The Chilean Lake District

The Chilean Lake District Trips & Tours

The Chilean Lake District

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4.9/5 (911 reviews)

Travel and Leisure Worlds Best Awards for number 1 tour operator in the world 2024 and number 2 tour operator in the world 2025
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Voted No.1 in 2024 and No.2 in 2025 by Travel+Leisure
Explore the sites of Puerto Varas, Lake District

The Chilean Lake District Trips & Tours

Combine the landscapes of New Zealand with a unique Chilean culture and fascinating personality
Whether you appreciate the Lake District for its bucolic views and tranquil panoramas, or for the promise of adventure hidden beneath the snow-tipped mountains, we’re pretty certain you’ll fall for it. Settled by the Mapuche people long before the 16th century, it’s one of Chile’s most historically-rich regions and their noble respect for Mother Earth and nature is ever-apparent in the unspoilt surroundings. As the name suggests, an assortment of exquisite lakes characterise the region, their shores carpeted in forest and all overlooked by a volcano, each one fiercer than the last. In between, there are tiny villages dripping with charm and crystalline streams trickling through meadows and pastures, completing the chocolate-box scenery perfectly. Starting in the north, the lakeshore resort of Pucon is the home of the adventurist, with watersports-galore on Lake Villarrica and ample opportunities to climb volcanoes, hike and horse-ride. Further south, Puerto Varas is gentle and peaceful. Use it as a base to walk amongst the ancient trees of Alerce Andino National Park, explore the Germanic villages around Lake Llanquihue or boat out to Chiloé, a remote island of multi-coloured bungalows, listed churches and intriguing traditions that will stay with you for years to come.
Trips

The Chilean Lake District Trips & Tours

Start with a recommended trip or create one from scratch

All the highlights of Chile
Chile

All the highlights of Chile

20 nights from $20.6K per person

The very best of Chilean Patagonia
Chile

The very best of Chilean Patagonia

12 nights from $13K per person

Argentina & Chile: the natural highlights
Argentina + Chile

Argentina & Chile: the natural highlights

16 nights from $14.8K per person

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or call us on: +1 (646) 542 0667

Joanna

Joanna Rigby-Jones

Africa & South America Travel Specialist

Annie

Annie Irankunda

Africa Travel Specialist

Meg

Meg Yash

Global Travel Specialist

Things to do

What to do in Lake District

Chile's Lake District is as picturesque as they come and the spread of mirror-smooth lakes, swathes of ancient forest, and volcanoes that rise in the distance is utterly magical. Pucon is a hub of activity, whether you're after watersports, hiking, biking, or horseback riding - or a soak in the thermal springs - but there's plenty of that across the district too. For an adrenaline boost, go white water rafting on a glacial river and if you're an avid skiier, the Lake District has fabulous volcanic slopes. In the case of Volcan Villarrica, you could even trek to its bubbling crater and toboggan back down! Not to be missed is a taste of the area's Mapuche history on a boat ride to Chiloe Island, where jewel-bright stilted houses line the shore.

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Culture

Explore the sites of Puerto Varas, Lake District

Active

Kayak along the pristine blue Chilean lakes

Hiking

Hike through Villarrica National Park

Why you'll love it

Why you'll love it

The food is extraordinary good. On a journey through Chile’s history, sample everything from German apple strudel, to traditional Mapuche meat stew with spicy merkén, and succulent southern hake barbell and a glass of icy white at a lake-side restaurant.
Off the beaten track

Off the beaten track

The region is a self-driver’s dream with easy-to-navigate roads and plenty to look at as you go. Hire a car and drive from north to south (or vice versa) and access remote lakes and off-the-beaten track parks.
Something to think about

Something to think about

The main cities in the region - Puerto Montt, Temuco, Valdivia and Osorno – are simply transportation hubs with little or nothing to offer travellers. You aren’t missing out!
Best time to visit

When to go on a Lake District Trip

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Kevin’s Chilean Adventure

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Reviews

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Based on 18 Feefo Reviews for Chile

Guest
April 2026
17 nights in Chile and Argentina
April Solomon
February 2026
8 nights in Argentina and Chile
Straights of Magellan
Guest
Straights of Magellan
January 2026
6 nights in Chile and Argentina
Excellent service and support.
Excellent experience
Lyn
Excellent experience
November 2025
3 nights in Chile
Everything was great. I started to put our trip together on my own. Timbuktu was just as cost efficient, their providers were top notch, and they saved me all kinds of time.
All in all very good, experience with Timbuktu travel. Very professional.
Guest
All in all very good, experience with Timbuktu travel. Very professional.
October 2025
10 nights in Chile
Corolla, was excellent, easy to contact and immediately response. This was very reassuring. We had many domestic flights in the country during our travel to Chile, and we had absolutely no problem at the airport. We had airport transfers. Everything went accordingly. I was not happy that we missed the glacier viewing the boat ride in Patagonia, it was a major thing, and I wish that they made me aware of that beforehand. It’s a big thing and the trip was expensive so I would’ve liked to have seen that… but otherwise everything else went seemingly very well. I was happy with the company all in all. The hotels were good as well, thank you
Love my team at Timbuktu
Ricky McGrath
Love my team at Timbuktu
August 2025
5 nights in Chile
Great ideas and responsiveness. Attention to detail. Prepared to make recommendations even if there is no direct benefit.

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Loved By Our Guests

Loved By Our Guests

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