Welcome to the Lake District! You meet your guide at El Tepual Airport and transfer to the charming town of Puerto Varas, located on the shore of Llanquihue Lake, with views of the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes.

Earlier in the day after breakfast, this active 12 km hike takes you through a scenic section of Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, the first park opened in Chile in 1926. As you progress, you experience some ascents and are rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding volcanoes and lakes. The landscape shifts dramatically from temperate rainforest to volcanic steppe and then to the shores of the Andean lakes. The Andes mountains appear on the horizon as you reach the emerald waters of Lake Todos Los Santos, marking the end of your hike and the start of your trip back to town.

Hike Distance: 12km 

After breakfast, make your way to Alerce Andino National Park, the first of the 17 parks that make up the Route of the Parks of Patagonia.

This protected area lies between mountains, volcanoes, and the Pacific Ocean. On this full-day excursion, you travel along the coast at the start of the Carretera Austral. You hike for approximately 5 hours within the park, surrounded by rainforest and ancient Alerce trees (Fitzroya cupressoides). Millions of years of transformation have shaped this landscape, creating rivers, waterfalls, and lagoons. During the drive to the park, you stop at local villages and enjoy views of the first fjord of Patagonia.

Hike Distance: 15km - 20km 

After breakfast in the morning, drive southwest for one hour from Puerto Varas. Then, take a 35-minute ferry ride to Chiloé. Once there, you can enjoy a comprehensive experience in the northern part of the island, where you can explore its natural history and cultural heritage. You explore this land of myths and unique biodiversity, visiting a breeding colony of Humboldt and Magellanic penguins that arrive at Puñihuil each spring and summer. You can observe the penguins and many other birds from a boat as you get close to the protected islets off the beach during a 30-minute ride. After the boat trip, you have lunch at a local restaurant with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean.

Today, you hike the south face of Calbuco Volcano, part of a group of stratovolcanoes in the Lake District. As you move through the Llanquihue National Reserve, you will see this active volcano, which last erupted in 2015, changing the landscape. The trail takes you high enough to view the crater and dome, with views of the Reloncaví Estuary and the city of Puerto Montt.

Along the way, you cross streams and see ancient Alerce redwood trees, waterfalls, and exposed lava formations that show the changes since the eruption. This medium-difficulty trail is 14 kilometers long, starting with a gentle ascent toward the volcano viewpoint. As you continue, the terrain becomes steeper and muddier, especially in the final section, which may have snow during the spring, leading to the refuge.

Hike: 14km - medium difficulty 

After breakfast, you drive for one hour along the south shore of Lake Llanquihue to Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park. There, you take a short walk through the rainforest to explore the Petrohué River waterfalls. After capturing photos of the stunning falls and the conical shape of Osorno Volcano, you return to the entrance of the El Solitario trail. This 6 km path runs along the southwestern slope of the volcano, showcasing diverse landscapes that transition from forested areas to volcanic terrain, with washouts connecting the Petrohué River to the glacier of the volcano.

Hike: 6km - medium difficulty 

Earlier in the day after breakfast, transfer from Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt Airport.