The 14 Best Things to Do in Puerto Varas, A Chilean Adventure Hotspot

In a country filled with can’t-miss destinations, Puerto Varas and the Lakes District are making a name for themselves with their beautiful landscapes and variety of exciting activities.

Long a quiet, pastoral corner of Chile, this region is fast becoming a major destination in its own right.

Situated just north of the coastal city of Puerto Montt, the smaller, more laid-back town of Puerto Varas lies on the southwest shore of the stunning Lago Llanquihue.

The region saw a large number of German settlers arrive in the 19^th century, reflected in the architecture and industry you can continue to see in its towns and cities, plus a growing raft of craft breweries carrying on centuries-old traditions.

Whether it’s a peaceful getaway, the unique local culture, or the outdoor sports you’re after, Puerto Varas will leave a lasting impression.

A trip to Chile is incomplete without experiencing one of the continent’s most beautiful corners: the Lakes District.

1. Get to know Puerto Varas on foot

Puerto Varas is a small city (some would say large town) with a compact, walkable centre. As is common in the region, there are cultural and architectural reminders of the German immigrants who settled here.

Highlights include the Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús (Sacred Heart Church) and spectacular views from the lake shore, from where you’ll see magnificent Volcán Osorno.

2. Hire a boat on Lake Llanquihue or Maullín River

One of the best activities in Puerto Varas is getting out on the water. Whether you want a relaxing day on a boat for taking photos, a DIY row boat or kayak tour, or an expert-guided fishing tour, Puerto Varas is where you want to be.

All these activities and more are offered by Rilamar Tours, located on the waterfront at the north end of the centre.

3. Tour the German towns surrounding the lake

Moving north from Puerto Varas around the lake, you’ll find the towns of Llanquihue and Frutillar. Each has its own character and attractions. Llanquihue is the largest and has the most Chilean feel, plus a large esplanade with outstanding views.

30 kilometers north of Puerto Varas, Frutillar has a lot of charm and certainly leans into its German heritage with numerous cafes, restaurants, and shops offering plenty of küchen and nippsachen (cakes and nick-knacks). The town is divided into the workaday upper town and the lakeside lower town – the latter of which being where visitors tend to focus their attention.

Hop on a local bus from the main road that carves through the city (Ruta 225) heading west to reach both towns or take a day tour of the German towns.

4. Attend a performance at the Teatro del Lago

While Frutillar is a perfect place to while away an afternoon gorging on German-influenced cake, it’s also home to the state-of-the-art performing arts centre, Teatro del Lago, this striking theatre is built on a promontory jutting out into the lake and was designed in the image of a Chilean barn – and makes for quite the photo with Volcán Osorno in the background. 

The venue hosts events as varied from orchestral, choral, rock, and jazz music to ballet and contemporary dance. The town comes alive every summer for Semanas Musicales de Frutillar (Musical Weeks of Frutillar), which attracts top-tier domestic and international ensembles.

5. Photograph the dazzling Petrohué Falls

To the east of Puerto Varas and beyond the banks of Lago Llanquihue, you’ll find Lago Todos Los Santos, which collects water from the Andes Mountains and drains into the churning and thundering Río Petrohué. 

Home to the dazzling Saltos de Petrohué (Petrohué Waterfalls), this river is a dramatic destination to visit, where you can admire the dramatic waterfalls powering through polished black basalt with the backdrop of Volcán Osorno.

To get here, catch a bus from the stop at the corner of Martinez and San Bernardo in Puerto Varas (leaving every 30 minutes) or take a tour.

6. Go whitewater rafting on the Petrohué River

For thrillseekers, join a local kayaking or rafting operator such as ALSUR Expediciones to experience the Class III and IV rapids of the Río Petrohué. Chile’s extensive waterways are world-class, so you’d be remiss not to have a go while in Puerto Varas – this is certainly an unmissable activity to do in Chile!

They can also organize sea kayaking adventures in the fjords that line the coast further south. 

7. Summit Volcán Osorno

One of the first things you’ll notice when you arrive in Puerto Varas is the iconic snow-capped peak of Volcán Osorno, the dormant volcano on the other side of the lake that dominates the skyline. 

Summiting this 2,661-metre (8,701-ft) peak can be done in a full day through the highly-respected local operator, ALSUR Expediciones, who take care of permits, equipment, and all other logistics. It’s not the most technical climb but requires a decent fitness level.

8. Hit the slopes of Volcán Osorno

If you visit Puerto Varas during the winter, take advantage of the snow and hit the slopes at Volcán Osorno, which is home to a 10-run six centre.

There are two lifts and runs suitable for everyone from beginners to advanced, while the frequent snowfall usually extends the ski season from June until October. You can rent gear at the resort, and although there’s no accommodation on the mountain, it’s only an hour’s drive from Puerto Varas.

