Puerto Varas y Puerto Montt travel guide
Puerto Varas is a town on the shore of Lake Llanquihue, in Chile's Los Lagos Region, about 20 minutes from Puerto Montt on Route 5 South. German settlers founded it in the mid-19th century, and it still shows in its alerce-shingled houses and its food. From the waterfront you can see the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes.
Llanquihue is Chile's second-largest lake, ringed by the Osorno (2,652 m), Calbuco and Puntiagudo volcanoes, with Puerto Varas, Frutillar and Puerto Octay on its shores. Puerto Varas is the base for Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, created in 1926, with Petrohué Falls, Lake Todos los Santos and the Andean Lakes Crossing to Bariloche.
Puerto Montt, capital of the Los Lagos Region, was founded in 1853 as Astillero de Melipulli. It is the gateway to the area: it has El Tepual airport, the port where boats leave for Chiloé, Chaitén, Aysén and Magallanes, and the start of the Carretera Austral.
Things to do in Puerto Varas y Puerto Montt
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Puerto Varas waterfront and town center
The center is walkable: the waterfront on Lake Llanquihue with views of the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes, German settlers' houses with alerce-shingled facades, the Sacred Heart church, the Pablo Fierro Museum and the Princess Licarayén monument. Watch the sunset for free from Philippi Park, on the hill above town. A long bike path follows the lakeshore, and on the water you can kayak, sail and windsurf.
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Petrohué Falls and Lake Todos los Santos
Petrohué Falls, inside Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, are 50 km from Puerto Varas on Route 225 toward Ensenada, about 53 minutes by car. Walkways lead along the falls with Osorno Volcano behind them. Close by is Lake Todos los Santos, of glacial origin, with views of Osorno, Puntiagudo and Mount Tronador; the boat ride to Peulla takes 1 h 40 min. Swimming is not recommended. Park tickets are sold online through Pases Parques.
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Osorno Volcano
Osorno is a 2,652 m stratovolcano, the snow-capped cone that dominates Lake Llanquihue. At its base there is a ski and mountain center with chairlifts, skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing. The summit climb takes 4 to 5 hours and is technical: go with a Sernatur-registered operator, and climbers must register at the CONAF offices in Petrohué, Ensenada or Peulla.
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Andean Lakes Crossing to Bariloche
The Cruce Andino links Puerto Varas and Bariloche across the Andes, combining three lakes (Todos los Santos, Frías and Nahuel Huapi) with four land segments through Vicente Pérez Rosales and Nahuel Huapi national parks. Puerto Varas to Bariloche takes about 12 hours in one day, and it runs 365 days a year. You can split the trip and spend a night in Peulla or Puerto Blest.
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Rafting on the Petrohué River
The Petrohué River, which flows out of Lake Todos los Santos and over the falls, is run by raft with certified agencies. Pick one registered with Sernatur.
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Frutillar and the Teatro del Lago
Frutillar, also on Lake Llanquihue and about 50 minutes from Puerto Montt, keeps German settlers' heritage houses and the German Colonial Museum. Its lakeside Teatro del Lago hosts the Frutillar Musical Weeks, a classical music festival held in late January and early February. Frutillar is a UNESCO Creative City of Music.
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Angelmó and Tenglo Island, Puerto Montt
Angelmó is Puerto Montt's fishing cove, with a crafts market and cookshops serving seafood and Chilote food such as curanto, looking out to Tenglo Island and Calbuco Volcano. Boats leave the cove for Tenglo, a crossing of about 20 minutes. On the island, a steep climb leads to a large cross with views of the city and the Osorno, Puntiagudo and Calbuco volcanoes.
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Alerce Andino National Park
About 50 km from Puerto Montt, it protects alerce forests with trees over 3,000 years old. It has three entrances (Correntoso, Sargazo and Chaicas), with trails to waterfalls and lagoons. North of the park lies Lake Chapo, at 240 m above sea level.
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Puerto Varas y Puerto Montt weather
| Month | High | Low | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 19°C 66°F | 11°C 53°F | 14.7 h |
| Feb | 19°C 67°F | 12°C 53°F | 13.7 h |
| Mar | 17°C 63°F | 10°C 51°F | 12.3 h |
| Apr | 15°C 58°F | 9°C 48°F | 11.0 h |
| May | 12°C 54°F | 7°C 45°F | 9.8 h |
| Jun | 10°C 50°F | 5°C 42°F | 9.2 h |
| Jul | 9°C 49°F | 5°C 40°F | 9.5 h |
| Aug | 10°C 50°F | 5°C 41°F | 10.5 h |
| Sep | 11°C 53°F | 5°C 41°F | 11.8 h |
| Oct | 13°C 56°F | 7°C 44°F | 13.2 h |
| Nov | 15°C 60°F | 8°C 47°F | 14.5 h |
| Dec | 17°C 63°F | 10°C 50°F | 15.1 h |
2015–2024 averages calculated from Open-Meteo historical data (ERA5 reanalysis). They may differ by one or two degrees from the local weather station.
