The Lakes and Chiloe Island

An hour from Santiago are some of Chile’s best wine-producing regions including the Maipo, Rosario and Casa A short drive and ferry ride from Puerto Montt brings you to the verdant shores of Chiloé island, a place alive with an enchanting blend of rich, rural Patagonian culture, and bewitching natural beauty. The 16 brightly painted Unesco World Heritage churches, stood against the misty green landscape, form an arresting picture that perhaps best displays this contrast. From a wildlife perspective, Chiloe is an important island for Magellanic and Humboldt penguins and has a colony near to Ancud in the north that is a rarely encountered mix of the two. A boat trip along the coast might bring you into contact with humpback and minke whales, dolphins and sea lions. Between September and April you may even see a blue whale. Although Chiloe can be visited on a long day trip from Puerto Varas we would recommend a stay of at least two nights to get a proper feel for this charming island, one of Chile’s cultural hot spots.

Also accessible from Puerto Montt, and more off the beaten track, are Tagua Tagua National Park and Pumalin Douglas Tompkins National Park. Tagua Tagua is a three hour drive from Puerto Varas and a spectacular journey in itself along the edge of Lake Llanquihue, past snow-capped mountains and cascading waterfalls. Cars are not allowed in the park due to the mountainous terrain so the final twenty minutes is by boat. Further south, temperate rainforest, fjords, Pacific coastline and the Andes Mountains converge in the Tolkeinesque Pumalin National Park at the northern end of the Carretera Austral. Pumalin’s primeval Valdivian temperate rainforest, is home to numerous lush green plant species dripping down the sides of thousands of waterfalls. It is also a haven for the endangered alerce tree, cousin to the giant sequoia.
The lake region in general is a paradise for those who enjoy trying different outdoor activities at a level to suit – hiking, kayaking, rafting, mountain biking and fly-fishing to name a few. The infrastructure in the more central and northern parts of the lake district is also good for those who prefer exploring in a more sedentary way. blanca Valleys. These are wonderful places to relax for a day or two during an otherwise busy trip and also a useful alternative to a night in Santiago if flight schedules require it when travelling between the North and South. Two and a half hours south of Santiago, and set at the heart of the central valley, are the scenic Colchagua and Millahue Valleys with their rolling hills and a back-drop of the Andes. The Millahue Valley is home to the infamous Vina Vik, the perfect spot for some pampering and fine dining.

Unlike the wildernesses of Patagonia, these valleys have a predictably warm climate during the summer months and days can be spent lying by the pool, hiking, cycling or riding through the countryside, exploring vineyards and tasting a delicious variety of some of the world’s finest wines.

Only 90 minutes’ drive from Santiago, or 30-45 minutes from the Casablanca/Rosario Valley wine regions, is the vibrant and colourful, Bohemian city of Valparaiso. Perched on 42 hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the city’s historic centre was declared a World Heritage site in 2003. Valparaiso’s maze of hills, with a new gem at every turn, have long inspired poets and writers as well as some of the country’s best gastronomic chefs. Use the city’s funiculars to explore the different levels of the city festooned with thought provoking street art murals, visit the homes of the legendary poet, Pablo Neruda, and enjoy the lively port and markets where you can sample fresh seafood and local delicacies.