South America: Chile – Lake Region

Y’all, I’m only half way finished with posting about our trip! I don’t know why this trip is taking so many posts when I did our other two week trips in one post! Bless those who are still reading!

After leaving the park, we headed back to Puerto Natales  before catching a bus to Puerto Arenas and flying to Puerto Montt in the lake region. Again, too much detail for most, but here it goes….

Day 1 – Puerto Natales & Travel to Puerto Montt

Like I mentioned in my last post, Puerto Natales is the base on both sides of Hiking at Torres Del Paine. The day before we left for the park we were busy getting groceries and our gear together, so we didn’t get to walk around town, so the morning after returning from the park was spent walking around town. Another extremely freezing and windy day, but the sun was out!

Puerto Natales, Chile The obligatory 'it's a statue let's take a pic' picture. Puerto Natales

That afternoon we left Puerto Natales, took a bus to Puerto Arenas, and took a flight to Puerto Montt.

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Day 2 – Puerto Varas & Osorno Volcano

After arriving at the Puerto Montt airport the night before and driving to Puerto Varas, we stayed at one of my favorite places the whole trip, a private cabin on the lake. This was by far one of my favorite days: warmer weather, minimal hiking, sunny skies, a beautiful volcano, topped off with our own private beach on the gorgeous lake! It was a 45 minute drive to the volcano, where we parked and hiked up it! After driving around the area and visiting some other lakes, we went back to our lodge to enjoy our private backyard! Seriously, the Lord blessed us so much this day!

Volcano Osorno  Volcano Osorno, Chile Volcano Osorno, Chile  Volcano Osorno, Chile Volcano Osorno, Chile Volcano Osorno, Chile
Volcano Osorno, Chile Volcano Osorno, Chile Volcano Osorno, Chile Our backyard/private beach! Lake Llanquihue Our backyard/private beach! Lake Llanquihue Our backyard/private beach! Lake Llanquihue

Day 3 – Puyehue

The next day, we drove from Puerto Varas to Puyehue. Looking back, we wished we would have stayed in Puerto Varas forever. Puyehue greeted us with a lot of rain. We still managed to do some hiking at the Perez Rosares National Park, but as it will do for any vacation, the rain made it very hard to enjoy the outdoors. One of my favorite parts about the lake region was there were waterfalls EVERYWHERE! Also, when we arrived in Puyehue we found these slides! Aren’t they crazy? Sometimes it’s fun to act like a kid again!

Puyehue Puyehue Slides

Perez Rosares National Park, Los Logos Region, Chile Perez Rosares National Park, Los Logos Region, Chile Perez Rosares National Park, Los Logos Region, Chile Perez Rosares National Park, Los Logos Region, Chile Perez Rosares National Park, Los Logos Region, Chile

Day 4 – Puyehue

The next day consisted of lots of rain. We drove around aimlessly on a LOT of gravel roads. As you can see, the highlight of the day was driving and a cow! I’ll just go ahead and say this wasn’t my favorite day of the trip, although it was one that helped contribute to finishing 6 books on the trip!

Los Lagos Region, Chile Los Logos Region, Chile - Our Dock - Rainy/Overcast Day! Moooo Lake Region, Chile Los Logos Region, Chile - Our Dock - Rainy/Overcast Day!

Day 5 – Puyehue to Puerto Montt

The next morning we woke up and drove in more rain! We went back to Puerto Montt, passed through the town and went over to Alerce Andino National Park where it rained and rained some more! Not enough to keep us from hiking though! We managed to kill some time after that before we hopped on our overnight bus (yikes) to Santiago!! Yes, one more post left! Phew…

Alerce Andino National Park, Los Lagos Region, Chile

Alerce Andino National Park, Los Lagos Region, Chile Alerce Andino National Park, Los Lagos Region, Chile - SO much rain!

Our tips:

  • Check out our other posts on Argentina and Patagonia
  • Puerto Varas is a must visit. It was one of our highlights of our trip.
  • In addition, the volcano (weather-permitting) is gorgeous!
  • Be prepared, if you go towards Puyehue, to drive on a lot of gravel roads. A lot. You have been warned.
  • If you get a chance, stay at Bordemundo B&B y Cabañas in Puerto Varas – by far our favorite place of the whole trip.
  • Don’t stay in Puyehue. We were not impressed and it doesn’t take much to impress us. We couldn’t even find a place to sit down and have a meal!
  • Highly recommend renting a car for the lake region – I am not sure how easy it would be to get around using public transportation.
  • Puerto Varas is recommended over Puerto Montt! Although if you like bigger cities, Puerto Montt might be preferred.
  • Go to ​Saltos del Petrohue on the way back from visiting the Volcano
27 Comments
  • Elena
    Posted at 06:58h, 14 January Reply

    Oh my! What absolutely beautiful scenery! Looks like you guys had so much fun!!

