting tour consists of Class III and Class IV rapids! 

Or in case you choose one thing a bit extra laidback, you may go kayaking. Paddle via the luxurious 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 learners. 

Go to Salto Las Cascadas

For those who’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 grime street to a makeshift 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 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 gorgeous Volcán Osorno

Volcán Osorno is likely 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 toes (2,650 meters) tall and has erupted eleven instances in recorded historical past, most just lately in 1869.

Whereas nonetheless thought-about energetic, Osorno Volcano is now some of the 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. 

For those who’re feeling actually adventurous you may 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 feel each journey traveler ought to have! (Although I didn’t do it right here, I did it a number of instances in Sicily.)

Go fishing within the Maullin River

For those who like to fish, you’ll want to provide it a attempt within the Lakes Area! For those who’re seeking to fish close to Puerto Varas, take a look at this personal 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 personal 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 bushes that develop over 147 toes (45 meters) tall and 13 toes (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 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 Website, and houses that sit on stilts out within the water.

The Chiloé archipelago can also be a pure paradise recognized for its gorgeous landscapes and fascinating wildlife, together with whales and penguins.

Chiloé has tons of issues to do, particularly in case you love the outside, and is best visited for a number of days — however it may be completed as a day journey from Puerto Varas. Simply know that the drive is 3.5 hours every option to the town of Castro. If that’s cool with you, go for it!

You too can 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 in case you’re hoping for a extra laid-back and stress-free journey — or in case you want a break in the course of a busy Chile itinerary, like me — Puerto Varas is a superb place to remain for some time.

I spent virtually per week in Puerto Varas, each sightseeing and getting some work completed, and it was good. I cherished 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 lots 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 ought to be spent exploring the points of interest across the lake. In a single day, in case you had been bold, you could possibly 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.

For those who solely have at some point 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 could possibly most likely do each in case 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 calm down in Puerto Varas. I feel you’ll take pleasure in a number of extra days right here, too.

How you can get to Puerto Varas

One of the best ways to get to Puerto Varas is to fly into Puerto Montt, lease a automobile, 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 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 select up an Apple Watch charger and had been glad we determined to spend extra of our time in Puerto Varas. 

You could possibly additionally go to Puerto Varas as a part of a Chilean street journey. To the southwest you’ve got Chiloé Island, recognized for its historic picket church buildings; 4 hours north of Puerto Varas lies Pucón, an ideal place for mountain climbing and water sports activities; and to the south, you’ve got the gorgeous landscapes of Patagonia! 

For those who’d prefer to develop your street journey to go to extra of South America, you may 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 very best locations to remain in Puerto Varas primarily based in your price range: 

Prime Rated Luxurious Resort in Puerto Varas: Resort AWA is a beautiful, fashionable property with lake and volcano views, complimentary breakfast, and a hearth in each room. Additionally they have a restaurant, pool, sauna, spa, scorching tubs, and a hammam on web site! Whereas not central on the town, it’s laborious to beat these views! 

Prime 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 scorching tub, sauna, spa and restaurant, all inside strolling distance of a few of the metropolis’s principal points of interest. 

Prime Rated Finances Resort in Puerto Varas: MaPatagonia Hostel is ideal for price range vacationers searching for slightly attraction. Sleep in a non-public or dorm room on this restored German residence, prepare dinner within the shared kitchen, and calm down 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. Nonetheless, as a result of Puerto Varas is on the sting of Patagonia, it nonetheless experiences a few of the wild climate the area is thought for.

We visited in December and regardless of it being the start of the height summer season season, we needed to put on our coats most days. We solely had one actually heat day proper on the finish. So even in case you go to through the southern hemisphere’s summer season, convey a coat! 

Even with the marginally colder climate we skilled, I might nonetheless advocate visiting Puerto Varas on the tail ends of peak season: early December or late March. That method, you get the very best probability 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 an alternative of some place else in Chile.

For those who’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 very best time!

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Have you ever been to Puerto Varas? Any tricks to share?