South of Santiago, the Los Lagos Region is where the Andes loosen into lakes, fjords, and forests. German settlers left timbered houses and a pastry habit; Mapuche and Huilliche peoples shaped place-names and stories. The skyline is crowned by volcanoes—Osorno’s near-perfect cone is the region’s north star.

Base yourself first in Puerto Varas on Lake Llanquihue for classic Patagonian scenery: Petrohué Falls, black-sand beaches, and blue-green rivers ideal for rafting and fly-fishing. Then cross to Chiloé, a myth-dense archipelago of stilt houses, eelgrass bays, and some of South America’s loveliest UNESCO wooden churches.

Summer (Dec–Mar) brings long days, festivals, and penguin viewing; winter is quieter and misty, with cozy cafés and hot soups. ATMs are common in Puerto Varas and Castro; carry cash for cocinerías, ferries, and rural shops. Pack layers, rain gear, and a sense of wonder—this is Chile’s Lake District at its most cinematic.

Puerto Varas

Nicknamed “La Ciudad de las Rosas,” Puerto Varas blends lakeside strolls with Alpine flourishes and a thriving café scene. It’s your gateway to Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, Osorno Volcano, and the emerald Petrohué River.

• Top sights: Lake Llanquihue costanera, Cerro Philippi viewpoint, Petrohué Falls, Osorno Volcano.
• Don’t miss: A slice of kuchen (fruit tart) and a lakeside sunset when Osorno blushes pink.
• Dining vibes: From seafood stews and Chilean curantos to thin-crust pizza and craft beer with a view.

Where to stay: Search lake-view stays, palafito-inspired suites, and stylish cabins on VRBO Puerto Varas or compare hotels on Hotels.com Puerto Varas.

Getting there: Fly into Puerto Montt (PMC) from Santiago (1h45–2h; often US$60–150 one-way). Compare fares on Kiwi.com or Trip.com Flights. Transfer to Puerto Varas in ~30–40 minutes by taxi or shuttle.

Day 1: Arrival, Lakefront Stroll, and Pizza-with-a-View

Afternoon: Arrive at PMC, transfer to Puerto Varas, and check in. Stretch your legs along the costanera boardwalk for your first full-frame view of Lake Llanquihue and Osorno. Pop into Cassis for coffee and a berry kuchen—classic Lake District fuel.

Evening: Grab a window table at Mesa Tropera for creative thin-crust pizzas, house-brewed beer, and a balcony sunset over the water. If you’re up for a nightcap, the Kunstmann Kneipe pours Chile’s best-known craft ales; order a sampler and the fried empanaditas.

Day 2: Petrohué Falls and Osorno Volcano

Morning: Drive or day-tour to Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park (about 1h15). Walk the boardwalks at the Saltos del Petrohué where turquoise water rages over black lava (entry ~CLP 7,500). Photograph Osorno Volcano when the clouds part.

Afternoon: Continue to the Osorno Volcano ski area (extra 30–40 min). Ride the chairlift for panoramas over Todos los Santos and Llanquihue, or follow a short lava trail. Lunch on salmon and empanadas in Ensenada—try Don Salmon for huge plates and river views.

Evening: Back in Puerto Varas, dine at La Olla—order chupe de jaiba (crab casserole) or congrio (conger eel) with a Chilean Sauvignon Blanc. Walk up Cerro Philippi for a twinkly town view, weather permitting.

Day 3: Frutillar Day Trip—Teatro del Lago, Kuchen, and Lakeside Biking

Morning: Head 35–45 minutes to Frutillar, a lakeside town with German-settler architecture. Tour sleek Teatro del Lago (check its schedule if you love classical music) and visit the Museo Colonial Alemán for waterwheel mills and pioneer tales.

Afternoon: Kuchen time: try the seasonal berry tart at Kuchenladen or apple streusel at a lakeside café. Rent a bike on the waterfront and pedal the flat promenade; on windy days, stroll the black-sand beach and snap Osorno framed by the pier.

Evening: Return to Puerto Varas for dinner at El Mercadito—a favorite for locavore seafood, cochayuyo (kelp) salads, and bright salsas. Finish with a pisco sour de calafate or a local IPA.

Day 4: Forests and Markets—Alerce Andino, Angelmó, and River Light

Morning: Choose a forest fix: the Lahuen Ñadi Sanctuary (gentle boardwalk among ancient alerce trees; 30–40 min from town) or Alerce Andino National Park for a longer trail to waterfalls (entry ~CLP 5,000; go early for birds).

Afternoon: Swing by Angelmó Market in Puerto Montt for lunch at a cocinería—order a steaming paila marina (seafood soup) or curanto en olla (island-style shellfish and meats). If weather’s fair, catch golden hour at the Maullín River mouth where herons and swans glide over reed beds.

Evening: Back in Puerto Varas, feast on grilled meats at Fogón Las Buenas Brasas or try a flight of ales at a local taproom. Pack for tomorrow’s island crossing—layers and rain shell included.

Castro (Chiloé Island)

Chiloé feels like a country within a country: shingled houses in rainbow hues, fishermen mending nets, and legends of ghost ships and forest spirits. Castro’s palafitos—homes on wooden stilts—line the tidal bays like paintbox postcards.

