Top 3 Places to Visit in Lake District Chile
Imagine scenery just like Switzerland with a combination of German and local Chilean heritage. The area’s prized natural landmarks are the snow-capped volcanoes, lakes and old German influenced buildings and churches.
To get to the Lake District most visitors will fly into
Puerto Montt’s El Tepual International Airport. Your flight from Santiago to Puerto Montt is only
one hour 38 minutes.
Once you arrive in Puerto Montt either rent a car at the airport or take a cab from Puerto Montt to the largest Lake District city called Puerto Varas. A quick
13 miles drive from Puerto Montt will take you to the picturesque city of Puerto Varas, the gateway to all the adventures and fun of Lake District Chile.
Here are our top 3 places to visit in Lake District Chile:
Puerto Varas
Puerto Varas is the largest city in Lake District and the great outdoors and local food take center stage. Visitors from all over the world gather here in winter for skiing and winter sports and in summer for trekking, biking, fishing, sailing, kayaking, boating and more.
The city is located by a huge lake called Lago Llanquihue. The Iglesia del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus in the center of town gives visitors a clue to the city’s German heritage. This red and white building is one of the most photographed landmarks of Chile’s Lake District. It was built in 1915 based on architecture found in the Black Forest of Germany.
The dining scene is impressive in Puerto Varas. Other than kuchen, the German cake that is found everywhere in town, you must dine at a simple Italian eatery called Tratoria de Carusso located in Calle San Bernardo 318, Puerto Varas. Mr. Carusso cooks his Italian pasta in his old kitchen without modern cookware of equipment.
The homemade ravioli and gnocchi are absolutely delicious. Please note, he does not take credit card. Another restaurant that locals go to is Café Mamusia, located at Calle San Jose 316. Try their pichanga, a local dish filled with French fries, onions, beef, eggs and peppers.
Puerto Varas is the gateway to the rest of beautiful Lake District Chile. You can also reach Puerto Varas and The Lake District by crossing the three lakes and taking three buses from Bariloche Argentina with
Cruce Andino.
Frutillar
Frutillar is a small lakeside town on the western coast of Lake Llanquihue. This town is filled with German manors, cafés and garden. One building that stands out is the new Teatro del Lago sur, the southernmost opera house in the world. This building was completed in 2010 with over 1,000 concert hall seats including smaller halls.
This German influenced town is not crowded with tourists. It is located
17 miles from Puerto Varas. You will see locals and school children walking down the streets or by the lake with views of the Osorno Volcano.
To find out more about the lifestyle of German settlers in the earlier days, visit the Museo Historico Aleman (German Colonial Museum). The museum has reconstructed German houses, a blacksmith’s house, water-powered mill and farmhouse.
While you are there visit a local café for a piece of kuchen, a German cake. Almost every café has a sign advertising kuchen.
Puerto Octay
Puerto Octay is one of the least visited towns in Lake District Chile. It has the most German influence with very little amenities for tourists. The town is small and most of the old German houses are uniquely built with wood.
The drive to Puerto Octay is the most picturesque of the area. The winding road takes you through farms, sheep, cows and a beautiful aerial view of the lakes and the surrounding towns. All types of cheese and yogurt are found in a corner store in Puerto Octay’s town center. The cheeses are cheaper than those sold in Puerto Varas.
If you are in Puerto Octay, remember to visit Octay Lacteos the biggest cheese shop in the town, just across from the town square. Puerto Octay is still non-touristy and offers visitors a look into the locals’ lifestyle in Lake District Chile.
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