Puerto Varas & Osorno Volcano

Puerto Varas — The City of Roses

Puerto Varas on the shore of Lago Llanquihue (Chile's second-largest lake) is a charming small town with a German past. In the mid-19th century, German immigrants settled here, and their influence is still visible today: half-timbered houses, bakeries with cakes and streusel, breweries, and street names in German. The town calls itself "Ciudad de las Rosas" — in summer, roses bloom everywhere.

The view from the waterfront is postcard-perfect: The calm lake, with the snow-capped volcanoes Osorno (2,652 m, perfect cone like Fuji) and Calbuco (2,015 m, spectacularly erupted in 2015) in the background.

Osorno Volcano

The Volcán Osorno is the symbol of the region thanks to its perfect cone shape. In winter, it is a small but fine ski area (Centro de Ski Volcán Osorno), in summer you can hike to the snow line or take the cable car up. Climbing the summit is challenging (glacier, crampons needed) and only possible with a certified guide.

Saltos del Petrohué

The Saltos del Petrohué are spectacular waterfalls in the eponymous national park: The Río Petrohué plunges over black lava rocks into emerald green pools, framed by rainforest and Osorno Volcano in the background. A wooden walkway leads to the various viewpoints.