Puerto Varas
Puerto Varas - also known as "La ciudad de las rosas" or "The city of roses" - is a city and commune located in the southern Chilean province of Llanquihue, in the Los Lagos Region.The city is known for its German traditions, its natural environment, and its popularity as a tourist destination, with a scenic location close to mountains, lakes and national parks. It is located 20 kilometres from the city of Puerto Montt on the shore of Llanquihue Lake, the second largest lake in Chile. Puerto Varas is the southernmost of a string of towns on the western shore of Llanquihue Lake that includes Frutillar, Llanquihue and Puerto Octay.Puerto Varas is a popular tourist destination with its distinctive German-inspired architecture, wide variety of hotels and inns, a casino, a beach and striking views over the lake to the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes.
Visitors can take part in a range of outdoor sports including kayaking, fishing and trekking, and there is a winter ski centre on the slopes of Osorno Volcano. It is a good base for excursions to nearby natural landmarks including the emerald Todos los Santos Lake, the picturesque Petrohué Falls, Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park and Puyehue National Park as well as Osorno Volcano.Puerto Varas is the starting point for bus and boat crossings across the Andes to San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina.