Puerto Varas walking tour & city guide

The town

The lakeside promenade offers views of Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes. The Sacred Heart Church, a red wooden church inspired by a German church, overlooks the town.

Nature

The Petrohué waterfalls, with turquoise water and the volcano behind, are a short drive away. Osorno Volcano has a ski area and hiking trails.

A day in Puerto Varas

Walk along the shore of Lake Llanquihue, with the perfect snow-capped cone of the Osorno Volcano on the horizon. The town's wooden houses, built by German settlers in the 19th century, give it a European feel. Visit the Church of the Sacred Heart, a red and white wooden church on a hill.

In the afternoon, drive to the Petrohué Falls, where turquoise water rushes over black volcanic rock, and Lake Todos los Santos.

Good to know

Puerto Varas is a base for rafting, kayaking and volcano hikes. Try kuchen, a German-style cake.

Frutillar, a nearby lakeside town, has a famous concert hall built on the water.

The Lake District

Puerto Varas is known as the 'City of Roses' for the flowers planted in its gardens. It is the perfect base for exploring Chile's Lake District, where volcanoes rise above lakes and forests. The Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, Chile's oldest, protects the area around Lake Todos los Santos. A famous lake crossing to Bariloche in Argentina combines boats and buses through the Andes. Nearby Puerto Montt, a busy port, is the gateway to the island of Chiloé, with its wooden churches.