Guide to Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, Chile
Located in the heart of Chile’s Lake District, Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park is the oldest and most visited of the country's protected areas, with landscapes that have mesmerized foreign and domestic visitors alike for decades. The park was created almost a century ago to protect some of the last remnants of the Valdivian temperate forests and the wildlife found in them and in the nearby rivers and lakes.
The largest lake here, Todos Los Santos, is one of the park’s most prominent landmarks, not only because of its beauty and size, but also because it provides a pathway to cross the imposing Andes mountain range towards Argentina.
The lake was discovered by Jesuit priests who came sailing from Chiloé island in search for a route to the pampas in order to establish a mission there. The expedition set out from the sea, entered the Reloncaví bay towards Ralún, discovered the lake that they crossed, and continued towards the east through what is today the Pérez Rosales international crossing.
The Jesuits continued to follow this route until they abandoned their mission in Nahuel Huapi in 1718, after which the lake was largely ignored and eventually mostly forgotten about. It wasn’t until the mid-19th century that the lake was rediscovered, when modern explorers climbed the Osorno volcano and glimpsed the lake lying off to the east.
At this point, the lake rose to “prominence” once again and the national park was established, named after Vicente Pérez Rosales, a Chilean scholar who was in charge of organizing the arrival of approximately 40,000 German settlers who were invited to develop this area starting in 1849, with the aim of strengthening Chile’s sovereignty in the southern territories.
A heavy German influence is still felt in the area’s architecture, culture, and cuisine, and this is one of the more interesting non-nature related aspects of a visit to the park.
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Table of contents
Why visit
Where is the park
Best time to visit
How long to spend
Where to stay
Logistics of visiting
The areas of the park
What to see & do here
Best hikes in the park
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Why visit
The diverse landscapes protected by this national park encompass ancient evergreen forests, rivers, lakes, and volcanos, all of which provide opportunities for very different kinds of activities. You can choose between contemplating the beautiful Petrohué Waterfalls, sailing the tranquil waters of Lake Todos Los Santos, climbing to the top of the Osorno Volcano for great views of the area, and skiing down its slopes during the winter, among others.
This is also a great place to admire some of the most stunning peaks of the Andes Mountain Range, such as the Osorno (8,700 ft), Calbuco (6,610 ft), and Puntiagudo (8,180 ft) volcanos. Osorno Volcano is considered, along with Japan's Mount Fuji, one of the most beautiful and perfect cones in the Pacific Ocean’s ring of fire.
The park is also the first part of the popular Lake Crossing route to Argentina, which connects both countries through their Lake Districts. This binational circuit gives you the chance of marveling at the nature of two national parks and two small Patagonian towns, revealing unique and beautiful mountain landscapes.
Right before arriving at the National Park, outside of its boundaries, you will also be able to engage in several water sports either at Lake Llanquihue or the surrounding rivers. If you are seeking a more thrilling adventure, then rafting down the rapids of the Petrohué River is a must!
Where is Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park
Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park is in the heart of Chile’s Lake District, in the eastern part of the Los Lagos Region, in southern Chile.
While the park is about 600 miles south of Santiago, Chile’s capital city, it’s not at all isolated, being only 46 miles northeast of the city of Puerto Montt, 34 miles northeast of the city of Puerto Varas, and 6 mi away from the town of La Ensenada.
All three of these cities/towns are considered gateways to this protected area and have a broad array of accommodation options for all budgets, as well as a wide range of tour operators offering different excursions and activities in the park.
When to visit
The park has a humid temperate climate, with abundant rainfall and snow (in winter) but with fariyl significant variations inside the park depending on the elevation. Because of this, the best season to visit is definitely the summer in the southern hemisphere, from December to March, since this is the ‘dry season’ (although you might still get some rain during these months).
The other reason I recommend the summer months is that they correspond to the high season and are therefore when most tourist attractions are open and in operation.
Summer (December to March)
This is the season with the lowest rain and the highest temperatures, ranging between 50° F and 71° F. Summer is for sure the best time to hike the park’s trails, as they will be entirely clear of snow during this period. If you like water sports, you can practice them in Lake Llanquihue, right outside the park’s boundaries.
