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Sur Chico

Hence begins the Chilean south. The regions of La Araucanía, Los Ríos and the Lakes District jar travelers with menacing ice-topped volcanoes, glacial lakes overflowing with what looks like melted jade, roaring rivers running through old-growth forests and coastal enclaves inhabited by the indomitable Mapuche people. Sur Chico is home to eight spectacular national parks, many harboring exquisitely conical volcanoes, and is a magnetic draw for outdoor-adventure enthusiasts and devil-may-care thrill seekers.

Peppered about sprawling workhorse travel hubs, you'll find well-developed lakeside hamlets, most notably Pucón and Puerto Varas, dripping in charm and draped by stunning national parks and nature reserves, each one like an Ansel Adams photograph leaping from the frame. But the region – call it Patagonia Lite – isn't all so perfectly packaged. Off-the-beaten path destinations like the Río Cochamó Valley and Caleta Cóndor reward the intrepid spectacularly, their isolation fodder for that ever-elusive travel nirvana.

Explore Sur Chico

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Sur Chico.

  • National Park

    Parque Nacional Conguillío

    The 3125m Volcán Llaima, one of Chile's most active volcanoes, forms the focal point of Parque Nacional Conguillío and the Unesco Biosphere Reserve in…

  • Nature Reserve

    Reserva Nacional Malalcahuello-Nalcas

    Serving up one of the most dramatic landscapes in all of Sur Chico and easily the jewel of northern Araucanía’s protected reserves, the 303 sq km Reserva…

  • Arts Center

    Teatro del Lago

    This amazing 12-years-in-the-making, US$25-million world-class performing-arts center opened in 2010, and has single-handedly put Frutillar on the global…

  • Nature Reserve

    Huilo-Huilo Biological Reserve

    This conservation project, begun in 2000, encompasses 1000 sq km of private land that has been developed for low-impact ecotourism and falls within a much…

  • National Park

    Parque Nacional Villarrica

    Towering over the adventure capital of Pucón, Volcán Villarica is the centerpiece of Parque Nacional Villarrica, one of the most popular parks in Chile…

  • Nature Preserve

    Territorio Mapa Lahual

    Territorio Mapa Lahual protects some 60,000 hectares of mature forest and indigenous territories south of San Juan de la Costa and into Río Negro province…

  • National Park

    Parque Nacional Huerquehue

    The 125-sq-km preserve, founded in 1912, is a little wonderland of waterfalls, alpine lakes and araucaria forests and the creatures that traverse them,…

  • National Park

    Parque Nacional Puyehue

    Parque Nacional Puyehue protects 1070 sq km of stark landscape defined by sand dunes and lava rivers, the result of Volcán Puyehue's 1960 eruption that…

  • Museum

    Museo de Volcanes

    The stone-domed Museo de Volcanes is Sur Chico's most impressive archeological museum, covering Chilean indigenous cultures, including one of the best…

  • Nature Reserve

    Parque Tagua-Tagua

    Carved out of virgin Valdivian rainforest 15km east of Puelo, Parque Tagua-Tagua is southern Chile's latest park. A private initiative funded by…

  • Brewery

    Cervecería Kunstmann

    On Isla Teja at Km5 on the road to Niebla, you'll find the south's best large-scale brewery. Standard 45-minute tours leave hourly from 12:15pm to 8pm (CH…

  • Nature Reserve

    Parque Punta Curiñanco

    The 80-hectare Parque Punta Curiñanco, 35km northwest of Valdivia in Curiñanco, is a unique piece of Valdivian rainforest featuring four types of…

  • Nature Reserve

    Santuario El Cañi

    The nature sanctuary El Cañi is proof that concerned citizens can make a difference and affect conservation of old-growth forests. When logging interests…

  • Museum

    Museo Histórico y Antropológico

    Housed in a fine riverfront mansion on Isla Teja, this museum is one of Chile's finest. It features a large, well-labeled collection from pre-Columbian…

  • Historic Site

    Monumento Natural Cerro Ñielol

    Cerro Ñielol is a hill that sits among some 90 hectares of native forest – a little forested oasis in the city. Chile's national flower, the copihue …

  • Museum

    Museo Regional de La Araucanía

    Housed in a handsome frontier-style building dating from 1924, this small but excellent regional museum is one of Sur Chico's best. There are permanent…

  • Waterfall

    Saltos del Petrohué

    Six kilometers southwest of Petrohué, the Saltos del Petrohué is a rushing, frothing waterfall raging through a narrow volcanic rock canyon carved by lava…

  • Architecture

    Paseo Patrimonial

    Many notable constructions in town are private houses from the early 20th century. Grab a city map at the tourist office to follow the Paseo Patrimonial,…

  • National Park

    Parque Nacional Tolhuaca

    The 64-sq-km Parque Nacional Tolhuaca is one of park system’s best-kept secrets – so secret, in fact, that it's not even listed on Conaf's web site! As it…

  • Market

    Feria Fluvial

    A lively riverside market south of the Valdivia bridge, where vendors sell fresh fish, meat and produce. Waterfront sea lions have discovered the promised…

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in Sur Chico.

  • Activities