Puerto Varas, Chile is a charming city on the shores of Lake Llanquihue and is one of most popular tourist destinations in the country. Spectacular views across the lake at majestic snow-capped volcanoes surrounded in native forest abound as well as countless options for exploring the surrounding countryside with picture-perfect German-settled farms. Only 15 minutes from Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas is popular because it is quieter than the busy port city to the south. It has fantastic adventure opportunities.

Sights

Daily. Regular Service. (Duration 3,1/2 hours)

The visit to Puerto Montt begins with a panoramic view of the capital of the X Region from the Viewpoint, going down towards downtown through the residential districts and government buildings, to the Main Square with its Cathedral, the monument to the German settlers, the church of the Jesuit whose bell tower has been declared a National Monument, through the Urmeneta street and Antonio Varas street, towards the commercial and harbor zones, towards the town of Chinquihue, with beautiful landscapes in front of the Pacific Ocean, returning through the fish and seafood market of Angelmo with its colorful craftsmanship fair. We then continue through the Pan-American highway towards the city of Puerto Varas, also known as the city of the roses, situated on the Llanquihue lake, the third largest lake of the continent, going down San Francisco street and its parochial church (1917), Vicente Perez Rosales Main Square, the new building of the Municipal Casino, residential districts with their old houses built with larch wood, some of them declared National Monuments, through the promenade that goes along the borders of the lake towards the Philippi hill, from where a panoramic view of the city of Puerto Varas and the surroundings can be seen.

Daily. Regular Service. (Duration: half day)

This tour starts along the border of the Llanquihue Lake to arrive in Frutillar. This city was founded in 1856 as a port of embarkation for the riverside settlers. With the arrival of the railroad in 1907, the town of Frutillar Alto was born, and still maintains the architecture, gastronomy and customs of the Germans. The city has experienced a tremendous growth of tourism in the last two decades thanks to the effort and talent of its inhabitants who have restored the traditional constructions and have built a beautiful Promenade with spectacular gardens where the begonias and lleuques reign, small trees wose fruits look like grapes, one of the seven native coniferous species of Chile, and the Museum of the German Colonization. Near Frutillar is the monument to the German settlers, faithful testimony of the first Germans who populated the zone. On the way, some companies dedicated to the culture of salmon can be seen, the most important industry among the exports of sea produce.

Daily. Regular Service. (Duration: Full day) (Lunch included) (does not include lift tickets)

We drive along the border of the Llanquihue Lake towards the Osorno Volcano Ski and Mountain Center, with a brief stop for a small walk by the Green Lagoon. We begin the ascent towards the Osorno volcano, 4,265 fee high, from where a spectacular view of the Llanquihue lake, the volcanoes and the valleys is obtained. Spare time to enjoy the beauty of the Osorno volcano. Descent towards the town of Ensenada to the Petrohue River falls within the Vicente Perez Rosales National Park. Free time for photographies and walks by the exuberant vegetation of this national park to continue later to the shore of the Todos Los Santos Lake, also known as Emerald lake because of the green-blue color of its water, framed by the eternal snows of the Osorno, Calbuco, Tronador and Puntiagudo volcanoes. Lunch during the trip included. The return to the hotel begins at dusk.

Monday Tuesday and Thursday. Regular Service. (Duration: Full day). (Lunch included)

This tour starts on the Pan-American highway to Pargua. Here we board the ferry to cross the Channel of Chacao to Puerto Chacao (20 min.), a small agricultural village and the gateway to Chiloe, continuing towards the city of Ancud, with the classic chilota architecture of wood tiles, parks and promenades that embellish the surroundings. Visit to the San Antonio Fort (1770), last fort where the flag of Spain fluttered, continuing towards the Regional Market, with its colorful fair of sea produce, finishing at the viewpoint of the Huaiquen Hill, from where a panoramic view of the city, the Chacao Channel and Cochinos island is obtained. You can also see the continenetal coast, cliffs and the creek of Carelmapu.

