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Welcome to Puerto Varas, Chile. This was our introduction to Chile's Lake District, and it quickly won us over. Puerto Varas is a lakeside city that feels more like a town. And though it is very hilly, we found it surprisingly walkable and easy to explore. In this video, we'll be sharing some of the best things to do in Puerto Vas, like a boat trip on Lake Dan Kiwi, an easy hike up Philippi, and a self-guided tour of the town's historic homes. We'll also highlight some day trips you can go on to places like Petroe Falls, Lake Dosto Santos, and Osorno Volcano. Plus, we'll give you some ideas of places to eat, whether you're after a mimosa brunch, the best pizza of your life, or an
artisal ice cream shop. This is our travel guide to Puerto Vas, Chile. So, hit that subscribe button and join us as we share some of the best things to do in and around town. Our exercise of the day. Pushing the stroller up Monte Calvario, Mount Calvary. This is uh this is how I earn my sushi, guys. Apparently, that's what's for lunch today. So, I am putting in the steps with
Mount Calvary or Monte Calvario is a religious site in Puerto Varas. This hill has a series of stations that depict the passion of Christ. So, it's a popular destination for pilgrims, especially during Holy Week. And if you're just visiting for the views, there is a balcony where you can view Lago Jang Kiwi Osorna volcano and the town below. Kind of been observing. All righty, friends. So, we are currently enjoying a self-guided tour visiting historic homes in Puerto Varas like this one right behind me. There are so many historic homes here and they are beautiful. They are these old wooden structures with shiplap exterior. They are very weathered. They look like they are frozen in time. And it's kind of
cool because they have info points across the city with maps of where you can find these constructions. So, we've got an example here. This one highlights 29 different constructions across the city. And we've just been coming across a lot of them naturally. We also have an info point here that talks about the different styles. Um, you know, the simple style, the historical home, chalet, fourth generation, modern, commercial. There's a lot to see. This place has it all. I mean, what's really interesting about being here is that I feel like this has a frontier and rustic vibe, but there's also a lot of modern development as well alongside it. So, it's kind of a fascinating blend.
We also walk past Eiglacia desraason de Jesus. This church is one of the city's landmarks and can be seen from different vantage points across Puerto Vadas. I didn't film inside because there was a baptism taking place. And then just down the hill, you have Guta de Lordes where I was kind of loudly trying to befriend the dog until I realized there was a man praying. So yes, lots of places of prayer and reflection across Puerto Vas as you can see. Oh, Paperon. Hello, Paparon. Beautiful paparon. Because we visited Puerto Vargas in the middle of summer, there was a daily artisal fair set up with various tents across different places in town. We were super impressed by the quality and the
variety of goods. So, if you're looking to do some souvenir shopping, check out the Fidia de Artisanos. Audrey, look at the meowzers. That's cute, huh? Oh, what a And we went back. We Yes. We found like three loops through the artisal fair and we decided we wanted to buy a little something to remember the trip by. Our baby has been taking off her shoes and socks and throwing everything inside the market. But look at this. It's a little bird with a traditional like iron cast iron wood burning stove and he's making tea and it just looks so cute. So this is going to be our memory of Puerto Vadas.
Yes. It reminds us of us making tea. I know. Not necessarily here, but like in Argentine countryside or just all over South America. I love it. You love it. [screaming] Craili or Mount Philippi sits on the north end of Puerto Vadas and it offers hiking and mountain biking trails. It's not a particularly tall mount. It only stands 90 m above Lake Dangiway, but it was a good workout pushing the stroller uphill. The main attraction of top is across. Plus, you also have some lookout points and a play area for children.
All righty. So, we are walking down the hill here at Park Philippi. Very steep on the way up. A lot easier coming down. Oh, yeah. I will tell you that has been the workout of the trip so far, especially pushing a baby up. Mhm. So, took some effort to get here. So, yeah, lots of families out bike riding. They also have dirt trails here that split from the main path. And then once you reach the top, you have a few different vantage points where you can see the city and the lake and yeah, just really green and it's a lot cooler here. So maybe bring a sweater. Oh, first thing, get me out of here.