9. Hire a mountain bike and hit the trails

This region of Chile is one of South America’s best destinations for mountain biking. Whether you’re hardcore or a novice, you’re guaranteed to have a great time. La Comarca Puelo Adventure organizes bike and equipment rental with guided or solo tours through forests, up mountains, along the lake, or even to a local brewery. 

10. Savour spellbinding lake views at Hotel AWA

The views across Lago Llanquihue towards Volcán Osorno are one of the highlights of visiting Puerto Varas and there’s no more comfortable way to appreciate them than with a stay at the luxurious Hotel AWA.

This five-star hotel sits a 25-minute drive northeast of Puerto Varas and has truly sensational views of the lake from the floor-to-ceiling windows of its bedrooms. These are decorated sensitively to the location with chunky woven throws and wood paneling to make you feel even more at one with the nature that surrounds you. The food in their on-site restaurant is excellent, too.

11. Explore the breathtaking Alerce Andino National Park

The Lakes District is a hiking paradise, offering endless possibilities for seasoned trekkers and casual day-trippers alike. The region is home to some amazing natural parks and ecological preserves, and one of the best and most accessible is Alerce Andino National Park.

Located fifty miles southeast of Puerto Varas, the park is named for the alerce (ahl-AIR-say) tree, a towering coniferous cypress that only grows in these temperate rainforests. There are several kilometers of trails from different road access points, with basic accommodations and campgrounds available.

Get here by taking a public bus from the stop at the corner of Martinez and San Bernardo in Puerto Varas (leaving every 30 minutes). 

12. Take a trip to Chiloé Island

Just southwest of the Lakes District is the massive Chiloé Island, regarded by many as the gateway to Patagonia further south. The region has a remote and almost mystical sense, feeling a world apart from the mainland with its cloud-shrouded forests, unique wooden churches, and native-inspired cuisine.

Its capital, Castro, has a feel similar to Puerto Varas, with good restaurants and provisioning, but once outside of town, nature takes over. Visitors should consider exploring Chiloé National Park, with its temperate rainforest and wind-swept Pacific coastline. The folks at Chiloé Natural offer a wide range of tours and commit a portion of their profits to local preservation and reforestation efforts.

Another can’t-miss is the Unesco World Heritage Iglesias de Chiloé, the colorful wooden churches which dot the archipelago. The ones in Dalcahue, Tenaún, and Chonchi are excellent examples, while the colorful wooden palafitos, or fishermen’s dwellings, are another example of the island’s unique architecture. 

While the island does have public transport, it’s best explored with a hire car or, if you’re on limited time, with a long but fascinating full-day tour of Chiloé.

For those making the trip further south, regular ferries leave Castro for Chaitén, a starting point of the Carretera Austral.

13. Tuck into the local cuisine

In and around Puerto Varas, the culinary scene has taken off in recent years, and you won’t have to settle for sub-par sustenance just because you’re out of the big city.

Within Puerto Varas, Las Buenas Brisas has a wide range of delicious local food, from seafood to meat and poultry. For an upscale lakefront dining experience, try Casa Valdés for top-notch seafood dishes, like crab, octopus, or albacore, and an extensive wine list. The bakery Vollkornbrot is great for baked goods if you’re on the go.

Many of the restaurants in Frutillar serve German-inspired food, but the quality can be hit or miss. We recommend Cocina Frau Holle for hearty breakfasts and grilled meat dishes. Fábrica de Kuchen Tante Lilian has good cakes, tortes and chocolates.

On Chiloé, Castro has most of the island’s best restaurants, with El Mercadito de Chiloé a standout for their locally-sourced ingredients and features dishes such as sea urchin, duck confit or fish in garbanzo, and chili curry. Popular with locals is Travesía, which specializes in hearty comfort food like clam chowder or smoked ribs with chicharrón (crispy pork).

The best local eating experience on Chiloé is at the Mercado Dalcahue, a marketplace northeast of Castro in the town of Dalcahue. This food market has around twenty locally-run food stalls with a variety of local specialties, including curanto en olla, a hearty seafood and meat broth typical to the island but normally cooked in a hole in the ground.

14. Discover the excellent local breweries

While Chile’s wine scene rightfully earns plaudits further north, the German roots and modern craft beer wave have combined in The Lakes District to great effect.

Puerto Varas has a number of local brewpubs offering up a wide variety of local suds, including Mesa Tropera (with its excellent pizza and striking lake and volcano views) and Del Mago (a German-inspired beer hall. Just outside of town are Chester Brewery and Cervecería Malta Chocolate, too. Chiloé also has its own outstanding, all-female-run microbrewery Pioneras, in Nercón just south of Castro.

Bear in mind that Chile has a zero-tolerance policy for drink-driving, so make sure to arrange transport beforehand.

FAQs about Puerto Varas