15 Things To Do in Puerto Varas, Chile

Welcome to Puerto Varas, a lakeside city full of adventures, and one of my favorite places in all of Chile! There are so many cool things to do in Puerto Varas — from waterfall-visiting and German town-hopping to kayaking, shopping, and enjoying chic restaurants!

My husband and I ended up in Puerto Varas on a bit of a whim — and it ended up being one of the highlights of our Chile Argentina honeymoon!

What makes Puerto Varas so German? In the 1850s, Germans were encouraged to move here to develop the land, and more than 200 families made the journey. (Note that this was LONG before World War II. These are not the same Germans who fled to Argentina post-World War II.)

We arrived in Los Lagos, Chile’s Lakes Region, after a few days in the Atacama Desert, and WHAT a contrast it was — rolling hills of farmland, old-fashioned timber houses, flowers everywhere, and the most lush, sweet-smelling air.

Puerto Varas is perched on Lake Llanquihue, with views of snow-capped volcanoes in the distance. Chileans come here for the easy access to the outdoors, as well as the culture — so you can go hard or take it slow.

I highly recommend renting a car to enjoy all that this region has to offer. But even if you’re coming in by public transit, you’ll find so much to love about Puerto Varas. Let’s take a look!

This post was published in April 2024 and was co-written by Adventurous Kate and Riana Ang-Canning.

Best Things To Do in Puerto Varas, Chile

Explore the town center

There’s lots to do in the center of Puerto Varas. Start by checking out two churches, Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón, a 1915 Catholic church that overlooks downtown, and Iglesia Lueterana, a 1924 Lutheran church along the lake. 

If you love to shop, Puerto Varas is home to lots of small boutiques and secondhand stores. If you love thrift shopping as much as I do, check out Loica Liquidadora, a beloved secondhand clothing store. If you need sports gear, there’s also a Patagonia shop in town! 

One of the things that makes Puerto Varas stand out is its interesting architecture. My favorite was Casa Kuschel, one of the oldest houses in Puerto Varas, a gothic masterpiece that the Addams Family would love.

Another is Casa Gotschlich, a historic German home from the early 1900s. A lot of German-inspired homes and buildings can be seen dotted around the lake.

Speaking of German culture, you’ll also want to indulge in some German food while in town! Germans love their afternoon kaffee und kuchen, or coffee and cake. Here in Chile, they turn it Spanish and call it kuchenes (KOO-ken-ays)!

Visit Museo Pablo Fierro

You will know Museo Pablo Fierro the moment you see it — nearly everyone stops and stares. Its quirky exterior — featuring bikes, a giant clock, and half a ship — pretty much demands you stop in.

Inside you’ll find a collection curated by artist Pablo Fierro that showcases the intersection of the local Chilote culture and the German farmers who immigrated to Puerto Varas in the mid 19th Century.

Unlike in most museums, visitors are encouraged to play and interact with many of the artifacts on display.

Walk or bike Cerro Philippi

Just north of the city center is Parque Philippi, a lush park offering trails up to the peak of Cerro Philippi. Hikers can take the 0.7 mile (1.1 km) out and back Mirador Cerro Philippi trail up the mountain. On a clear day, you’ll get a great view of the volcanoes! 

There are also a number of bike trails throughout the park. They range in difficulty level, so even novice mountain bikers can enjoy the beautiful scenery.  

Relax on the shores of Lake Llanquihue

Puerto Varas hugs the shores of Lake Llanquihue, Chile’s second largest lake. On a nice day, you’ll find locals and travelers enjoying a stroll or chilling out with a beer by the water. There is a little fishing pier called Muelle Piedralplen with lots of benches for enjoying the view.

Not a lot of swimming happens at Lake Llanquihue, as Puerto Varas rarely gets warm enough for people to brave the water. But if you happen to visit during a particularly hot stretch of summer, enjoy a dip!

I was in Puerto Varas in early December, Chile’s late spring. It was overcast and light jacket weather until the final day, when the sun came out, the volcanoes revealed themselves, and a few intrepid folks jumped into the water!

Eat at Mesa Tropera

When we told Chileans we were coming to Puerto Varas, many of them said the same thing: “You MUST go to Mesa Tropera.” With that many endorsements, we had to go!

Mesa Tropera is a pizzeria and cervecería (beer bar — and here it’s a craft brewery). It’s perched right on the lake, with huge windows overlooking the volcanoes in the distance.

And in addition to really good pizza (by far the best I had in Chile), they also serve interesting tartares (not just beef, but salmon, octopus, and artichoke) and interesting fusion dishes, like Italian pasta dishes with Patagonian lamb. The beers are nice, too!