One [snorts] of the highlights of our visit to Puerto Vas was going on a boat trip on Lagodiwe. This is the second largest lake in Chile, and what makes it special is that it is flanked by the Osorno volcano, making it look like something out of a postcard. We decided to go for a sunset boat ride, and it was oh so relaxing. We could see people out kaying, wind surfing, and sailing. Plus, we enjoyed seeing Puerto Vas from a different perspective. I would say this is a musto activity in Puerto Vas if you have the time. Cheers. Hi. Breastfeeding session on the boat. Guys, we are on a boat. We are doing an excursion. Wow. We are seeing the volcano. Sam is going out there to show you guys. Um, so yeah, there's an
excursion. It's about an hour and a half and it's on a boat called Pionero de Lago, the pioneer of the lake. and it's a beautiful way to see the volcanoes. They have three outings per day and we chose to do the last one of the day at 700 p.m. So, it's summer here. It's still a bit early for sunset, but it's just really nice. We're getting some nice golden light and enjoying the breeze. And it's the perfect day because we just have blue skies. So, you can actually go out on the deck and take pictures, enjoy the scenery. I'm kind of booby trapped over here. nursing the girl. But I would highly, highly
recommend this excursion. We've really enjoyed it. I was kind of on the fence because we've done so many boat trips recently, but this is well worth it, I would say. Guys, it's just very relaxing. So chill out here. And really nice that they gave us a beverage, too. I'm enjoying a nice glass of wine. And this is our second to last night here. And I'm going to miss this place. Audrey and I have really enjoyed it. It's been great. Belly has, too. And this is just one of the most relaxing and fun things you can do here. We're just chilling out to the max.
Next, we walked along the lakefront and the Pablo Fierro Museum. This is one of the best known attractions in Puerto Vargas, but it's hard to describe because it's not your average museum. This space is the work of local artist Pablo Fierro, and he has taken an old historical house and turned it into a work of art where anything is possible. This is a museum where you have to be willing to explore. And the longer you stay, the stranger it gets. You can walk through wardrobes, climb staircases that lead to artfilled rooms. You can sit down and play chess. You name it.
Anything is possible in this museum. It is a window into Pablo's mind and he is also there on site welcoming visitors. If you want to enjoy nature close to Puerto Varas, there's a very popular day trip that visits Petroe Falls and Lake Dooos Los Santos. Petroe Falls is located inside Vicente Perez Rosales National Park. And this is where you can see the turquoise waters of Lake Dooos Los Santos pouring over black lava from the Osorno volcano. You can then board a catamaran from the port in Petroe and enjoy a scenic trip of Lake to Los Santos with volcano views which is something you don't see every day.
We visited both places on our final day in Porerto Varas when we were leaving Chile to cross back into Argentina via the Crusandino, a tour where you navigate three lakes tucked in the Andes mountains. Speaking of the Osorno volcano, there are tours that bring you to the ski resort on the volcano where you can ride the chairlift and enjoy the panoramic views. However, this was a little too heavy duty for us with a toddler, but it is a popular tour to consider adding to your itinerary. And then you have the beach. I was surprised by the number of people swimming and sunbathing because it was a cool day and I was wearing a fleece with a hood. But that's Patagonia for you.
Another place we really enjoyed in Puerto Varas was Plaza de Armas in the late afternoon. This is the main square and it's a super lively spot that draws tourists and locals alike. There was live music, kids playing, street food, balloons for sale, and it just had a nice energy. We also happened to visit Puerto Varas during a big celebration to commemorate the foundation of the town. So, there was a bit more going on because of that. Now, let's talk about food in Puerto Vargas because we spent a good chunk of our trip just eating. And a few of the restaurants I'm about to mention, we visited multiple times. If you're craving pizza in Puerto Vargas, you need
to visit Mesa Tropera. This restaurant and micro brewery sits on stilts on the lake and does some of the best New Yorkstyle pizza. We came back to this restaurant a second time to reorder the hot honey pepperoni pizza I'm about to show you. This looks amazing. Divine. I got New York style hot honey pizza. I can smell the sweetness. Oh, and we're sharing. I got the camera, the shrimp one. So, the best of both. worlds. I'm just using my hands. Oh, yeah. Dead after. How's that? Wonderful. They gave us the option of going with the classic dough. Here they call it fermentana, fermented, or the sour dough. We went with the classic. And I love the spicy honey. You can just
smell the sweetness, the aroma of the honey, but then you get the kick. It's delicious. So glad we got two pieces. We're thinking of getting a salad. That would have been a mistake. Yeah, it would have been sad. Just sad. So good, huh? So guys, I got the camera and the funny thing is it translates to the shrimp that fell asleep. Yeah. Take a look at the big plump shrimp there. It's funny because the name is and it's kind of an expression like if you snooze you lose. You know, the shrimp fell asleep so he lost.
