Puerto Varas

Puerto Varas is the biggest town on Lago Llanquihue, located on the southern shores of the lake. It has spectacular views across the lake of Volcán Osorno and Volcán Calbuco. The Mapuche believed this lake to be a realm of monsters and evil spirits, but the holiday-makers were out in force on the black beaches and in the balmy waters! We walked up Cerro Philippi for a bird's eye view of the town - very pretty!

Puerto Varas pier and Volcán Osorno

Lago Llanquihue and Volcán Osorno

Walk up Cerro Philippi

View of Puerto Varas from Cerro Philippi

Puerto Varas was founded in 1854 by German immigrants, and the German influence on the town is evident in its architecture and culture. We stayed in a charming little cabaña (Cabaña Tirol) which captured the spirit of the town. The town's most famous Teutonic building is the Iglesia Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, which is a to-scale replica of a church in Germany's Black Forest. It is made entirely of wood.

Cabaña Tirol - our home in Puerto Varas

The famous German-style church

Puerto Varas - a quaint town across the lake