I’ll be honest — Chilean food isn’t the greatest, but Puerto Varas has a lot of nice restaurants that I enjoyed. Here are some I recommend:

La Vinoteca — This wine bar and shop allows you to buy your wine at store prices, but they’ll open and serve it to you. They also have an incredible octopus appetizer with roasted potatoes, leeks, and cheese. It’s a weird combo, but it works!

La Chalota: If you’re looking for a hipster brunch in Puerto Varas, this is the place. They have tons of yummy baked goods and I highly recommend their shakshuka. 

Japon del Lago: If you’re in the mood for Japanese food — or Peruvian-flavored Nikkei cuisine, common in Chile — this is a nice sushi spot. We went twice because we loved their tuna tiradito so much! 

Dharma Coffee: I always say wherever I travel I have to find the best coffee in town. In Puerto Varas, that would be Dharma Coffee, with delicious flat whites and nice lake views.

Visit Petrohué Falls

Petrohué Falls (Saltas de Petrohué) is an absolute MUST visit during your time in Puerto Varas. These rushing waterfalls are absolutely stunning, especially on a clear day, when Osorno Volcano rises perfectly behind them!

A short path will take you to these chute-style waterfalls and walking trails in the area will allow you to experience them from different viewpoints. We also spotted some adorable foxes, who loved hanging out at the cafe area. (Please don’t feed them. It’s not good for them.)

My top recommendation is to time your visit for a clear day — it’s so much better when the volcano rises behind the falls.

Petrohué Falls is about a 45-minute drive from Puerto Varas.

Visit Parque Nacional Vicente Pérez Rosales

Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park is Chile’s oldest national park and home to the famous Petrohué Falls, beautifully green Lake Todos los Santos, and the snow-capped Osorno Volcano. If you’ve got time for more than just the falls, visiting the whole national park can be a blast!

To explore this epic park, you can head out on this guided hiking tour. From your hotel in Puerto Varas, you’ll drive up into the park, walk around volcanic craters, enjoy a scenic coffee, and hike through the forest to the Petrohué River and Emerald Lake.

Or head across the national park to the town of Peulla on this day trip. You’ll drive along the lake to the town of Ensenada, visit Petrohué Falls and Petrohué River, take a catamaran across Todos Los Santos Lake, enjoy lunch in Peulla, and then enjoy an activity of your choice in the afternoon, such as horseback riding, fishing or hiking.  

Another option is a guided bike tour that visits Petrohué Falls, Lago Todos los Santos, and Osorno Volcano.

Spend a day in Frutillar

On the west side of Lake Llanquihue lies the adorable German town of Frutillar. This small town looks like it was plucked straight out of Bavaria! I couldn’t believe we were still in Chile.

There are two parts of town — Frutillar Alto and Frutillar Baja — and you want to head to Frutillar Bajo, the pretty part of town right on the lake. You’ll want to photograph everything in sight!

Admire the gorgeous architecture, the blooming gardens, the nice downtown shops, and pay a visit to the Frutillar German Colonial Museum. If you time your trip right, you may also be able to attend the annual Semanas Musicales music festival, which takes place in late January and early February.

When you start to get hungry, I recommend Club Alemán de Frutillar, where we enjoyed a nice schnitzel and these incredible potatoes with cheese and bacon, along with some German Chilean beer.

And because you must stop for your daily kuchenes, as German Chileans call it, head to Casa Rosalba for kaffee und kuchen. They make delicious espresso-based beverages as well as apple strudel and cheesecake, and you can enjoy views from its high perch on a hill. It’s cozy and lovely.

To get to Frutillar from Puerto Varas, you can drive (25 minutes), take the bus, or visit as part of a day tour. This day tour from Puerto Varas stops at both Llanquihue and Frutillar.

Visit other towns on the lake

Frutillar is just one of the towns around Lake Llanquihue that you’ll want to visit while you’re in Puerto Varas. Two other towns you can check out are Puerto Octay and Llanquihue. 

Puerto Octay is wonderfully low-key town, just 45 minutes from Puerto Varas. There’s not a ton to see in terms of sights, but it is a beautiful town to walk around and smell the roses (literally, we walked past a house with a HUGE rose garden on the corner of Costanera Pichi Juan and Muñoz Gamero). 

In Puerto Octay, just walk around the town, including the big hill with a cemetery overlooking the lake. I highly recommend lunch at Restaurant Willhause (delicious and refined German food, and I had a terrific salmon) and coffee and cake at Cafe Meson Carpintero. They had incredible cream puffs and probably the best flat white I had in all of Chile! 