Daily. Private Service. (Duration: Full day) (Lunch included)

(Dalcahue Fair open only on Sundays)

The same description of the excursion to Ancud, adding a visit to the city of Castro, founded in February 1567, the third oldest city of Chile, located in the shore of a fiord and declared the capital of the province of Chiloe in 1982. From the moment you enter the city, the typical houses on pilings can be seen in the water palafitos continuing on O'Higgins street towards the square, the church of San Francisco, of neogothic style and the government buildings, on the way to the promenade of the port where the craftsmanship fair and the market of Dalcahue are located. On Sundays, and according to an ancient tradition, the craftsmen of the islands come to offer a beautiful variety of craftsmanship designs in wood and wool. Famous are the cocinerias-palafitos, cocinerías (public kitchens) Palafitos (homes and businesses built on stilts over the water) where the best seafood and fish of the zone can be tasted.

Daily. Private Service. (Duration: Full day) (Lunch included)

This tour begins by going southwest to the Calbuco island-continent, so named because it is joined to the continent by a step built of stone (pedraplen). From the viewpoint of Huito an impressive panoramic view of the archipelago of Chiloé and volcanos is obtained. We continue towards Calbuco, separated from the continent by only 650 feet. Crossing the city, you can get to the Vega, a multicolor creek of fishermen and from where the fauna of the place composed by marine wolves, gulls, cormorants and cara-caras can be observed. During the morning and coming from other islands, the fishermen with their products start to arrive and give life to the creek and its colorful market. Visits to the viewpoint La Picuta, located in the same place in which the first Spanish fortification was built in 1602, to his local museum, Balmaceda park and the church (1936) that still keeps the image of the Patron Saint brought by the Spaniards. Transfer to the wharf to board the ferry to the small barren island of Helvecia (15 minutes away by boat), with its millenarian forests of myrtles. After that, return to Cabuco for lunch. During the afternoon, we return to the hotel, traveling along the spectacular locality of Chinquihue.

Daily. Private Service. (Duration: Full day) (Lunch included)

This tour begins on the Pan-American highway heading North, with the Osorno volcano and its eternal snows in the landscape, to arrive in the town of Llanquihue, important agro-industrial center. From this point the trip continues bordering the lake through fields of produce of the region and centers of salmon production. Arrival to Frutillar, a corner of Germany in the south of Chile. A walk by the promenade for photographs, tours to the stores of local craftsmen and the Museum of the Colonization. The trip goes on towards the northeast to arrive in Puerto Octay, located in a bay protected by the Centinela peninsula. During the trip, the beautiful architecture of its church (1911) in neo-gothic style can be appreciated. We continue towards the east through the Maiten beach with its small chapel (1867) passing by Puerto Fonck, La Picada and Blanco river. Near the foothill of the Osorno volcano, the town of Cascadas will be visited during the trip towards the Vicente Perez Rosales National Park. We will visit the famous Falls of the Petrohue River, continuing towards Green Lagoon, that obtains its color from the micro organisms that live in its water, and to the village of Ensenada, from where, on the west side of the lake, the Calbuco volcano can be observed.

Daily. Regular Service. (Duration: Full day) (Lunch included)

The tour starts along the border of the Llanquihue Lake with a beautiful view of the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes, passing by Ensenada and stopping for a walk by the Green Lagoon, to continue towards the Petrohue River Falls. This is a torrential river that runs through stones of peculiar forms, in the middle of the Vicente Perez Rosales National Park. It is framed by a singular mountain landscape, snow-covered volcanoes, native forests and wonderful vegetation, in addition to the varied fauna. Spare time for photographs and walks in the middle of this exuberant vegetation, before continuing to the shore of the Todos los Santos Lake, also known as Emerald lake because of the green-blue color of its water, framed by the eternal snow of the Osorno, Calbuco, Tronador and Puntiagudo volcanoes.

Daily * Operates only from September to April. (Duration: Full day. (lunch not included)

Similar to the visit to Petrohue and including a voyage in the Todos los Santos lake to Peulla (20 miles, 1hr 40 min of sailing, one way). Return in the evening.