Southern Chile

View from Villaricca Volcano. Photo by Freyja Ellis

V!VA User‘s Description

From the sweaty smog of Santiago down to the chilling ice fields, southern Chile features almost every type of terrain, and is where some of the most beautiful national parks lie. Just south of the capital is the famous Wine Country, which produces ever-improving reds and whites that now line supermarkets worldwide. Just below is the Lake District, also famous the world over for its fantastic hiking in its numerous national parks.

V!VA User‘s Description

Located south of Lake Llanquihue and at the entrance to Reloncaví Sound, Chile’s Puerto Montt is the access hub to the much of the exciting geography that attracts visitors across the world to Patagonia.  By boat one can visit Chiloé Islands or the Tenglo Islets in the Ancud Gulf, pristine archipelagos of natural beauty. And by land there are no less than five spectacular reserves: the Vincente Perez Rosales National Park (home of the Orsono Volcano, Petrohue falls, the stunning Cruce del Lagos and the dazzling Todos los Santos Lake, one of the most beautiful in Latin America), the Llanquihue National Reserve, Alerce Andino National Park, Hornopiren National Park and Parque Pumalin. Not too far from Puerto Montt itself is close to the Calbuco Volcano, which is more than 6,566 feet (2000 meters) high.

Puerto Montt, where the Panamanian Highway and the North-South Railroad end, was long ago settled by the Swiss, German, and Austrian still retains its uniquely Teutonic heritage in its buildings and culture.  Local shops sell very affordable wool sweaters and restaurants specialize in seafood. The exotic semi-precious Lapis lazuli stone can also be purchased in the region.

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