Day 01
Lake Llanquihue, Petrohué Falls and Frutillar
- Meet your driver and guide at your hotel. Bordering the southern shore of Lake Llanquihue across Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, visit the resort of Ensenada and the Petrohué River Falls.
- The tour will continue to the Osorno Volcano Ski Resort, at 1,200 metres above sea level (3,937 feet). You will get spectacular views of Mount Tronador, Volcano Puntiagudo, Lake Llanquihue, and, if the weather is clear enough, even the Reloncaví Sound and, of course, the whole Petrohué River valley.
- Continue to the northern shore of Lake Llanquihue, driving across some of the least-visited sides of the lake, where agriculture and cattle ranching are part of the local economy, passing through Cascadas village.
- We will reach the picturesque village of Puerto Octay, located on a quiet bay enclosed by the Centinela Peninsula, and then continue to the town of Frutillar, with its houses built in the German style and lovely gardens representing the architecture of the mid-30s, when the first settlers arrived to begin a hard-working life in the south. This charming and well-kept village has a superb view of Osorno Volcano.
- During this beautiful and enjoyable drive, we will see the German-style houses and barns that once represented that wealthy economy during the 19th century and, depending on the time of year, many products of the land such as rapeseed, oats, potatoes, or beetroot plantations, as well as cattle ranches.
- Of course, Osorno Volcano, with its unique snow-covered cone, dominates the whole lake.
- We arrive at the village, where you will have free time to look around or visit the German Museum (entrance not included), which displays much of the machinery used, a water mill, houses, and lovely gardens. Or you may simply enjoy the views with an excellent coffee and kuchen at a traditional teahouse.
- The last stretch of the drive goes along the coast between Frutillar and Llanquihue towns, before crossing the only river that flows out of the lake, the Maullín River. Our return to Puerto Varas will be along Route 5, a drive of about 10 minutes. We will say goodbye at your hotel.
