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Los Lagos Region

Ski en Portillo

Ski the best slopes in Chile

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Traveling to Chile during the winter months offers a fantastic opportunity to explore its numerous ski resorts. The snow season typically lasts from mid-June to mid-September, with the prime skiing period from July to August when the snow conditions are optimal.

Experience the thrill of climbing the Andes Mountains and discovering Chile’s snowy paradise. Ski the best slopes in South America, perfect for both beginners and experienced skiers alike.

Discover some of Chile’s top ski resorts with us …

SKI RESORTS IN CENTRAL CHILE:

Portillo:
located 2,850 meters above sea level, on the International Highway between Santiago (Chile) and Mendoza (Argentina). It’s the most famous and oldest ski center in South America.

La Parva:
located in a very beautiful area, 38 kilometers from Santiago. La Parva has a beautiful view to the valley of Santiago.

Valle Nevado

 


Nevados de Chillán (Mountain Resort & Thermal Spa):
located 82 kilometres from Chillán. Here you will find excellent snow quality while enjoying the stunning surroundings with native forests, thermal pools and mountain-style hotels.

Skier in Portillo


El Colorado/Farellones:
located in the Andes Mountain Range only 36 kilometers from Santiago. It’s an ideal ski center for families and young people.

Valle Nevado:
located a few kilometers from the ski resorts La Parva and El Colorado, forming “The Three Valleys of the Andes”. Valle Nevado has some of the highest quality snow in Chile, because of its location at 3 thousand meters of height.

bosque nevados de chillan

SKI RESORTS IN THE ARAUCANIA REGION:

In the Araucania region in the south of the country, about 700 km south of Santiago and 100 km from the city of Temuco, you can ski in the Corralco ski center inside the Malalcahuello-Nalcas National Reserve, on the slopes of the Lonquimay volcano. It has become a popular destination for winter holidays in Chile. You will find there hot springs, waterfalls, national parks and plenty of snow in the ski area.

Ski Pucón Resort is also located in the Araucania region and is one of the most modern ski centres in the south of the country. It is only 20 minutes from Pucón , with excellent infrastructure for skiing and snowboarding.

Ski Corralco
Antillanca

SKI RESORT IN THE LAKE DISTRICT:

In this region you will find the Antillanca Ski Center, 98 km from Osorno. It is located in the Puyehue National Park, right at the foot of the Casablanca volcano.

Find more information about Chile’s main ski resorts here.

Nercon church Chiloé

World Heritage wooden churches of Chiloé

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Besides the famous stilt houses and the unique gastronomy, Chiloé is also known for its more than 150 churches made of wood. Most of these were built in the 18th and 19th centuries and combine European and native architectural traditions. The exterior walls of the churches are covered with ornately coloured wooden shingles, while the interiors are sometimes painted and decorated in many colors. This unique architecture gives the island a very special charm.

These special wooden churches can be found everywhere on the main island and on the smaller islands belonging to the Chiloé archipelago, 16 of which have been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. There are nine of these churches on the east coast of Isla Grande de Chiloé, three more in Lemuy, two in Quinchao, one in Caguach and one in Chelín.

The churches were built near the coast using locally cut cypress and larch wood. They each consist of three naves and a porch with five arches. Not a single metal nail was used in the construction of the churches. Instead, the rivets were made of wood. 

 

The best-known and most easily accessible wooden churches are in the island’s capital Castro, in Chonchi further south, and in Dalcahue and Rilán.

The oldest remaining churches date from the 18th century, the newer ones from the early 20th century. The Iglesia Santa María de Loreto de Achao was built by the Jesuits in 1740 and is one of the oldest wooden churches in all Chile.

Quinchao church_Chiloé
Quinchao church
Inside wooden church Chiloé
Chonchi church Chiloé
National Park Conguillio

Scenic route lakes and volcanoes of Chile

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The route “lakes and volcanoes” crosses areas of enormous scenic, environmental and cultural value. It is undoubtedly a tourist attraction in the Araucanía region.

The more than 2,000 km of route, mostly asphalted, connect six different tourist circuits that cover three regions and where you can visit 26 large rivers, 22 lakes, 17 active volcanoes and 12 national parks. In addition, seven winter resorts and more than half of Chile’s hot springs can be found on this route.

ARAUCANÍA LACUSTRE

 

The beautiful and omnipresent figure of the Villarrica volcano, also known as Rukapillán, is undoubtedly the great natural landmark of this route. Next to it are the two main towns of Villarrica and Pucón, the latter being considered the “capital of adventure tourism in Chile”. On the Araucanía Lacustre route you will find endless possibilities for outdoor activities. From here you can explore crystal clear lakes and rivers, hike trails on foot or horseback amidst ancient forests, climb active volcanoes, relax in natural hot springs and come into direct contact with the roots of the Mapuche culture. 