And if you’re looking for views from Osorno Volcano, you can summit it by riding up the Panoramic Chairlifts, with two different sections, which offer the perfect chance to enjoy the view. And if you’re looking for more adrenaline, then you can try the exhilarating canopy or zipline!
Autumn (March to June)
Lots of people come here in the fall expecting to see brilliant fall foliage, but unfortunately they are always disappointed because the main vegetation here is rainforest and the trees are almost entirely of the evergreen variety.
So, while you should not expect those lovely fall reds and oranges, I think the ever-green nature of the park makes it picture-perfect year-round!
The weather is also unique during this season: you might have a sunny morning followed by a raging thunderstorm in the afternoon, so you need to be ready for anything if visiting in the fall.
In general, Daily temperatures range between 43° F and 67° F.
Winter (June to September)
This is the coldest season and the one when most attractions are closed, except for those related to skiing. The snowy landscapes are breathtaking, and seeing the impressive Osorno volcano at its best is one of the season’s highlights.
Osorno Mountain Center has several tracks where you can enjoy not only skiing, but also snowboarding, snowtubing, and off-piste skiing. And you can always take your Christmas Card photos early if you visit in winter, since there will be snow quite early in the season.
Daily temperatures range between 39° F and 52° F.
Spring (September to December)
Spring is also a great time to visit the park, and for me, one of the highlights of a springtime visit is the trail to Laguna Verde (Green Lagoon), in the Ensenada Sector, which owes its name to the high concentration of suspended microalgae.
These algae reproduce in spring, making the lake’s color even more spectacular. And although though most of the park’s vegetation is evergreen, there will still be wildflowers in bloom during the spring and most of the snow will be melting away, increasing the river flows.
Daily temperatures range between 41° F and 63° F.
How long to spend
Vicente Perez Rosales NP is not typically considered to be a multi-day destination, even for visitors who decide to embark on the complete Lake Crossing boat ride. In fact, there are only two lodging options within the park, so staying within its boundaries can be pretty difficult.
The first accommodation can be found in the town of Petrohué, on the western shore of Lake Todos Los Santos, while the second one is in the town of Peulla, on the eastern shore, almost on the border with Argentina.
Because of the lack of overnight stay options, and due to the park’s proximity to pleasant cities and towns, visitors come here mostly on half-day or full-day trips, either on their own or with a local tour operator.
These excursions usually start in the city of Puerto Varas and continue along the southern shore of Lake Llanquihue, with great views of the nearby volcanos, until you reach the entrance to the Park at the Petrohué Waterfalls sector.
Now, if you have a lot of time to spare, I do think it would be great to stay 2 or 3 nights in the area, either in Puerto Varas or within the Park, so that you can enjoy all of the different activities that can be carried out here and will have time to tackle some of its longer trails, which I’ve described toward the end of this article. and some of its longer trails, described in the hiking section at the end of this article.
Half-day tours
In a typical half-day tour, after arriving at the park you will take the trail to the Petrohué Waterfalls to admire how this river cascades between large masses of crystallized lava. Then, you will get on the vehicle and drive 3.1 mi along the slopes of the Osorno Volcano, bordering the Petrohué River, until you reach the port where the Lake Crossing journey begins.
Here, you can take photographs of the landscape and volcanos or hire a 40-minute boat ride through Lake Todos Los Santos.
Afterwards, on your way back from the Park, the excursion will take a detour to visit the base camp of the Osorno Mountain Center, just 6.2 mi into the road along the volcano’s slopes. Here, you’ll find El Bosque lookout, from which you can get beautiful views of Lake Llanquihue and the Calbuco volcano.
Bicycle circuits, a restaurant, a café, a refuge, and a ski center are also part of the tourism infrastructure you can enjoy before returning to your hotel.
Full-day tours
The full-day excursion to Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park including a visit to Peulla can only be booked with TurisTour or its parent company, Andina del Sud, since they own the attractions as well as the local ferry. This is also equal to the first part of the Lake Crossing circuit to Bariloche, Argentina.