• Top sights: Palafitos de Gamboa, Iglesia San Francisco (UNESCO), Nercón Church, Chiloé National Park, Dalcahue & Achao churches.
• Don’t miss: A traditional curanto (shellfish-and-meat feast) and a ferry ride scanning for sea lions and dolphins.
• Seasonal magic: Penguin boats at Puñihuil (roughly Sep–Mar, weather-dependent).

Where to stay: Hunt for palafito suites and cozy cottages on VRBO Castro or browse hotels on Hotels.com Castro.

Getting there from Puerto Varas: Morning buses run ~every hour; ride time ~3.5–4 hours including the 20–30 minute Chacao Channel ferry (about US$8–12). Driving takes ~3 hours; the car ferry is frequent (pay at the ramp; budget ~US$14–18 per vehicle). If you prefer to fly directly to Chiloé from Santiago, search SCL–MHC on Kiwi.com or Trip.com Flights.

Day 5: Puerto Varas → Castro, Palafitos, and UNESCO Wood

Morning: Depart Puerto Varas by bus or car; enjoy the ferry crossing—keep an eye out for sea lions riding currents by the bow. Check into your palafito or hilltop guesthouse in Castro.

Afternoon: Lunch at Mercado Municipal de Castro among cocinerías serving merluza frita and seafood empanadas. Walk to the Palafitos de Gamboa for tide-dependent reflections, then visit Iglesia San Francisco—a candy-colored, UNESCO-listed wooden church.

Evening: Try a modern take on island flavors at a palafito restaurant-bar—Palafito 1326 Café & Bar is beloved for Chilote potatoes, soups, and cocktails with sea views. Ask about curanto days, when the feast is cooked in a pit of hot stones.

Day 6: Ancud and (Seasonal) Penguins of Puñihuil

Morning: Head 1.5 hours north to Ancud. Start with the Fuerte San Antonio and viewpoint, then browse seafood and cheeses at the local market. In season (approx. Sep–Mar), continue to Puñihuil for boat trips to see Magellanic and Humboldt penguins nesting on offshore islets.

Afternoon: If seas are calm, take the 30–45 minute penguin navigation (book on-site, weather rules the day). Otherwise, explore tide pools and have lunch on the beach—go for chupe de locos (abalone casserole) when available.

Evening: Return to Castro for a relaxed dinner. Warm up with caldillo de congrio and a glass of carmenere. If you prefer craft beer, look for local taps featuring Chilote brews.

Day 7: Chiloé National Park and Departure

Morning: Drive or bus 1–1.5 hours to Cucao and Chiloé National Park. Walk the short Sendero El Tepual over springy moss and twisted forest, then amble dunes that meet the roaring Pacific. Birders: bring binoculars for snipe, herons, and black-necked swans on Lago Huillinco.

Afternoon: Early lunch at a cocinería in Cucao—try milcao and chancho en piedra. Return to Castro, collect your bags, and continue to Puerto Montt Airport (allow 3.5–4 hours). Fly to Santiago on Kiwi.com or Trip.com Flights to connect onward.

Evening: If you have a long layover in Santiago before your international flight, consider one of these curated options to round out your Chile experience:

• Santiago: Half-Day Sightseeing City Tour with Chauffeur and Guide — Efficient overview of historic barrios, markets, and San Cristóbal Hill.

  

• Cable Car, Funicular and Sightseeing Bus in Santiago one day — Hop-on, hop-off access plus the funicular and cable car to Cerro San Cristóbal.

  

• Small-Group Cajón del Maipo Full-Day Tour and Picnic — If your schedule allows a full day, this Andes escape pairs mountain scenery with a picnic.

  

Eating & Drinking Cheat Sheet (save for your map)

• Cafés in Puerto Varas: Cassis (pastries, kuchen), La Gringa Bakery (sourdough, cinnamon rolls), lakeside pop-ups on fair-weather days.
• Puerto Varas lunches/dinners: Mesa Tropera (pizza and beer with a view), La Olla (seafood stews), El Mercadito (locavore seafood), Fogón Las Buenas Brasas (grill).
• Frutillar treats: Kuchenladen (classic German-style tarts), cafés around Teatro del Lago for coffee-with-Osorno views.
• Castro & around: Mercado Municipal cocinerías (hearty seafood), Palafito 1326 Café & Bar (Chilote plates and cocktails), Dalcahue cocinerías rows (lunch with church-and-sea views).

Getting Around & Practical Notes

• Car vs. bus: Buses are frequent and affordable; a car gives flexibility for trailheads and coastal villages. The Chacao ferry runs often; pay on-site.
• Weather: Even in summer, pack layers, a waterproof shell, and quick-dry shoes. Trails can be slick after showers.
• Fees & hours: National park entries are modest; carry cash. Penguin tours are seasonal and weather-dependent—have a Plan B (Ancud fort, beaches, museums).
• Flights: Search domestic and onward connections on Kiwi.com and Trip.com Flights.

In a single week, you’ll collect the Los Lagos essentials: volcano horizons, rainforest boardwalks, palafitos at low tide, and a seafood table set by cold seas. From Puerto Varas’ lake light to Chiloé’s story-rich shores, this itinerary balances scenery, culture, and cuisine—Chile’s Lake District at its most unforgettable.