Puerto Varas
Puerto Varas has a plethora of outdoor options. Fly-fishing is prominent in the region, with many rivers and the huge Lago Llanquihue making attractive targets. The region has still more to offer, including mountain biking, canyoning, wind surfing, sailing, hiking in Vicente Pérez Rosales Park, or just enjoying the lake by kayak. You can also hike up the nearby volcanoes. With so much attractive nature in its backyard, it's no wonder Puerto Varas has become a global destination for outdoor-adventure enthusiasts.
The lake itself frequently boasts strong winds suitable for first-class windsurfing and sailing. At Canopy Lodge of Cascadas, the largest canopy area in Chile, not far from Puerto Varas, you can zip-line 70 meters (230 feet) above canyons and forest. The Petrohué River offers the opportunity for rafting, and along with numerous other rivers in the area, great fishing. Biking alongside the lake is a popular trip, too. Vicente Pérez Rosales Park and Alerce Andino Park have good trails for hiking and camping, while Osorno Volcano excels for treks, skiing, and snowboarding. Some two hours from Puerto Varas is Cochamó Valley, a fantastic spot that has drawn comparisons to Yosemite Park in California for its high granite mountain cliffs, waterfalls, and overall landscape. This is a rock climber’s paradise and a hiker's dream, with exceptional horseback-riding trails as well. Just south from Cochamó is Puelo, a river valley in the shadow of the Andes Mountains. It's the launching point for some of Chile's best fly-fishing, in addition to great hiking and other outdoor action.
