They say that southern Chile is one of the most moving places in the country. The Andes mountain range presents itself with its high, snowy peaks that give rise to rivers, lakes, and lagoons where you can practice all kinds of activities.
For this reason, many travelers plan their trips to southern Chile to engage in adventure tourism such as rafting, kayaking, mountain biking, among others. Corralco, Pucón, Puerto Varas, and the famous Chiloé Island are 4 places that will surprise you.
The great diversity of native flora and fauna is protected in national parks and reserves that can be visited through their trails and viewpoints.
The towns of Chile are characterized by their local gastronomy, their traditions and culture, which is characterized by the great European influence of the first German and Austro-Hungarian settlers who arrived in the southern area. You will find churches, museums, and houses that were built with noble materials from the area, many of which are now World Heritage Sites and a must-see for those who organize their trips to southern Chile.
In this article, we will tell you about four places that will surprise you, both for their nature, their traditions, and, of course, most importantly… their people, who are always waiting for you with a smile.
Pucón: local gastronomy, adventure tourism, and hot springs
Pucón is located 112 kilometers southeast of Temuco, on the shores of Lake Villarrica. From this place, you can take a wide variety of day trips to explore the volcanoes, rivers, and national parks of the Andes mountain range.
In Pucón, the indigenous culture remains alive, and this can be seen in the rich local gastronomy, a cultural mix that offers delicacies prepared by the Mapuche people, such as pine nuts sautéed with merkén and digüeñe empanadas, together with delicious typical German sweets. In addition, Pucón is an important adventure tourism center that offers multiple options to visitors, such as hiking, water sports, whitewater rafting, kayaking, skiing, and snowboarding.
If you want to practice rafting, the Trancura River is located just 35 kilometers from Pucón, which has rapids of different levels. You can also do hydrospeed, a descent down the river at full speed on an individual board. The duration is approximately one hour and fifteen minutes.
If you are planning trips to southern Chile, Pucón is a focus of tourist attraction. The center is characterized by its restaurants, bars, and craft fairs. We recommend walking through the streets and enjoying its nightlife.
If you want to relax, an excellent option is to visit the Termas Geométricas to bathe at ease in 20 pools carved in the middle of ravines and native forests. There are also the Termas de Río Blanco within the Huerquehue National Park, which have become a must-see destination for those looking to rest after a day of trekking.
Corralco: skiing, trekking, and Andean nature
If you are a ski lover, you are in the perfect place. Just 120 kilometers from Temuco is Corralco, within the Malalcahuello National Reserve, at the foot of the Lonquimay volcano. This mountain resort has 31 slopes that are divided into beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Its extension for skiing exceeds 1,800 hectares, a spectacular landscape in the middle of native trees and ancient araucarias of enormous dimensions.
In addition to skiing, in Corralco you can do other activities such as snowboarding, snowmobile rides, and practice airboarding and randonnée off the slopes. For the summer season, you can take excursions to volcanoes, trekking, and mountain bike. Corralco is an unmissable destination for those planning their trips to southern Chile.
Puerto Varas, Llanquihue Lake, and Petrohué Waterfalls
Puerto Varas has become one of the most important tourist cities in southern Chile, located on the shores of Lake Llanquihue with an incredible landscape of the Osorno Volcano. It is characterized by its architecture with influence from the first European colonizers (mainly Germans) who arrived in this region in the 19th century.
The church was declared a National Monument for its Baroque and Neo-Romanesque style, and the city of Puerto Varas was declared a typical zone in 1996. This has made it a meeting point for thousands of tourists who travel from Bariloche through the Andean crossing and arrive to tour Puerto Varas and Puerto Montt.
The city offers a gourmet proposal that combines the best of Chilean cuisine with exquisite German recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation.
60 kilometers from Puerto Varas is the Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, the oldest park in Chile and which is part of the Temperate Rainforests of the Southern Andes Biosphere Reserve. Here we can find natural wonders such as the Petrohué Waterfalls and Lake Todos Los Santos, and native species such as the pudú, the puma, and the monito del monte.
Another tour that can be done from Puerto Varas is to visit Frutillar and Puerto Octay, towns that are characterized by combining German tradition and Chilean culture. You will find outdoor restaurants, craft fairs, and shops where you can buy jams, country manjar, and sweets.
Chiloé Island: Castro, Dalcahue, and World Heritage Churches
Chiloé surprises with its cultural richness, full of myths and legends. The simplicity and particularity of its constructions attract visitors' attention, especially the houses on stilts and its 16 wooden churches, recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Chiloé Island can be visited for the day from Puerto Varas or Puerto Montt. However, if you are thinking of complementing your trips to southern Chile, we recommend spending at least 3 days in this incredible destination.
Located on the western coast of Isla Grande, the Chiloé National Park has a paleontological site located on Playa Rahue and multiple native species of trees such as the arrayán and the alerce, animals such as the Chiloé fox and the river otter, and birds such as the kestrel and the rock cormorant. You can hike through the different trails of the park and enjoy its endemic flora and fauna. Chiloé Island is one of the top destinations for those looking for trips to southern Chile!
And if we talk about flavors, the gastronomy of Chiloé is not far behind. Some of its signature dishes are chapalele, made of potato and flour, and curanto, a traditional method of cooking meats and seafood using hot stones buried in a hole in the ground. From large cities such as Castro and Dalcahue, gastronomic tours are offered where you will learn about the crops of the fields and you can cook the famous curanto.