  • Kara
    Posted at 09:51h, 14 January Reply

    seriously it looks like you are standing in the clouds in that one picture!! the scenery is amazing!!

  • Jenny
    Posted at 09:52h, 14 January Reply

    Oh my word! Your pictures are breathtaking! I love the picture where you two are up in the clouds! So neat!

  • Krystal
    Posted at 10:05h, 14 January Reply

    Coolest pictures ever! I’m trying to get my husband to go on a vacatio to South America, or at the very least a cruise so we can spend SOME time there – he wasn’t sold on the idea. But I think if I show him these pictures, he might change his mind!

  • Mia @ MakeMeUpMia
    Posted at 10:07h, 14 January Reply

    You guys got some of the best pictures! Those slides look fun, I totally agree, we still enjoy acting like a kid for sure 🙂

  • Rebecca Jo
    Posted at 11:28h, 14 January Reply

    First of all, my butt would never fit on that slide 🙂
    I’ve never seen so much blue in one post in my life 🙂

  • Stacia
    Posted at 12:25h, 14 January Reply

    These photos are so fun and the locations look gorgeous!

  • Kelli {A Deeper Joy}
    Posted at 12:50h, 14 January Reply

    That day in Puerto Vara looked amazing! Well, all of it did but what a great day! Btw, you are so fit, Caroline 🙂 Y’all got great photos!

  • Kelly @ Southern Komfort Blog
    Posted at 14:10h, 14 January Reply

    Daylord these pictures are unbelievable!

  • Rebecca
    Posted at 14:36h, 14 January Reply

    Oh my goodness these pictures are gorgeous!! My favorite is that one of the waterfalls and the mountains! WOW!!!
    🙂 Loving these pictures and reading about your trip!!
    🙂 Rebecca

  • Tiffany (A Touch of Grace)
    Posted at 15:28h, 14 January Reply

    Awesome pictures Caroline! That slide is crazy! You guys really visited some drastically different places as far as climate goes it looks like.

  • Jessah
    Posted at 17:49h, 14 January Reply

    I love your amazing photos! Makes me get the travel bug.

  • Sheryl
    Posted at 18:52h, 14 January Reply

    Your photographs are beautiful.It has to be hard to even narrow down what you want to share – thus, why it’s taking multiple posts. I love it all!

  • Jojo
    Posted at 20:44h, 14 January Reply

    Wow Caroline this pictures are amazing!!

  • sheryl
    Posted at 04:46h, 15 January Reply

    Hi, We are visiting Puerto Varas soon. Which volcano did you hike up, and how long did it take? Did you need a guide?
    Thanks in advance for your reply

  • Gen Delali
    Posted at 11:30h, 16 January Reply

    these photos are so lovely! you make me want to pack and go to puerto varas! the scenery is simply breathtaking. i love the photo right after the one you guys were jumping! you seemed to be on cloud nine. 😉 very beautiful! hope you enjoyed your trip! God is amazing!

  • Amanda
    Posted at 14:29h, 16 January Reply

    These pictures are amaaaaaazing. Day 2! Oh my goodness. That view. I would love to go down there some day! People always go to Europe on vacation, but I think the beauty of South America is vastly underrated.

  • Amie
    Posted at 15:53h, 16 January Reply

    So I really love the slide and the cow!! haha Your pictures are all so very beautiful!!

  • Elisha
    Posted at 23:15h, 16 January Reply

    wow! Your pictures are amazing girl!!!

  • Lisa
    Posted at 21:45h, 18 January Reply

    Amazing pics! One day I hope to get to Chile, too!

  • Laura @ Making Baby Provence
    Posted at 12:14h, 20 January Reply

    I love the pictures from Puerto Varas where you look like you’re on top of the world. So cool! And those slides…I love swings! I think finding slides like this on a vacation would be a mini-jackpot. So fun!!

    • Laura @ Making Baby Provence
      Posted at 12:15h, 20 January Reply

      I just re-read my comment. Yes, I realize slides are not swings. However, I was just saying that anything from a children’s park is up my alley. 🙂

  • emma
    Posted at 13:28h, 21 January Reply

    Hi from ICLW! This looks like an amazing experience!!

  • Jackie
    Posted at 16:47h, 26 January Reply

    Hi from ICLW – What a phenomenal looking trip. Priceless photos and scenery.

  • Pablo D
    Posted at 19:06h, 01 March Reply

    very neat trip. Colby has been telling me all about it. will read over before I go to Buenos Aires on business trip this summer.

  • lathan
    Posted at 13:42h, 19 July Reply

    Hey there Elisha you mention our website in your post would you mind turning the text into a link for us? “Bordemundo B&B y Cabañas in Puerto Varas” – http://www.bordemundo.com

    thanks, glad you enjoyed your stay with us please come back any time!

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