You will be picked up from your hotel or, if it’s your accommodation isn’t on the bus route, you’ll need to get to the TurisTour office in Puerto Varas (located at Del Salvador 72). The bus will take you along the shores of Lake Llanquihue until you reach the park entrance in the Petrohué Waterfalls Sector.
During the entire ride, provided it’s not too cloudy, you should have great views of the Osorno and Calbuco volcanos. Once you’re in the park, you’ll visit the Petrohué Waterfalls and then head to Lake Todos Los Santos to set sail towards Peulla, admiring more landmarks in this beautiful environment, such as Puntiagudo Volcano.
Upon your arrival in Peulla, you’ll have a brief tour of this eco-friendly village, before enjoying lunch. This is not included in the tour price, so you can either bring your own or try the menu at Hotel Natura Patagonia at an additional cost.
Afterwards, you’ll have the afternoon free to explore Villa Peulla and have fun with some ecotourism activities. They have photo tours, ATV adventures, horseback riding, kayaking, and rafting, among many other attractive activities!
Later on, you’ll sail back through Lake Todos Los Santos to Petrohué and then head to Puerto Varas.
Where to stay
Puerto Varas, about 40 miles from the park
As I explained in the section above, there are only two accommodations inside Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park: the first one, Hotel Petrohué, is located next to Lake Todos Los Santos and has 20 rooms and is open from August to April. The second one is Hotel Natura, in Villa Peulla, almost on the border with Argentina. This hotel has 45 rooms and is part of the Lake Crossing Circuit that connects Puerto Varas and Bariloche (in Argentina).
As a result of the most recent eruption of Calbuco Volcano, in October 2023, the water network of the park was damaged, and all camping sites have been closed since then. However, you can find camping and other budget lodging alternatives in the town of Ensenada, only 10 miles away from the park.
Barlovento has cabins, a hostel, a couple of apartments, and camping sites. They also own a tour operator that can organize different excursions to help you make the most out of this destination.
If you prefer to stay in a larger city, the best options are Puerto Varas and Puerto Montt. Most people visiting the park stay in Puerto Varas, which is just 40 miles southwest of this protected area, on the shore of Lake Llanquihue.
Puerto Varas
With a population of nearly 51,000 people, Puerto Varas is a main tourism hub in the Los Lagos Region and a great place to find all kinds of financial, logistics, and tourism services. From here, you can organize day trips to other attractions as well, such as the town of Frutillar and even the Chiloé Archipelago.
In Puerto Varas you’ll find accommodations for any budget, including hostels, serviced apartments, and everything up to five-star hotels, one of them belonging to the casino company.
Puerto Montt
Another option is the city of Puerto Montt, located 44 miles southwest of the park and roughly a half-hour drive due south from Puerto Varas. With a population of approximately 213,119, Puerto Montt is the regional capital and boasts one of the largest airports in the area.
It also has a broad range of accommodations for you to choose from.
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Logistics of visiting the park
A road along the Ruta Lago Llanquihue. Photo: Diego Martin F, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Opening hours and entrance tickets
Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park is open Monday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Entrance tickets to the park cost approximately US $8.00 and must be bought ahead of time and online through the dedicated website: https://shop.pasesparques.cl/evento/2565/vicente-perez-rosales
To gain entrance to the park, you need to show the park ranger your printed pass or its image on your mobile device at the access along with your identity card or passport. Purchase your pass in advance and avoid having to buy the tickets at the park gates. Remember the internet is not optimal in rural areas of Chile.
Getting to and around the park
The main access route to the Park is International Highway 225, which connects Puerto Varas and San Carlos de Bariloche, in Argentina.
Starting from Puerto Varas, you will drive along the shore of Lake Llanquihue and pass the town of Ensenada. The first part of Highway 225 covers nearly 40 mi of paved road and ends at the Petrohué Waterfalls, where you’ll find the entrance to this national park on the banks of the Petrohué River. The second part of this highway consists of 3.7 miles of dirt road that connects the waterfalls with Lake Todos Los Santos.
