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Chile's First National Park

Situated 50 km from Puerto Varas, Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park was founded in 1926 as Chile's first national park. The area was long known to the indigenous people of Araucania and Jesuit missionaries who passed through en route to Argentina. The park is named for a man who founded several towns in the Llanquihue Basin during the times of the German colonists.

Its key attractions are Lago Todos los Santos and the snowcapped peak of the Osorno Volcano. You can also enjoy views of the unmistakable summit of Puntiagudo Volcano, which sits 2,493 meters above the northern horizon, and Tronador Volcano (3,491 meters), which marks the border with Argentina. From the park's higher ground you can clearly see the paths taken by lava flows to the rivers, lakes and waterfalls of this natural paradise.

The jewels in the park's crown are the Petrohué Cascades, which flow foaming and powerful through a canyon of volcanic rock formed by lava flows. The cascades are an amazing spectacle that is best seen up close from a jet boat.

You can also hike trails such as Los Enamorados, Velo de la Novia, Rincón de Osorno and Desolación. Snow hiking is popular during the winter. Visitors also flock here for mountaineering, rock climbing, mountain biking, river kayaking, canyoning, fishing and the chance to catch sight of animals such as the diminutive pudú deer, pumas and the ferret-like grison while strolling through forests of canelo, olivillo, Chilean myrtle, ulmo, petra and coigüe.

Featured Destinations

Frutillar		Puerto Montt
Puerto Octay		Puerto Varas

Tours you can do

Getting There By Air There are daily flights from Santiago to El Tepual Airport in Puerto Montt (2 h). You can take a taxi or a minibus transfer from the airport to Puerto Varas. By Bus Buses depart Santiago daily for Puerto Varas (13 h). Buses run frequently from Puerto Montt to Puerto Varas (20-25 minutes). By Car From Santiago, take Route 5 south to Puerto Varas (1,008 km). To get into the park, take International Route 225 from Puerto Varas through Ensenada to Petrohué, driving 64 km to Todos Los Santos Lake.