I just took a massive bite. Chew that pizza and tell us that is gourmet delicious pizza. It's the first pizza we've had on our trip. It just tastes so good. So glad we came here. Almost. We were actually going to go to a steakhouse for lunch. Wasn't open. So, we walked across the street. We came here. Pizzas are phenomenal. And it's just an excellent location. The views here are spectacular. And um my gosh, I'm in my happy place right now. Time to chill down.
It had been a while since we had sushi. So when we realized there was a Japanese restaurant down the street from our accommodations, we knew we had to go. This is I Isakaya Yoko. We decided to get one of their sets. And I'm not going to lie, we're pretty obsessed with salmon. So we chose the set that featured everything salmon, grilled and raw, presented different ways. It hit the spot and we devoured every last bite. The next restaurant we visited is called Aurelia. And yes, we chose to eat here because it's our daughter's name. This is a beastro and grill that does fancy dining. Sam got the beef de chiso, a classic steak that he paired with pastela de chocolate.
That's this creamy corn dish you see here. Meanwhile, I opted for the buff binon. And I ordered it because on the menu it says Aurelia style. No idea what that means, but again, I picked it based on the name. I got it with a side of potatoes, and yes, Rei did also try some. Next up, let's talk about Casis Cafe. We ate here three times, so you could say this was our go-to cafe in Puerto Vas. We only filmed one of those meals, and that was the mimosa brunch. We started with their classic tota amore, a layered cake with dulce de leche or manhad cream and raspberries. And that was followed by a granola bowl with yogurt and mixed berries. A shakshuka pan with simmering tomatoes, onions, peppers, and poached eggs. Two
scone sandwiches, one with smoked salmon, and the other with ham and cheese. Plus two pastries, a delicious coffee, and a tall glass of freshsqueezed orange juice. And we can't forget the mimosas. It was a feast of a brunch. I ate quite a bit of ice cream in Puerto Vadas, but Pulu is the only place that made it into this video. This was good ice cream. Budoo does artisal ice cream, and every flavor I tasted was divine. I like rich and creamy ice cream, and this place offered precisely that. Plus, their flavors were inventive. So, Sam is having chi Moda, my favorite fruit in Peru. I didn't know they had it in Chile. And also man, it's the brand of the man.
It's like, am I getting ice cream? Yes, you are, girl. Recommended by a friend. Yes. In Argentina. Thank you, Dana. And I have the coconut and also a cherry with yogurt. And this restaurant is called El Barista. We ended up here by chance after multiple restaurants we tried were completely full. We were hungry, a little bit cranky, and this place saved the day with a plate of fish and chips and a bowl of shrimp risoto loaded with cheese. Crisis averted. Risoto. Baby likes risoto. How's How is it for you? So, for my main, I got the risoto with shrimp and mushrooms. I've got a little mountain of cheese there in the middle.
It's going to melt into the risoto. Let's try it. Very creamy. Lots of plum shrimp. Lots of cheese. We were hungry after all the walking, huh? Oh my. We walked the walk. Yeah. I got fish and chips. That's a very generous tortilla. I'm looking forward to trying a bit of that too. I am tempted. Oh my gosh, that's good. Just what I feel like having today, too. And that is our travel guide to Puerto Vas, Chile. We hope this video gave you some ideas of what there is to see and do, day trips you can go on, and places to eat. Lastly, if you enjoyed this
video, we invite you to give it a like, subscribe, and join us for more adventures across Patagonia and beyond. Tata