There are minibuses with departures every 15 or 30 minutes from both Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas. You’ll have to check routes and timetables at the local bus stations. They charge approximately US $4.00 and you’ll need to pay at the corresponding counter in cash (usually they only take Chilean pesos).
However, if you want to explore at your own pace, then I suggest you rent a car at the Puerto Montt airport or at any car rental office in Puerto Varas. You can leave your car at the parking lot next to the Park Ranger Station by the Petrohué Waterfalls Sector. Here, you will also find several trails.
The other option is to hire a transfer or a full-day tour with any of the local companies operating in Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas, or Ensenada, which I highly recommend, since they know the area better than anyone!
Remember that if you want to do the Lake Crossing, your only alternative is to book it through TurisTour or its parent company, Andina del Sud, since this is part of the Lake Crossing circuit to Bariloche, Argentina, and they own the attractions and local ferry.
Restaurants and facilities within the park
The Park Administration is located in the town of Ensenada, right before the entrance to Vicente Pérez Rosales, and there are two Park Ranger Stations within the park. One of them is in the Petrohué Waterfalls Sector, while the other is located in the Petrohué-Peulla Sector.
The Park Ranger Station in the Petrohué Waterfalls Sector has a Visitor Center with displays on the history, geography, geology, and wildlife of Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park. This is a good start before you begin hiking the trails in this area, which I’ve described in greater detail below.
There are a few places where you can grab something to eat inside the park, like small shops and cafés in the Petrohué Waterfalls area and on the shore of Lake Todos Los Santos. You will also find restaurants where you can eat comfortably while enjoying the views at Osorno Mountain Center, at Hotel Petrohué, which opens from August to April on the western shore of Lake Todos Los Santos, and Hotel Natura, on its eastern shore, in Villa Peulla, close to the border with Argentina.
All of these options are rather pricey though, so be prepared for that. If you prefer to bring your own food to cut down on costs or if you’re expecting to have a boxed lunch while hiking some of the trails, then I suggest you stock up in any of the larger cities or, at least in Ensenada.
Areas of the park
The park is divided into two sectors, both of them focused on their own main attraction. As happens with many places in Chile, the sectors, accesses, and trails tend to have the same name as the area they are closest to. Therefore, context is very important.
And although Ensenada is not part of the park itself, just about everything you’ll read about the park includes Ensenada and its surroundings as if they were a third sector. Therefore, I’ve also included it in this breakdown.
Ensenada Sector: The town of Ensenada is approximately 10 mi southwest from the entrance to the park on Highway 225. Here, you’ll find the Park’s Administration. This sector encompasses the town as well as a small lake called Laguna Verde and the Osorno Volcano. There are four trails in this sector. To reach the volcano, you need to head north on road U99 and after 3.1 mi turn right to take the road along its slopes.
Saltos del Petrohué (Petrohué Waterfalls) Sector: Continuing towards the east from Ensenada on Highway 225, you’ll reach the only access to the park in the Petrohué Waterfalls sector. Here, you’ll find a Park Ranger Station, some shops, and four trails. This is the smallest sector and it mainly encompasses the Petrohué Waterfalls.
Petrohué (town) and Villa Peulla Sector: Following northeast on the last segment of Highway 225, which at this point is only a dirt road, you’ll get to Lake Todos Los Santos. This is the largest sector of the park and it encompasses the towns of Petrohué and Villa Peulla, as well as all attractions north and south of Lake Todos Los Santos, including La Picada lookout, a small lake called Laguna Cayutué, and the Ralún Hot Springs.
What to see & do in the park
1. Osorno Volcano
Located 29 miles northeast of the city of Puerto Varas, the Osorno Volcano is one of the most beautiful and perfect cones in Chile. It’s part of a volcanic chain that also includes La Picada, Puntiagudo, and Cordón Cenizos volcanoes and it rises up to 8,700 ft and has a unique crater approximately 984 ft in diameter.
