After breakfast, begin your full-day excursion to Llanquihue Lake and surrounding villages. Follow the road from Puerto Varas to Ensenada on one of the most scenic routes in the country, until you arrive at the Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, with its lagoons and rich native flora and fauna. A little further on, there is the option to ascend the Osorno Volcano, considered by many geologists as the most perfect in the world, due to its shape, color and texture. Passing through the Cascadas area, enjoy lunch at Doña Ema Restaurant, with a delicious combination of German and local gastronomy.
After lunch, continue further north towards Puerto Octay, a small town with German influences, from which you can access Centinela Bay for some of the best views of the area. The journey continues to the south of the lake, with beautiful panoramic views of three volcanoes and small islets. Once in Frutillar, see its German houses, enjoy its sandy beach and visit the modern Theatre of the Lake. From Frutillar, continue heading south along the coastal road towards the town of Llanquihue and return to Puerto Varas. Overnight in Puerto Varas.
Overnight in Guest House, Puerto Varas
Meal plan: Breakfast
At 870 square kilometres, Llanquihue Lake is one of the largest lakes in Chile. There are spectacular views of the lake from the surrounding towns, and the rolling pastures and towering Osorno Volcano provide a stunning backdrop.
Covering 251,000 hectares in the Los Lagos region of Chilean Patagonia, Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park is the oldest national park in the country. The park comprises great volcanoes and mountains, dense forests of native trees and one of the most beautiful lakes in the south of Chile, Lake Todos Los Santos. Other attractions include the magnificent Osorno and Puntiagudo Volcanoes, and Petrohué Waterfalls. Wildlife in the park is varied - lucky visitors may spot mountain cats, South American grey foxes and great grebes, among others. Activities include walking and hiking, visits to thermal baths, boat rides and fishing. This natural paradise is one of Chile's most scenic natural treasures.
Standing at 2,652 metres tall, the perfectly conical Osorno Volcano looms over Lake Llanquihue on its south-eastern shore. It is an iconic image of Chile's natural environment. Despite its low altitude, the volcano remains snow capped throughout the year, with the upper slopes covered in glaciers maintained by considerable snowfall.
Known as the 'City of Music', Frutillar lies on the shores of the vast Llanquihue Lake in Chile's lake district region. Founded in 1856, Frutillar's enchanting lakeside location boasts scenic views of the expansive tranquil waters. The city received a world-class performing arts centre in 2010, giving rise to its UNESCO Creative City of Music title - the first in Chile. Now, there is an excellent year-round programme of events in the Teatro del Lago, as well as the annual midsummer Semanas Musicales de Frutillar. Beyond its famous musical roots, Frutillar also boasts an attractive pier, lakeside beach, and German architecture - a nod to the German immigrants who arrived in the 19th century and left their mark on this fascinating city.