The starting point of this round trip is the town of Villarrica, 80 km southeast of Temuco. The trip can also be started from Pucón.

We recommend visiting the Huerquehue National Park, the Villarrica National Park and Lake Caburga along the way.

ARAUCANÍA ANDINA

 

This is the northernmost circuit of the Lakes & Volcanoes Scenic Route. Its main characteristic is the great concentration of volcanic centres and formations, with high levels of activity and very recent. This makes the Araucanía Andina a privileged place for those who want to see and learn in the field about the different volcanic processes and their impressive consequences on the landscape. But geothermal activity is not the only attraction of this area. The Araucanía Andina also stands out for its extensive forests of ancient Araucaria trees (monkey puzzle trees). In fact, they are considered the oldest forests on earth, dating back 180 million years. This natural environment, formed by imposing snow-capped mountains, pristine lakes and rivers and araucaria trees, is the spectacular backdrop for all the tours that can be done in this area. During the trip, you can see two major mountain areas: the Lonquimay volcano area and the Llaima volcano area.

Interesting facts: This place was chosen by the British channel BBC to film the documentary “Walking with dinosaurs“, as it is one of the last refuges in the world that still preserves the landscape where dinosaurs lived.

The starting point of this round trip is the town of Curacautín, 83 kilometres northeast of the city of Temuco, in the Araucanía Region.

We recommend visiting the Conguillío National Park, recognised by UNESCO as the first Geopark in Chile, thanks to the large number of sites of geological interest.

SIETELAGOS

 

Discover the Valdivian temperate rain forest!

As its name indicates, this circuit is structured around seven lakes of extraordinary beauty: Calafquén, Panguipulli, Riñihue, Pullinque, Pellaifa, Neltume and Pirehueico. The landscape is characterised by the presence of exuberant Valdivian forests and has as its main landmark the Mocho Choshuenco volcano, where different winter activities can be carried out. With a marked Mapuche cultural identity, a historical past linked to old lumber ports and a great variety of thermal centres, this region has also been developing as a new great tourist destination in the south of Chile, thanks to natural attractions such as the HuiloHuilo Biological Reserve.

The starting point of this round trip is the town of Lican Ray, 26.5 km south of Villarrica. The trip can also be started from from Panguipulli, which is 146 km south of Temuco.

We recommend visiting the HuiloHuilo Biological Reserve, an important centre of biodiversity and endemism.

LAGO RANCO

 

The adventure of completely surrounding Lake Ranco, Chile’s third largest lake with an area of 442 square kilometres, is certainly memorable.: here it is possible to discover some of the most exclusive lakeside resorts in the country, beautiful cattle ranches, lush forests of Valdivian forest, cliffs and viewpoints to islands, waterfalls and snow-capped mountains. All this along a completely paved road that goes through villages and corners full of history, which refer to a valuable railway heritage and to the passage of the famous poet Pablo Neruda through the area

The suggested starting point of this round trip is the town of Futrono, which is 54.8 km southeast of Los Lagos. Futrono can also be reached by inland roads from Panguipulli.

We recommend crossing Lake Ranco to Huapi Island, one of the 13 islands of this lake, and one of the few islands in Chile inhabited by a Huilliche community that offers unforgettable experiences of ethnic tourism.

NORPATAGONIA

 

The shortest and narrowest circuit of the Lakes and Volcanoes Scenic Route has the Puyehue National Park and the lake of the same name as its main attractions. The main tourist attractions in the area are concentrated around them, including thermal resorts, ski resorts, lush evergreen forests, recently active volcanoes – such as the Puyehue-Cordón del Caulle complex – and remarkable trekking trails, rated among the wildest in Chile. Like all the south of Chile, this area also presents an important volcanic activity, with very recent eruptions that have left large rivers of slag. That is why there are several thermal centres here.

The small city of Entre Lagos is the base for orientation on this circuit. It is located 48.3 km east of Osorno. From there, its two main “arms”, which border Lake Puyehue and Lake Rupanco, respectively, to the south, branch off.

The route is also one of the main points of connectivity with Bariloche, in Argentina, through the spectacular Cardenal Samore Pass. 

LAGO LLANQUIHUE

 

Quite simply, the highlight of the Lakes & Volcanoes Scenic Route. This is how you can describe this circuit that completely surrounds Lake Llanquihue, the second largest lake in Chile, after Lake General Carrera, which is in the Aysén region. A route that crosses some of the most beautiful landscapes in the south, under the shadow of the imposing volcanoes Osorno, Calbuco, Puntiagudo and Tronador. Among the major attractions are the Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, the crystal-clear Petrohué River, Lake Todos Los Santos and the country’s largest bicycle path along Lake Llanquihue. But its cities also stand out, especially Puerto Varas, with its notable German influence and one of the cities with the highest architectural identity in Chile; and Frutillar, which continues to win accolades for its energetic cultural offerings, which have just earned it the title of UNESCO Creative City of Music.