Ski the volcano’s slopes: if you visit the park in winter and you’re a fan of skiing, snowboarding, snowtubing, sleighing, or off-piste skiing, you’ll be able to practice all of those winter sports on the slopes of Osorno Volcano. Here, you’ll find a Mountain Center covering 1,483 acres with six ski tracks, two ski lifts, two chair lifts, and tracks for other sports. Its facilities also include a restaurant, an equipment rental shop, and a ski and snowboard school.
Summit to the peak: If visiting at other times of year, reaching the peak of the volcano is an unmissable experience. Then you Because the top of the mountain is covered by a glacier, you’ll be required to organize the ascent with an authorized guide, and this full-day excursion lasts roughly 14 hours (including round-trip transportation from your accommodation) and can be hired with specialized tour operators such as TerraSur, Peripillán Expediciones, and Rutas Australes.
You will typically be picked up at 3:00 or 4:00 a.m. and transferred to the park, where you will need to register with the rangers. The climb itself starts at the base in the mountain center and takes approximately three hours to the top. Equipped with crampons, you’ll walk on the glacier where you can see ice walls and cracks up to 164 ft deep and impressive ice formations called seracs. Enjoy spending some time in this awe-inspiring mountain and taking great insta-worthy pictures.
Osorno Volcano seen from Petrohué Falls. Photo: Contranton, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
2. Head up to La Picada lookout
Located on the northeast slope of the Osorno volcano, La Picada lookout is a popular landmark that provides amazing views of Lake Todos Los Santos. To get there, you must travel roughly 5 mi uphill, along a trail that goes through the lava flow area of the volcano. This was formerly a road used to transport livestock between lakes Todos Los Santos and Llanquihue.
Photo: Natalia Reyes Escobar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
3. Laguna Verde - as evergreen as the forests here!
A narrow canal emerging from Lake Llanquihue connects with Laguna Verde, a small lake nestled between volcanic rocks and with a small beach on its southwest shore. Its waters have an intense green color, thanks to the concentration of suspended microalgae, especially when they reproduce in the spring.
Photo: Gabriela Arriagada Bruneau, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
4. Lake Todos Los Santos
Lake Todos Los Santos, with the tiny Isla Margarita rising in the middle, is one of the park’s main landmarks. The lake appeared after the glaciers receded and the Osorno Volcano rose as a result of volcanic and tectonic activity.
It covers an area of approximately 69 sq mi and receives the waters of several rivers such as Peulla, Negro, Blanco, Puntiagudo, Chilcón, and Cayutué. This is where the Petrohué River begins, winding through volcanic rocks until it reaches the sea through the Reloncaví Gulf.
Photo: CARLOS TEIXIDOR CADENAS, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
5. Petrohué river and waterfalls
As a result of the retreat of glaciers and the rise of the Osorno volcano, this basin divided into two, creating lakes Llanquihue and Todos Los Santos. The Petrohué River springs from the latter and runs for 22 mi, of which the first 6 are located inside the Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, while the remaining 16 cross through the Ensenada sector.
Along its route, the Petrohué River exhibits large pools, rapids, calm waters, and beaches, until it flows south into the Reloncaví estuary.
The world-famous Petrohué Waterfalls constitute a natural marvel that results from its waters being enclosed by the volcanic rocks of the Osorno volcano and the Santo Domingo mountain range. This feature forms high cliffs that create torrential waterfalls – with an average flow of 13,066 cubic feet per second – ending in pools of a vivid emerald color.
The Petrohué waterfalls
6. Visit the town of Petrohué and go sailing on Lake Todos Los Santos
This small town, located roughly 10 mi from Ensenada on the western shore of Lake Todos Los Santos, is the most important settlement inside Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, as it is a connecting point for tourists and local inhabitants.
Here, you’ll find a hotel, small basic supply shops, a Park Ranger Station, and a dock that harbors the Lake Crossing terminal and smaller boats of the Boatmen's Union of Lake Todos Los Santos, who offer trips to Margarita Island and around the lake.
If you walk almost 2,000 feet from the Petrohué dock along Lake Todos Los Santos, you’ll pass a public parking lot and reach the area known as Petrohué beach. Its gray volcanic sand and intense turquoise waters are typical of this lake.