You can also visit the town of Llanquihue, which is just 15 minutes from Puerto Varas. It’s not the prettiest town on the lake, but it’s worth a quick stop to see the German history and local dairy farms. If you’re not driving, you can visit Llanquihue and Frutillar on this half-day tour. 

Go rafting or kayaking 

Being in the lakes region of Chile, Puerto Varas is one of the best places to experience water sports. If you’re feeling adventurous, head out on a rafting tour down Rio Petrohué. 

This half-day guided rafting tour will have you navigating through Class III rapids as you spot volcanoes in the distance. Want an even bigger adrenaline rush? This rafting tour includes Class III and Class IV rapids! 

Or if you prefer something a bit more laidback, you can go kayaking. Paddle through the lush vegetation and swamp forest of the Maullín River on this kayaking tour or spend half a day kayaking around Laguna La Poza, whose calm waters are perfect for families or beginners. 

Visit Salto Las Cascadas

If you’re in the mood for more waterfalls, pay a visit to Salto Las Cascadas. This is the antithesis of the well-organized Petrohué Falls experience — it’s just a dirt road to a makeshift parking lot, followed by a trail through the woods, until you reach a waterfall.

You’ll set out on a 30 minute walk through the forest and along the rushing Rio Blanco Las Cascadas until you reach a tall, skinny waterfall, perfect for photo ops.

Las Cascadas is on the east shore of Lake Llanquihue, about a 90 minute drive from Puerto Varas. I think it makes sense to visit these falls as part of a larger trip to the Petrohué Falls and Osorno Volcano, which are also east of the lake. 

Experience the stunning Volcán Osorno

Volcán Osorno is one of the most active volcanoes in all of Chile’s Andes Mountains and a distinct natural beauty in the 10th region of Los Lagos. It stands 8,700 feet (2,650 meters) tall and has erupted eleven times in recorded history, most recently in 1869.

While still considered active, Osorno Volcano is now one of the most visited places in the Lakes region. You can visit as part of this tour seeing both Volcán Osorno and Petrohué Falls, or this tour which includes Osorno Volcano, Calbuco Volcano, and Llanquihue Lake. 

If you’re feeling really adventurous you can ski at the Osorno Volcano Ski Center or mountain climb on this overnight guided climbing trip. Climbing an active volcano is an experience I think every adventure traveler should have! (Though I didn’t do it here, I did it a few times in Sicily.)

Go fishing in the Maullin River

If you love to fish, you’ll need to give it a try in the Lakes Region! If you’re looking to fish near Puerto Varas, check out this private sport fishing tour. From here, you’ll head out to Llanquihue and fish for brown and rainbow trout on the Maullin River. 

Enjoy a full day of fishing through the mangroves and lunch on the banks of the river. This private tour is perfect for fishing enthusiasts, families, and groups. 

Visit Alerce Andino National Park

Alerce Andino National Park is a temperate rainforest known for its lakes, wetlands, and alerce trees that grow over 147 feet (45 meters) tall and 13 feet (4 meters) wide. At a little over an hour from the city of Puerto Varas, Parque Nacional Alerce Andino makes a perfect day trip out in nature.

Join this guided day tour to the national park where a guide will take you along the trails and share more about the park’s biodiversity. 

Visit Chiloé Island

Chiloé Island is part of an archipelago in southern Chile. The island is famous for its historic Jesuit churches, which were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and homes that sit on stilts out in the water.

The Chiloé archipelago is also a natural paradise known for its stunning landscapes and interesting wildlife, including whales and penguins.

Chiloé has tons of things to do, especially if you love the outdoors, and is better visited for a few days — but it can be done as a day trip from Puerto Varas. Just know that the drive is 3.5 hours each way to the city of Castro. If that’s cool with you, go for it!

You can also visit Chiloé on a guided tour from Puerto Varas, leaving the long day of driving to someone else. 

How Much Time to Spend in Puerto Varas

I think three days is enough time to explore Puerto Varas and Lake Llanquihue. But if you’re hoping for a more laid-back and relaxing trip — or if you need a break in the middle of a busy Chile itinerary, like me — Puerto Varas is a great place to stay for a while.

I spent almost a week in Puerto Varas, both sightseeing and getting some work done, and it was perfect. I loved the calm environment, the fabulous restaurants, and the fact that prices were much lower than they were in Patagonia.