The suggested starting point of this round trip is the city of Puerto Varas, the tourist capital of southern Chile. It is located only 22 km from Puerto Montt, where the airport is located.

In addition to hiking, a must-do experience in this privileged environment is fly-fishing.

Rutas Lagos & Volcanes

Lakes & Volcanoes Scenic Route

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For 20 years now, the Chilean Government has been developing the Interlagos Network or also known as Lakes & Volcanoes Scenic Route: the first scenic route of Chile of almost 2000 kms of roads that aims to unite Chile by a foothill road that connects and increases the tourism activity of the lakes and foothills of the area. The network comprises the following 6 main tourist circuits:

1.Andean Araucanía
2.Lacustrine Araucanía
3.Ranco Lake
4.Seven Lakes
5.Norpatagonia
6.Llanquihue Lake & Cochamó.

See Map of the Network

Sin título-compressed

This route will connect the regions of La Araucanía, Los Ríos and Los Lagos, and allowing access to areas of parks, lakes, volcanoes and hot springs in the foothills of the Andes, always respecting the environment and the native cultures of the area.

1. ANDEAN ARAUCANÍA 

Starting in the north of the Araucanía Region, this circuit is in one of the areas with a great tourist potential in Chile. It stands out for its extensive forests of ancient araucarias, considered the oldest forests on Earth, since its origin dates back 180 million years. This natural environment, formed by imposing snow-capped mountains, lakes and rivers with pristine waters and stylized araucarias, is the spectacular backdrop for all the tours that can be made in this area. Some of its must-sees are the Conguillío and Tolhuaca National Parks, Ski Centers, Thermal Centers, the Malalcahuello – Nalcas National Reserve and the Sollipulli Volcano.

2.LACUSTRINE ARAUCANÍA

The Villarrica volcano is the great natural landmark of this circuit. Its two main cities, Villarrica and Pucón, have developed around  this last one and is considered “the capital of adventure tourism in Chile.” It has a wide variety of services and activities to offer that seems endless, such as rafting on Trancura River, walking through the Huerquehue National Park or the Villarrica National Reserve, enjoying Lake Caburgua or visiting the small town of Currarrehue to enjoy its gastronomy, crafts and local products.

3.SEVEN LAKES (CHILE)

As its name indicates it, this circuit is structured around seven lakes of an extraordinary beauty: Calafquén, Panguipulli, Riñihue, Pullinque, Pellaifa, Neltume and Pirehueico. The Valdivian Jungle, its rivers for rafting, kayaking or recreational fishing, and the Mocho Choshuenco volcano, are some of its highlights, always accompanied by one of the main networks of thermal centers in the Liquiñe and Coñaripe areas. With a marked Mapuche cultural identity, this destination has been developing as a new great tourist destination in southern Chile, thanks to natural attractions such as the Huilo Biological Reserve, an important center of biodiversity and endemism.

4.LAGO RANCO

The adventure of surrounding the third largest lake in Chile is memorable: beautiful cattle fields, exuberant forests of Valdivian Jungle and viewpoints towards islands, waterfalls and snow-capped mountains. Knowing the local culture in towns such as Llifén, Maqueo or Isla Huapi, walking the leafy trails of Futangue Park, relaxing in the Llifén and Chihuío hot springs, are just some of the activities that this destination offers.

5.NORPATAGONIA

In a beautiful Andean landscape, the shapes of the Puyehue and Puntiagudo volcanoes stands out, finding on their slopes typical rain forests of the Valdivian Jungle and accompanied by the Puyehue and Rupanco lakes. Around the Puyehue National Park and the lake of the same name are concentrated the main tourist offers in the area, which include thermal complexes, ski centers, lush evergreen forests, Puyehue volcanoes -Cordón del Caulle- and incredible trekking trails, qualified among the wildest in Chile.

6.LAGO LLANQUIHUE & COCHAMÓ

Finally, the Llanquihue Lake – Cochamó circuit allows to go around the second largest lake in Chile, which also has the largest bike path in the country. From there it is possible to access the green Patagonia from the Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, and Lake Todos los Santos, through a beautiful road until reaching the Puelo river valley, up to the border with Argentina. A route that crosses some of the most beautiful landscapes in the south, under the shadow of the imposing Osorno, Calbuco, Puntiagudo and Tronador volcanoes.