7. Go rafting on the Petrohué river
If you love rafting, you can enjoy this activity in the segments of the Petrohué River that flow outside of Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park. This and other similar activities are banned on the upper Petrohué River due to its proximity to the unnavigable Petrohué Waterfalls and the risk of disturbing the environment protected by the park.
The lower Petrohué provides opportunities for a very fun and safe rafting trip, with entertaining class III rapids such as La S, Los Pollos, or La Garganta del Diablo. You’ll need to book the activity beforehand with a local tour operator based in Puerto Varas or Ensenada, like TerraSur.
The excursion follows a 4.9-mile route and lasts approximately 3.5 hours, giving you the chance to admire the Osorno (8,700 ft), Calbuco (6,610 ft), and Puntiagudo (8,180 ft) volcanoes, as well as almost untouched evergreen forests.
Rapids on the Petrohue river in the park. Photo: Antocavi, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
8. Visit Villa Peulla, almost on the Argentinean border
After a 1.5-hour navigation from the Petrohué dock, you’ll reach Villa Peulla, a small town located on the eastern shore of Lake Todos Los Santos. It was established at the beginning of the 20th century by Argentine explorer of Swiss origin Ricardo Roth Schutz. A prominent businessman, Roth bought the Chile-Argentina transportation company, which was on the verge of bankruptcy after the construction of the Panama Canal. He turned it from a commercial company to Andina del Sud tourist company.
To date, the company retains ownership of the Lake Crossing circuit services between Puerto Varas, in Chile, and Bariloche, in Argentina.
Located only 16 mi from the border with Argentina, Villa Peulla boasts several beautiful landmarks such as the Velo de la Novia, Mellizas, and Los Helechos waterfalls, as well as Laguna El Encanto. Here, you’ll find a hotel, small basic supply shops, and several ecotourism activities to choose from.
9. Relax at the Ralún Hot Springs
Located south of Lake Todos Los Santos, on the trail leading to Laguna Cayutué, these rustic, open-air hot springs are free of charge for visitors. You can enjoy an afternoon on the banks of the Petrohué River, dipping in these natural pools and treating yourself to a thermal mud bath on your face and body.
To get there, you’ll need to take route V-69 and travel 16.7 mi south until you reach a fork on the road that will lead you to the Ralún Hot Springs.
10. Visit Laguna Cayutué, the perfect place for trekking enthusiasts
This small lake is located in an area linked to a rural way of life. This used to be a core part of the Jesuit Route, whose purpose was to evangelize the indigenous people of the area. The route began in Chiloé and ended in either Lake Rupanco or Lake Nahuel Huapi, in Argentina, through the Vuriloche Pass.
Laguna Cayutué drains its waters through the river of the same name, which runs for roughly 2.5 mi until it reaches Lake Todos Los Santos.
To get to the lake, you can combine driving and trekking. You can leave the car at Portezuelo Cabeza de Vaca and hike for nearly 2 mi until you reach the Laguna Cayutué. At that point, you can decide to go back to your car or to continue hiking another 3.8 mi along its western shore to head towards Lake Todos Los Santos.
11. Sail across Lake Todos Los Santos to Argentina
Because there are no roads connecting Chile and Argentina in this area, local inhabitants learned centuries ago that the only way to cross the border is to combine road and boat travel. Nowadays, this journey is much more comfortable and safer, since it has developed into a world-famous tourism attraction: the Lake Crossing, which connects Chile and Argentina through their Lakes Districts.
To do the lake crossing, you’ll need to get to the dock in Petrohué, on the western shore of Lake Todos Los Santos. Here, you’ll board a ferry and sail for approximately 1.5 hours until you get to the other side, where you’ll find a small locality called Villa Peulla. From there, the journey takes you down the road that crosses the Andes mountains and connects to Puerto Frías, where you will sail across Lago Frías.
You will then continue by bus until you reach Puerto Blest, where you will embark on your last navigation, sailing Lake Nahuel Huapi until you get to Puerto Pañuelo to board a bus that will take you to the city of Bariloche, in Argentina.
