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The crossing can be done both from Puerto Montt in Chile or from San Carlos de Bariloche in Argentina. Any time of the year is appropriate to go across the Andes and discover one of the most important ecological reserves in South America. The trip by ship is enormously interesting. It starts al Lake Frías, which is navigated for about 20 minutes. At Puerto Frías there is an obliged stop for migration and customs paper work on the Argentine side. At this point you are immersed in the Valdivian jungle. This area receives 3.500 mm of rain per year resembling thus a subtropical forest. In this region huge specimens of larch, guaiteca cypress, pellin oak and other local species form the forest. |
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4 kilometers from Puerto Frías is the international boarder at a pass called Perez Rosales. The trip continues for 28 kilometers by bus along the jungle up to a rural locality called Peulla. At Peulla you will have to stop at the Chilean Customs and Migration offices. You will also find hotel and restaurant facilities and not more than 800 inhabitants at 976 m.a.s.l. |
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At Peulla one usually stays the night to continue the following day for a 2-hour navigation leg on Lake De Todos los Santos, also called Lake Esmeralda. You will be impressed by the emerald green of its waters, the snow covered top of the Puntiagudo volcano (2493 meters), Mount Techado, the Margarita island and the other surrounding snow covered peaks which include the Osorno Volcano (2652 meters). |
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At the end of this leg you will reach Port Petrohue located within the Vicente Perez Rosales National Park, the oldest Chilean park with a surphace of 251.000 hectares. From here on a vehicle takes you to the Petrohue Falls. These are 7 waterfalls formed by the Petrohue River before it sends its waters into Lake de Todos los Santos. All the area used to be covered by glaciers, which as they melted away have formed steep cliffs, carved and pushed sediments and rocks forming thus the capricious formations before your eyes. The trip continues to a locality called Ensenada. This is small rural settlement on the sides of the Osorno volcano where you can find fine cabaña complexes, restaurants and open-air activities.
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From here on you travel along a paved road which boarders lake Llanquihue. This lake has a surface of 877 square kilometers. You will notice how the landscape transforms itself into fields of all the imaginable hews of green and wooden constructions with wooden shingled roofs. After 64 kilometers you reach the city of Puerto Varas. Different local trees such as olivillos, ulmos and tiacas protect its beaches. |
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We recommend making a detour towards the area of Ralún distant 33 kilometers in order to visit the Reloncaví estuary and enjoy nautical sports and sea fishing.
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