The great thing about Puerto Varas is there’s a lot to do so you’re not bored, but you don’t feel pressure to do ALL THE THINGS (like in San Pedro de Atacama). You can really take your time, slow down, and enjoy the city.

One of those days should be spent exploring the attractions around the lake. In a single day, if you were ambitious, you could drive around the lake clockwise and visit Llanquihue, Frutillar, Puerto Octay, Salto Las Cascadas, and Petrohué Waterfalls before coming back to Puerto Varas.

If you only have one day in Puerto Varas altogether, I would spend most of your time in the town and do a side trip to either Frutillar or Petrohué Falls. You could probably do both if you started early and ended late (double-check the Petrohué Falls opening hours first, though).

But again, I really enjoyed having more time to relax in Puerto Varas. I think you’ll enjoy a few more days here, too.

How to get to Puerto Varas

The best way to get to Puerto Varas is to fly into Puerto Montt, rent a car, and drive to the city. You can fly directly to Puerto Montt from other cities in Chile, including Santiago and Puerto Natales. From Puerto Montt, it’s a 30-minute drive through beautiful farmland to Puerto Varas.  

Personally, I wouldn’t recommend spending much if any time in Puerto Montt itself. We visited briefly to pick up an Apple Watch charger and were glad we decided to spend more of our time in Puerto Varas. 

You could also visit Puerto Varas as part of a Chilean road trip. To the southwest you have Chiloé Island, known for its historic wooden churches; four hours north of Puerto Varas lies Pucón, a great place for hiking and water sports; and to the south, you have the beautiful landscapes of Patagonia! 

If you’d like to expand your road trip to visit more of South America, you can head east past Cerro Tronador on the border of Argentina to the popular lake town, Bariloche. Bariloche is a 4.5 hour drive from Puerto Varas — though keep in mind that this border crossing can get busy with travelers trying to visit both Chile and Argentina in a single day. 

Where to Stay in Puerto Varas

Here are my picks for the best places to stay in Puerto Varas based on your budget: 

Top Rated Luxury Hotel in Puerto Varas: Hotel AWA is a gorgeous, modern property with lake and volcano views, complimentary breakfast, and a fireplace in every room. They also have a restaurant, pool, sauna, spa, hot tubs, and a hammam on site! While not central in town, it’s hard to beat these views! 

Top Rated Mid-range Hotel in Puerto Varas: Hotel Cumbres Puerto Varas offers a compromise between luxury amenities and a central location, all with beautiful views of the lake and mountains. Here you’ll find a hot tub, sauna, spa and restaurant, all within walking distance of some of the city’s main attractions. 

Top Rated Budget Hotel in Puerto Varas: MaPatagonia Hostel is perfect for budget travelers looking for a little charm. Sleep in a private or dorm room in this restored German home, cook in the shared kitchen, and relax in the beautiful garden out back.  

Find deals on places to stay in Puerto Varas here.

Best Time to Visit Puerto Varas

High season in Chile is from December to March, when the Los Lagos region enjoys the most sunshine and the least rain. However, because Puerto Varas is on the edge of Patagonia, it still experiences some of the wild weather the region is known for.

We visited in December and despite it being the beginning of the peak summer season, we had to wear our coats most days. We only had one really warm day right at the end. So even if you visit during the southern hemisphere’s summer, bring a coat! 

Even with the slightly colder weather we experienced, I would still recommend visiting Puerto Varas at the tail ends of peak season: early December or late March. That way, you get the best chance of nice weather and slightly smaller crowds. 

Is Puerto Varas Worth It?

I had an absolute ball in Puerto Varas! This was one of the last places we added to our itinerary, and I’m so glad we decided to come here instead of somewhere else in Chile.

If you’re on the fence about visiting Puerto Varas and you love the idea of an adventure town on the lake with lots to explore, I think you’ll enjoy yourself here. Go and have the best time!

More on Chile:

• 26 Fun Things To Do in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
• Staying at Ecocamp Patagonia: A Sustainable Resort in Chile
• 17 Best Things to Do in Santiago, Chile
• 11 Cool Day Trips from Santiago, Chile
• 17 Colorful Things to Do in Valparaíso, Chile

More on South America:

• 32+ Fun Things to Do in Buenos Aires, Argentina
• 25 Epic Things To Do in El Calafate, Argentina
• 18 Wild Things to Do in El Chaltén, Argentina
• El Calafate vs. El Chaltén: Which Town in Argentine Patagonia is Better?
• Solo Female Travel in Colombia: Is it safe?
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• 16 Epic Things to Do in Ushuaia, Argentina

Have you been to Puerto Varas? Any tips to share?