You can do the crossing in 12 hours or in 2 days, spending a night in Villa Peulla if you’re starting in Chile, or in Puerto Blest if you depart from Argentina. This is truly an unforgettable experience!
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Best hikes in the park
The National Park has 17 trails of different difficulty levels, some of which are super popular, and others that are almost entirely unvisited.
There are four trails in the Ensenada Sector before reaching the actual Park; another four in the Petrohué Waterfalls Sector (the main entrance to the Park); and, finally, nine in the Petrohué and Peulla Sector - the one closest to the border with Argentina.
As I previously mentioned, although it is not a part of the National Park itself, the town of La Ensenada is the last logistical stop before entering it, and since you’ll find some amazing treks there, I’ve included them in the list below.
Trails in the Ensenada Sector
Laguna Verde: This low difficulty and paved recreational trail that meets universal accessibility standards follows part of the shore of Lake Llanquihue and this small lake called Laguna Verde. It runs for approximately 985 ft and takes an average of 20 minutes to complete round trip. Along its route there are two lookouts: one with a view of the small lake and another one with a view of Lake Llanquihue.
Los Pilleyos: This low-difficulty trail allows you to border the northern shore of Laguna Verde and reach Lake Llanquihue through the native forest. It runs for 0.75 miles and takes roughly 45 minutes to complete round trip. It is totally rugged, sometimes just a path of brown sand. It also has two viewpoints: Ngen-Winkul and Ngen-K.
Los Pumas: This low-difficulty trail runs for approximately 1,300 ft and takes 40 minutes to complete round trip. It’s located on the western slopes of the Osorno volcano and to hike it you need to first get to the mountain center through route V-555.
Cráter Rojo: This medium-difficulty trail takes you to the red crater on the slopes of the Osorno volcano, which closely resembles the moon’s surface. It runs for 0.75 miles and takes between 45 minutes and 1 hour to complete round trip.
Trails in the Petrohué Waterfalls Sector
Your first stop within the Park will always be the Petrohué Waterfalls Sector, located at its entrance, where you’ll find a few short but well-maintained trails. It currently has wide walkways that facilitate access for people with reduced mobility and senior citizens, as well as instructional panels in Braille for blind people and sound totems with information about the area.
Here are the trails:
Saltos del Río Petrohué: This recreational trail runs for 918 ft and takes you to the Petrohué Waterfalls, providing fantastic views. The average walking time for this low-difficulty hike is 30 minutes round trip. It has two lookouts and, on clear days, you can admire the backdrop of the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes.
Los Enamorados: This low-difficulty recreational trail runs for 1,968 ft along the west bank of the Petrohué River, allowing you to admire the Park’s vegetation. It takes approximately 40 minutes to complete round trip at a slow pace. According to local legends, it is called ‘The Couple in Love’ because the pond has a heart shape when seen from above.
Carilemu: This low-difficulty trail also goes along the banks of the Petrohué River and runs for 3,280 ft. If you walk at a relaxed pace, the round trip takes approximately one hour to complete. It intersects with the Saltos del Río Petrohué trail.
El Solitario: This is the only medium-difficulty trail and the longest in this Sector. It runs for 3.5 mi and takes roughly 4 hours to complete round trip. It’s an old trail along the southern slope of the Osorno volcano that connects the road to the volcano's mountain center with the road that leads to Lake Todos Los Santos.
Trails in the Petrohué and Peulla Sector
If you travel to the eastern shore of Lake Todos Los Santos, close to the Argentinian border, you’ll get to experience these additional options which include higher difficulty trails.
Paso Desolación: This high-difficulty trail is pretty popular because it’s not excessively long and provides great views of the area. It starts at the dock in Petrohué and runs for approximately 7.5 miles on the northeastern slope of Osorno Volcano.
Skirting Lake Todos Los Santos, it leads to a magma Canyon and from there to the Paso Desolación, where Jesuit missionaries discovered the lake in the 17th century. La Picada outlook is also one of the landmarks along this trail.
