Chilean Lake District
Chile
Chile
The Chilean Lake District is a region in the Andean foothills of Southern Chile defined by its many lakes. Stretching from Temuco in the north to Puerto Montt in the south, it is known for snow-capped volcanoes, pale green lakes and adventure activities. Conguillío National Park, in the north is known for its beautiful landscapes and lakes including Lake Conguillío. The area around Pucón and Villarrica, below Volcán Villarrica is popular with Chilean holidaymakers and adventure seekers.
Santiago's idyllic position between the Andean highlands and the Pacific coast makes it a perfect destination to start a holiday. An easy drive away is the beach-rimmed Viña del Mar and Valparaiso. Chile’s Lake District is a verdant land of rivers and fertile valleys, and of charming lakeside resorts towered over by snow-capped volcanoes. Torres del Paine is considered by many to be Latin America's finest national park and home to huge towering granite peaks.
TRAVEL UNTAMED ON THIS 10-DAY CHILEAN LAKE DISTRICT…
And, experience Torres del Paine’s turquoise lakes. Waterfalls & glaciers.
Torres del Paine Adventure
Buenos Aires, Chilean Lake District, Torres del Paine
(10 Days – Travel Any Day)
Day 1 – Arrive
Santiago Meet and greet on arrival and transfer to your hotel. If you have time then take an optional tour of the Santiago city.
Overnight – Galerias Hotel.
Day 2 – Colchagua Valley
Santa Cruz Travel to the stunning Colchagua Valley known for its boutique vineyards, and visit one of the exquisite wineries such as Viu Manet, in order to learn about wine production and to taste some of the fantastic wine. Arrive at the colonial-style Santa Cruz Plaza Hotel with its lovely outdoor pool and the all important wine cellar, where a traditional lunch awaits. Continue to the Colchagua Museum, housed in an adobe manor built in 1850, to experience Chile’s colourful history.
Overnight – Santa Cruz Plaza Hotel (B, L)
Day 3 – Wine Tasting
Puerto Varas Enjoy a morning at leisure before further wine tasting and a visit to an Indian settlement at Santa Cruz winery. Return to Santiago and fly to Puerto Montt in the afternoon. On arrival at Puerto Montt Airport, you will be met and transferred to your chosen hotel in the scenic lakeside town of Puerto Varas.
Local architecture reflects the influence of German settlers who arrived here over 100 years ago. Stroll along the shore of Lake Llanquihue, Chile’s largest lake, and admire the stunning Calbuco volcano and Osorno with its near-perfect, snow-capped cone rising to 2652m.
Overnight – Hotel Bellavista or Hotel Cabanas del Lago (B, L)
Day 4 – Along Lake Llanquihue
Puerto Varas Chilean Lake District (Peulla & Petrohue); This morning, travel along the shores of Lake Llanquihue past various beaches to Petrohue, located in the National Park Vicente Perez Rosales. After an optional stop at the emerald waterfalls at Petrohue you will board a catamaran to sail across the beautiful Lake Todos los Santos to Peulla. Enjoy a delicious lunch at the Hotel Peulla and if time allows, walk to nearby waterfalls before returning to Puerto Varas.
Overnight – Hotel Bellavista or Hotel Cabanas del Lago (B, L)
Day 5 – Beach Resort
Puerto Varas Chilean Lake District (Frutillar); After breakfast, discover the charming summer beach resort of Frutillar situated on the shores of Lake Llanquihue and founded by German settlers around 1850. Visit the outdoor museum dedicated to these pioneers (closed on Mondays) and then transfer back to Puerto Varas and have the afternoon at leisure to discover other nearby sights or just relax and enjoy the panoramic views.
Overnight – Hotel Bellavista or Hotel Cabanas del Lago (B)
Day 6 – Torres del Paine NP
Punta Arenas Take a brief city tour before you are taken to the airport of Puerto Montt for your onward flight to Punta Arenas. On arrival at Punta Arenas Airport you will be met and transferred to the station to board a bus to Puerto Natales (3-4hrs) and then onto a private transfer (2-3hrs) to your hotel in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park.
Travelling through the Pampa Steppes, watch out for typical animals like the nandu and a variety of smaller birds. Visit the famous Milodon Cave before checking into the Hosteria Lago Grey for three nights, located in the heart of the park on the shores of Lake Grey. The private tour includes a direct transfer to Torres del Paine with a stop en route at the Seno Otway penguin colony (Nov-Mar) or Parque & Nandu.
Overnight – Hosteria Lago Grey (B)
Day 7 – Explore
Torres del Paine Today, a full-day excursion in the national park awaits. Visit the main attractions of the park such as Laguna Azul, Cascada Paine Waterfall, Mirador de los Cuernos and Salto Grande Waterfall where Nordenskjold Lake drains into the turquoise Lake Pehoe. Stay at the boutique Cerro Guido Estancia Lodge, a working sheep farm situated just outside the park, with amazing views onto the ‘Torres del Paine’.
Overnight – Cerro Guido Estancia Lodge (B, L)
Day 8 – Explore
Torres del Paine Enjoy a full day at leisure. We highly recommend taking a boat on Lake Grey and travelling up to the awe-inspiring glacier wall which shares the same name. Alternatively, enjoy a full-day tour observing the wildlife of the area including guanacos, rheas, foxes, flocks of flamingos and condors amongst many others.
Overnight – Cerro Guido Estancia Lodge (B)
Day 9 – Transfer
Santiago Transfer to Punta Arenas Airport for your flight to Santiago. On arrival transfer to your hotel.
Overnight – Cerro Guido Estancia Lodge (B)
Day 10 – Depart
Santiago Transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
(B)
Make this your holiday
Getting There There are currently no direct flights from major UK airports. Most flights are via Europe, Latin America or US; LAN, Iberia, British Airways and Air France are all options. It’s worth paying attention to the routes used by the different airlines; even the shortest and most convenient ones via Madrid or Buenos Aires entail a total travelling time of over 16 hours. Flying via the US is longer still (though sometimes cheaper).
When to go This best (and most expensive) time to visit Patagonia is between Nov to Feb. March is the period for grape harvest and wine festivals and April is fall. Between September and November is possibly the best time to visit Santiago, the temperatures are pleasant and good value for money. Jun to Aug is winter and the best time to visit ski resorts. Between mid-December to end February and two-middle weeks of July is holiday time for Brazilians and Argentines.
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