Sacred Heart Church
Wooden church on a hill above Puerto Varas, in a style that recalls the German settlers' homeland. Views over the lake and Osorno volcano from the front are a highlight.
Puerto Varas and the Lake District
Snow-capped volcanoes rise opposite this lakeside town, which serves as a base for outdoor activities, waterfalls and hot springs.
Attractive locations
Teatro del Lago
Modern concert hall on the shore of Lake Llanquihue in Frutillar, known for classical music events and for a stage that looks out over the lake and volcanoes.
German Colonial Museum of Frutillar
Open-air museum in Frutillar with period houses, a water mill and tools that show how German settlers lived and worked in the region in the 19th century.
Tenglo Island
Small hilly island facing Puerto Montt, reached by a short boat ride. Walkers climb to a lookout with views over the city and bay.
Osorno Volcano
A symmetrical snow-capped cone rising beside Lake Llanquihue, with a ski area and viewpoints on its slopes. It is visible from Puerto Varas.
Petrohué Falls
A cascade of green-blue water squeezing through black volcanic rock in Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, with walkways to viewpoints. Osorno Volcano rises behind.
Lake Llanquihue
One of Chile's largest lakes, framed by the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes, with towns, beaches and German-influenced villages along its shores.
Airports
El Tepual International Airport PMC
It is about 17 km in a straight line from Puerto Varas and the Lake District.
Cañal Bajo Carlos Hott Siebert Airport ZOS
It is about 79 km in a straight line from Puerto Varas and the Lake District.
Mocopulli Airport MHC
It is about 129 km in a straight line from Puerto Varas and the Lake District.
Scams and safe taxis
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan14.7 °C65 mm
- Feb15.0 °C57 mm
- Mar13.4 °C86 mm
- Apr11.1 °C113 mm
- May9.3 °C163 mm
- Jun7.4 °C181 mm
- Jul6.7 °C166 mm
- Aug7.3 °C161 mm
- Sep8.5 °C91 mm
- Oct9.8 °C99 mm
- Nov11.5 °C84 mm
- Dec13.4 °C72 mm
Driest months: Jan, Feb, Dec. Wettest months: May, Jun, Jul.
Costs
Prices here are about 48% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
Police 133. Ambulance 131. Fire 132.
local government
Carabineros de Chile emergency line 133
Helps with: Chile's national police emergency line, for crimes, robberies, assaults, traffic accidents and other incidents that need immediate police action. The page says it is open every hour of every day.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Chile reporting an emergency that threatens people's safety. The page calls the service free and confidential.
Phone: 133
local government
TurismoAtiende (Sernatur, National Tourism Service)
Helps with: Help line of Chile's national tourism service for travellers. It gives advice by phone, WhatsApp or email. The tourism site says to also tell your embassy if you lose your passport.
Who qualifies: Visitors travelling in Chile, including foreign tourists.
Phone: +56 2 2731 8337
Email: [email protected]
ngo
Cruz Roja Chilena (Chilean Red Cross)
Helps with: Chile's national Red Cross society. Its website lists local branches, volunteering, blood donation and a training centre. The page shows only head office contact details.
Who qualifies: People in Chile who need the Red Cross; contact the head office or a local branch listed on its site.
Phone: +56(2) 2783 4100
Email: [email protected]
Address: Avda. Santa María 0150, Providencia
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Chile
Helps with: The UN migration agency, working in Chile since 1954. It supports migration management and crisis response, including help for people displaced by wildfires.
Who qualifies: Migrants and displaced people in Chile, and government partners. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +56 2 296 33 710
Address: Matilde Salamanca 736, Providencia, Santiago de Chile
embassy
Foreign consulates in Chile (official list)
Helps with: For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact your own country's embassy or consulate. The Chilean foreign ministry's online consulate site links to a list of foreign consulates in Chile by country flag.
Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy or consulate.
local government
National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response (SENAPRED)
Helps with: Chile's national disaster agency, responsible for earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires and volcanic eruptions. The number listed is its citizen service office, not an emergency line.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Chile wanting information about disaster risks or alerts. For urgent danger call the police on 133.
Phone: 600 586 7700
Address: Av. Beauchef 1671, Santiago