The round trip takes roughly 7 hours to complete. After 2.6 miles, it intersects with another trail: Los Alerces.
Los Alerces: This medium-difficulty trail allows you to walk through the Park’s evergreen forests. It starts at the dock in Petrohué and runs for a little over 2 mi. It connects with the Paso Desolación and Rincón del Osorno trails and the round trip takes roughly 4 hours. Los Alerces lookout provides great views of Lake Todos Los Santos.
Rincón del Osorno: This medium-difficulty trail starts at the dock in Petrohué and runs for almost 1.5 mi. The round trip takes 3 hours to complete on average. It follows the western shore of Lake Todos Los Santos, providing fantastic views from the Rincón del Osorno lookout. It also intersects with Los Alerces trail.
Laguna Cayutué: This high-difficulty trail is the second longest in the park and is located south of Lake Todos Los Santos. It starts at Ralún, approximately 20 miles southeast of Ensenada, and leads to Lake Todos Los Santos, passing along the shore of a small lake called Laguna Cayutué. It runs for approximately 15.5 mi and takes roughly 12 hours to complete round trip.
To reach the trail, you have to take route V-69 south and then a secondary road (V-705) that leads to the town of Ralún, which is close to the mouth of the Petrohué River. From there, you must drive nearly 7 mi along a gravel road in poor condition, ideally on a 4x4 vehicle, until you reach a small settlement called Portezuelo Cabeza de Vaca, where you can leave the car.
At that point, your only option will be to hike a low-difficulty trail that runs for almost 2 miles across a very dense forest. The journey to the lakeshore of Laguna Cayutué takes approximately 1.5 hours, following the course of the La Cachimba River, and you can even continue north to connect with Lake Todos Los Santos, traveling an additional 3.7 mi.
Portezuelo Cabeza de Vaca is usually covered in snow during the winter, so it’s recommended to do the circuit between November and April, when the road is less muddy.
Valle del Callao: This high-difficulty trail starts in Puerto Rincón, on the northern shore of Lake Todos Los Santos, and ends in Lake Rupanco, following the old route of the Jesuit missionaries. You can stop to visit the Callao Hot Springs along the way.
To reach the trail, you first have to sail 45 minutes across the lake, heading east and then north. The trail itself runs for 10.5 miles and takes between 2 to 3 days to complete (one-way) to finally reach Lake Rupanco, located towards the north outside the boundaries of Vicente Perez Rosales National Park.
At this point, you can choose to make your way back or return by road to your original logistical hub.
Velo de la Novia: This low-difficulty recreational trail in Villa Peulla starts 5.6 miles from the Park Ranger Station (only 10 minutes from the town) and leads to this beautiful waterfall, also known as Cascada de Los Novios. The trail runs for 1,312 ft and takes approximately 30 minutes to complete round trip.
Laguna Margarita: This high-difficulty trail in Villa Peulla starts close to the town’s turbine and runs for 5 miles. It takes approximately 10 hours to complete round trip. The trail leads to a small lake called Laguna Margarita, surrounded by beautiful Lenga forests.
Cerro Riggi: This high-difficulty trail almost on the border with Argentina runs for 5 miles and takes roughly 10 hours to complete round trip. According to local folklore, a member of the Swiss Roth-Schirmer family, the owners of the Lake Crossing, named the hill in honor of a mountain in the Swiss Alps called Mount Rigi, also known as “Queen of the Mountains.”
Paso Vuriloche: This high-difficulty trail starts at the Blanco River delta, connecting the southern shore of Lake Todos Los Santos with the Paso Vuriloche crossing on the Chile-Argentina border. After about ten hours of travel south, you’ll reach La Junta, which marks the crossing between the Blanco and Esperanza rivers.
From there, you will continue heading east towards Argentina, through hills and forests, following an old road leading to Nahuel Huapi National Park, in Argentina.
This route was originally traveled by native Mapuche indigenous peoples and later used by Jesuit missionaries in the area. The trail runs for almost 25 miles and takes between 8 to 10 days to complete round-trip.
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