Travel to the south of Chile: 4 amazing places

They say the south of Chile is one of the most amazing places in the country. The Andes mountains with their snow-capped peaks give birth to rivers, lakes and lagoons where you can practice all kinds of activities. This is why many travelers choose to travel down south for adventure tourism, including rafting, kayaking, mountain biking, among others. Corralco, Pucón, Puerto Varas and the famous Island of Chiloé are just 4 of the places that will take your breath away.

The large diversity of native flora and fauna in the parks and national reserves in the south of Chile can be viewed from walking trails and lookout points.

Small-town Chile is known for its local cuisine, traditions and culture, characterized by a large European influence, particularly the first German, Austrian and Hungarian settlers to arrive to the south. You’ll find wooden churches, museums and homes, which are now a World Heritage Site and a must-see for those planning a trip to southern Chile.

In this article we’ll tell you about four places that will amaze you and can’t be missed on your next Chilean vacation.

Pucón: local cuisine, adventure tourism and hot springs

Pucón is located 112 kilometers southeast of Temuco, along the banks of Lake Villarrica. A large variety of day tours are offered around the area to tour the nearby volcanoes, rivers and Andes national parks.  The indigenous culture is still alive in Pucón and can be perceived through the rich local cuisine, a cultural mix of Mapuche flavors, such as pine nuts sautéed in spicy merken and digüeñe empanadas, and delicious German pastries.

Pucón is an important center for adventure tourism, providing visitors with multiple options, like hiking, water sports, waterfall rappelling, kayak tours, skiing and snowboarding.

If you want to go rafting, just 35 kilometers from Pucon is the Trancura river which has different levels of river rapids. Also try your hand at hydrospeeding, a fast downstream descent on an individual board that lasts around one hour and fifteen minutes.

If you need some R&R, the Geometric hot springs are an excellent option, where you can take a dip in 20 different hot spring pools in the middle of a ravine and native forests. The Rio Blanco hot springs are another option in the Huerquehue National Park, which have become an obligatory stop for those looking to relax after a day of trekking.

Corralco: skiing, trekking and mountain nature

If you love to ski, this is the place for you. Just 120 kilometers from Temuco you’ll find Corralco nestled into Andes mountain range at the foot of the Lonquimay Volcano. This mountain resort has 31 slopes for beginner, intermediate and advanced skiers. The slopes cover 1,800 hectares, and the spectacular landscape includes thousand-year-old araucarias and other native trees.

Besides skiing, Corralco offers other activities such as snowboarding, snow mobile rides, airboarding and cross-country skiing.Corralco is located within the Malacahuello National Reserve, where you’ll see some of the oldest araucaria trees in the area. You can also climb Cerro Coloradito and marvel at the view of the Lonquimay Volcano.

 Corralco is a must-see for those planning a travel to the south of Chile.

Puerto Varas, Lake Llanquihue and Saltos de Petrohué

Puerto Varas has become one of the most important tourist towns in the south of Chile, located along the banks of Lake Llanquihue with an incredible view of the Osorno Volcano. It is known for its European architecture, influenced by the first settlers of the area (primarily German), who arrived to the region in the 19^th century.

The church was declared a National Monument for its baroque and neoromantic style, and the city of Puerto Varas was declared a Traditional Zone in 1996. This has led it to become a meeting place for thousands of tourists traveling from Bariloche, Argentina, to Puerto Varas and Puerto Montt.

The city offers gourmet dishes that combine the best of Chilean cuisine with delicious German recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation.

Just 60 kilometers from Puerto Varas, you’ll find the Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, the oldest park in Chile, and which is part of the Southern Andes Temperate Rainforest Biosphere Reserve. It is home to natural wonders like the Saltos de Petrohué and Lake Todos Los Santos, as well as native species such as the pudú, the puma y el monito del monte.

Take another day trip from Puerto Varas to Frutillar and Puerto Octay, towns which are known for combining German tradition and Chilean culture. You’ll find open-air restaurants, arts and crafts fairs and local stores where you can buy homemade jam, manjar and sweets.

Island of Chiloé: Castro, Dalcahue and the World Heritage Site Churches

 Chiloé amazes visitors with its rich culture, mythology and legends. Tourists will love the simplicity and particularity of its constructions, particularly its homes built on stilts and 16 wooden churches, recognized as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Take a day trip to Chiloé from Puerto Varas or Puerto Montt, but if you have some extra time on your travel to the south of Chile, we recommend staying here for at least 3 days.

On the west coast of the Big Island, the Chiloé National Park has a paleontological site at Rahue Beach and several native trees such as the Chilean myrtle and fitzroya, animals like the Chiloe fox and river otter, and birds like the common kestrel and rock cormorant. You can hike the park trails and enjoy the native flora and fauna.

Chiloé is also known for its cuisine, with traditional preparations like the chapalele, made with potato and flour, and curanto, a traditional method for cooking meat and seafood using underground stone pits. From the bigger cities of Castro and Dalcahue, you can take a food tour of the farms and have the chance to cook a traditional curanto.

Consider yourself invited: four options, four destinations that will amaze you on your travel to the south of Chile.