Best time to visit Puerto Varas y Puerto Montt
December to March is the best time and the high season: long days, the lake at its best and festivals like the Frutillar Musical Weeks. The Andean Lakes Crossing and Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park are open year-round, and winter adds skiing on Osorno Volcano.
Summer
December to February
High season: kayaking, sailing and the bike path on Lake Llanquihue, rafting on the Petrohué, Osorno climbs and the Musical Weeks at Frutillar's Teatro del Lago in late January. Book ahead and bring insect repellent.
Autumn
March to May
There are fewer visitors than in summer. Petrohué Falls, the Lake Todos los Santos boat trip and the Andean Lakes Crossing keep running.
Winter
June to August
Snow season at the Osorno Volcano ski center. Before heading up, CONAF advises checking road conditions on the volcano road and on the Ensenada–Lake Todos los Santos road.
Spring
September to November
Days get longer ahead of summer. It's low season: Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park and the Andean Lakes Crossing are open year-round.
How to get to Puerto Varas y Puerto Montt
By plane
El Tepual International Airport (PMC), in Puerto Montt, is the gateway to the Los Lagos Region. From there it's about 20 minutes to Puerto Varas and about 50 to Frutillar on Route 5 South, by shuttle, taxi or rental car.
From Bariloche by road
Via the Cardenal Antonio Samoré Pass, reached on the Chilean side by Route 215-CH near Osorno. Puerto Varas is 318 km from Bariloche. Chains may be required in winter: check the pass status before you go.
From Bariloche across the lakes
The Andean Lakes Crossing combines bus and boat across lakes Nahuel Huapi, Frías and Todos los Santos, reaching Puerto Varas in about 12 hours, or in two days with a night in Peulla or Puerto Blest.
Heading south
Puerto Montt is the start of the Carretera Austral. Boats leave its port for Chiloé Island, Chaitén and the Aysén and Magallanes regions.
How many days in Puerto Varas y Puerto Montt
3 days cover Puerto Varas, Petrohué Falls, Osorno Volcano and Puerto Montt. With 4 you can add Frutillar or Alerce Andino National Park, or continue to Bariloche on the Andean Lakes Crossing.
Day 1
Puerto Varas waterfront and town center in the morning; Frutillar and the Teatro del Lago in the afternoon.
Day 2
Petrohué Falls and Lake Todos los Santos, then up to the Osorno Volcano ski and mountain center.
Day 3
Puerto Montt: seafood lunch at Angelmó and a boat to Tenglo Island.
Day 4
Rafting on the Petrohué or Alerce Andino National Park. Or take the Andean Lakes Crossing to Bariloche.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Puerto Varas from Puerto Montt?
About 20 minutes on Route 5 South. El Tepual Airport, in Puerto Montt, is the closest airport to Puerto Varas.
How do you get to Petrohué Falls from Puerto Varas?
Take Route 225 toward Ensenada and then the turnoff to the falls: 50 km, about 53 minutes by car. They are inside Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, and tickets are sold online through Pases Parques.
How much is the entrance fee for Petrohué Falls?
Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park has different rates for Chilean and foreign visitors, and children under 12 enter free. Current prices and tickets are on Pases Parques, CONAF's official booking system.
How do you get from Puerto Varas to Bariloche?
By road over the Cardenal Samoré Pass (318 km), or across the lakes on the Andean Lakes Crossing, which combines bus and boat over lakes Todos los Santos, Frías and Nahuel Huapi in about 12 hours and runs year-round.
Can you climb Osorno Volcano?
Yes. You can drive to the ski and mountain center at its base, which has chairlifts. The summit (2,652 m) is a technical 4 to 5 hour climb: go with a Sernatur-registered operator and register with CONAF.
How many days do you need in Puerto Varas?
At least 3 days: one for Puerto Varas and Frutillar, one for Petrohué Falls and Osorno Volcano, and one for Puerto Montt. With 4 days you can add rafting, Alerce Andino National Park or the Andean Lakes Crossing.
What is the best time to visit Puerto Varas?
December to March, when days are long and all lake and mountain activities are running. In winter you can ski on Osorno Volcano.
What is there to see in Puerto Montt?
The Angelmó cove and market, with seafood and Chilote food, the boat to Tenglo Island and Pelluco beach. About 50 km away is Alerce Andino National Park, with alerce trees over 3,000 years old.