Self-Drive Chile Lake District Tour

The Self-Drive Chile Lake District Tour starts at the airport of Puerto Montt, in Southern Chile´s beautiful Lake Region. Pick up your rental car and smartphone and drive to nearby Puerto Varas on the shores of Llanquihue Lake. Spend the rest of the day walking along the beautiful coastal promenade and relax in one of the local cafés while enjoying the view of the area’s snow-covered volcanoes.

From Puerto Varas, a scenic drive takes you along Llanquihue Lake and Reloncavi Fjord today. Near the village of Puelo, you’ll make your way to the shores of scenic Tagua-Tagua Lake where you’ll take the ferry to the other side of the dazzling lake. Follow the course of Puelo River deep into the valley that is framed by towering rock faces. Rather than people, you are most likely to encounter cows, sheep, goats or pigs along this quiet road. Eventually you’ll reach the small village of Llanada Grande, where you’ll spend the night.

Leave your car and civilization behind this morning as you make your way deep into the valley of the Ventisquero River (Glacier River). Follow the waymarked trail as it takes you through a varied landscape of native forests and open meadows along the milky-white river, often revealing great views from above.

Even though not frequented by many hikers, this trail is still in use by the traditional gaucho farmers of the area, whose animals graze freely here. When you reach the remote farm of Rincon Bonito, located right between Hornopirén and Pumalin National Parks, you’ll be welcomed into the recently built chalet here where you’ll spend the next two nights surrounded by an incredible mountainous landscape. The chalet is completely equipped, and the storage room filled with food, allowing you to whip up some tasty meals in the kitchen. You are also free to source ingredients for your meals from the farm’s organic garden. Buen Provecho!

Today on the Self-Drive Chile Lake District Tour is dedicated to exploring the splendid natural surroundings of the farm which abounds in natural beauty. Opt to enjoy a demanding that hike leads up to a viewpoint overlooking the entire river valley, or take it easy and make your way just half-way up to the first look out. An easier alternative is the leisurely Ventisquero Loop that leads along the river, mostly through forest. It is also possible to arrange horseback riding or kayaking today.

Or decide to do nothing apart from feeling the joy of being in this natural paradise today! A special experience in the evening awaits: watching the rising moon and the completely undisturbed starry sky.

This morning on your Chilean self-drive adventure, enjoy a final farm-fresh breakfast, then leave Rincón Bonito today to hike back to your car. From a nearby meeting point, a pleasant 45-min-walk takes you to the picture-perfect shores of Las Rocas Lake. A boat awaits here to take you over to the exclusive Bandurrias Island located on the lake. There is a comfortable lodge on this pristine piece of land, surrounded by native forest and shut off from the rest of the world. After a delicious dinner, you’ll spend the night in a quaint wooden cabin.

Wake up to the sound of birds chirping and start the day with a delicious homemade breakfast. Spend the morning however you like, perhaps taking a swim or exploring the lake with the lodge’s canoes. Leave the island around noon, when the boat takes you back to “mainland”. Drive back to Tagua-Tagua-Lake, the natural limitation to this hidden valley full of wonders. It’s then time to catch the ferry that takes you back to Puelo, from where you continue driving back to Puerto Varas.

Note: Add a second night on Bandurrias Island to fully take in the island’s tranquility and explore the pristine surroundings of the lake on a half-day hike to a view point!

Your tour through this little explored section of Chile’s Lake Region ends today. Drive from Puerto Varas back to the airport, where you’ll drop off your car and continue your journey to another area of Chile or fly back home via Santiago.