Chile The Lakes (3 weeks)

Get ready to roll through one of the most beautiful regions of Chile. Beginning in the urban transport hub of Temuco, head south to Villarrica, a good place to spend the night while daytripping to the more expensive Pucón. This popular lakeside town is great not only for relaxing on black-sand beaches, but also for organizing trips into nearby PN Villarrica to climb the majestic Volcán Villarrica. When you are finished playing on the snow-capped peak, it’s time to move on to the Siete Lagos. Heading back toward the Pacific coast, head to the capital of Los Lagos, Valdivia. Set among rolling farmlands, Valdivia is not only the rainiest place in Chile, it is also often considered the most attractive city in all Chile, with its Germanic heritage lending the city a little extra sabor. Next, head on down to Puerto Varas, on the shores of Lago Llanquihue. Varas is a fun place to kill a day or two while enjoying the sparkling blue waters of Llanquihue as well as the imposing backdrop of Volcanes Osorno, Calbuco, and Puntiagudo. Then move on from the residential suburb to the larger Puerto Montt. The only major city for miles, Puerto Montt is the meeting point of the Panamerican Highway out of Los Lagos, the Carretera Austral out of Aisén, and the ferry from the Island of Chiloé. Before finishing up your tour, rent a cabin for a few days on the shores of the lake in the small mountain hideaway of Ensenada before tackling the alerce groves of PN Alerce Andino, which protects several-millennia-old alerce trees. Finally, catch a bus from Puerto Montt over the border to Bariloche, Argentina, from where you can experience some of South America’s finest skiing before heading home, or continue on to Patagonia.

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