The Lakes and Chiloe Island
Northern Patagonia is a land of vast, sparkling lakes, snow-capped volcanoes, ancient forests and green meadows. Puerto Varas, with its German-inspired architecture, sits on the shores of Lake Llanquihue beneath the striking cone of Osorno volcano. Nearby are the Petrohué Falls and Puerto Montt, the gateway to the Lakes Crossing into Argentina.
The Lakes and Chiloe Island
An hour from Santiago are some of Chile’s best wine-producing regions, including the Maipo, Casablanca, Rosario, Colchagua and Millahue Valleys. These are ideal for a day or two of relaxing, with warm summer weather, vineyards, fine dining and opportunities for walking, cycling and horse riding. The vibrant, colourful city of Valparaiso is also just 90 minutes from Santiago, with its steep hills, funiculars, street art, historic centre and excellent seafood.
Further south, Puerto Montt provides access to the beautiful island of Chiloé, where a distinctive rural culture sits alongside a striking landscape of green hills, coastline and UNESCO-listed wooden churches. The island is important for wildlife too, with Magellanic and Humboldt penguins, dolphins, sea lions and, between September and April, the possibility of seeing blue whales. We recommend at least two nights to get a proper feel for Chiloé.
The Lake District offers a wealth of outdoor activities, from hiking and kayaking to rafting, mountain biking and fly-fishing. Further off the beaten track are Tagua Tagua and Pumalín Douglas Tompkins National Parks, where temperate rainforest, waterfalls, fjords and the Andes come together in some of the region’s most spectacular scenery.
- Climb an active volcano
- Kayak around Chiloe’s tranquil shores or on the Lakes of Pumalin National Park
- Visiting the stilt houses and penguin colony near Ancud on Chiloe
- Hiking through a monkey puzzle forest
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Best Time To Visit The Lakes and Chiloe Island
These areas have a Mediterranean style of climate and are good to visit at any time of year but the warmer, drier months are September through until April. A nice time to visit the wine regions is from late February until April when the harvest is happening and the autumn colours are on display
Best Time To Visit The Lakes and Chiloe Island
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Nestled in the heart of Chile’s Lake District, AndBeyond Vira Vira redefines luxury with its serene surroundings and immersive farm-to-table experiences.
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When is the best time to visit The Lakes and Chiloe Island?
The warmer, drier months are classically November through to March but the shoulder months of October and April/May can also be lovely times to visit the lake region – the temperatures might not be as warm but you can still get some fine weather and there are far fewer tourists. The glorious array of autumn colours over the whole region makes April a particularly nice month to travel to the Lakes.
To find out more please visit: https://www.naturalhighsafaris.com/chile__trashed/the-lakes-and-chiloe-island/#best-time-to-visit
What vaccinations do I need to visit Chile?
To find out the latest about which vaccinations you need to visit Chile please visit:https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations/south-america-antarctica/chile
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A print anthology of safari and wilderness travel with over 220 pages of travel inspiration.