Chilean Lake District Holidays

Get back to nature with Lake District holidays in one of the most beautiful areas of Chile.

The unspoilt and impossibly pretty region stretches across the centre of the country, dappled with a network of lakes that spread 300 kilometres south to Puerto Montt, where the sweeping countryside becomes much more dramatic as it moves into Patagonia. The scenery of the Lake District is characterised by crystal-clear lakes, impressive volcanoes, tumbling waterfalls and unspoilt forests.

Most holidays to the Lake District visit the glorious town of Puerto Varas, which overlooks Lake Llanquihue and is the perfect base for exploring the region. Set beside the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes, the town is a wonderful place to spend a few days exploring the surrounding national parks. We’d recommend hiring a car to make the most of the area; the Lake District’s wide open roads and big skies lend themselves well to self-drive holidays and the flexibility of having your own vehicle will allow you to travel further afield to Pucon and Villarica at your leisure.

Both towns are regarded as adventure tourism hotspots, and activities on offer include white-water rafting and kayaking, as well as snow sports like skiing and snowboarding on the side of a volcano. Less adventurous visitors can make the most of the well-marked hiking trails or take in the views of the magnificent lakes, lounging on the beaches. Nearby, the charmingly dilapidated fishing villages of Isla de Chiloé can be reached by a regular ferry service from the mainland.