Puerto Varas, German colonial settlement on Lake Llanquihue, Chile
Puerto Varas stands 56 meters above sea level on the shores of Lake Llanquihue, facing the snow-covered peaks of Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes.
The Chilean government established the Llanquihue Lake Colonization Territory in 1853, bringing 212 German families to settle the area by the end of that year.
The Sacred Heart Church, constructed in 1918, displays German architectural elements with its wooden structure and twin spires against the lakefront setting.
El Tepual International Airport, located 25 kilometers south in Puerto Montt, connects the city with regular flights from Santiago and other Chilean destinations.
The city maintains German baking traditions through multiple establishments producing kuchen, a traditional fruit cake served throughout local restaurants and cafes.
Location: Puerto Varas
Inception: 1853
Elevation above the sea: 56 m
Address: Puerto Varas, Los Lagos, Chile
Website: http://ptovaras.cl
GPS coordinates: -41.31780,-72.98291
Latest update: May 28, 2025 18:27
Chile stretches over 2,670 miles (4,300 kilometers) from north to south, crossing some of South America's most varied landscapes. The north features the Atacama Desert with its salt flats, geysers at El Tatio, and astronomical observatories such as Paranal. The coastal city of Valparaíso displays colonial architecture on steep hillsides, while the abandoned nitrate mining towns of Humberstone and Sewell recall the country's industrial past. The Andean region includes active volcanoes like Villarrica and Osorno, and Lauca National Park with Lake Chungará at over 14,760 feet (4,500 meters) elevation. The Lake District and Patagonia offer extensive forests, glaciers, and fjords. Torres del Paine National Park attracts hikers with its granite peaks and Grey Glacier. Lake General Carrera on the Argentine border shows turquoise waters, while Queulat and Bernardo O'Higgins national parks preserve remote wilderness. Chiloé Island is known for its wooden churches and traditional architecture. Further south, Puerto Williams on Navarino Island marks one of the world's southernmost settlements. Easter Island sits 2,300 miles (3,700 kilometers) west of the coast in the Pacific, displaying over 900 moai statues from its Polynesian past. The Juan Fernández Archipelago, also in the Pacific, offers endemic flora and fauna. In central Chile, ski resorts like Valle Nevado provide winter sports in the Andes, while the Elqui Valley is recognized for pisco production and clear night skies. Santiago, the capital, sits in an Andean valley and serves as a starting point for trips to surrounding national parks such as La Campana.
Monte Verde
27.8 km
Calbuco
31.2 km
Sentados frente al mar
17.7 km
Estadio Regional de Chinquihue
19.3 km
Teatro del Lago
20.2 km
Mall Paseo Costanera
17.7 km
Museo Colonial Alemán de Frutillar
21 km
Museo Pablo Fierro
836 m
Cathedral of Puerto Montt
17.5 km
Casa Kuschel
665 m
Lahuen Ñadi Natural Monument
11 km
Plaza de Armas de Puerto Montt
17.5 km
Bosque fósil de Punta Pelluco
19.9 km
Casa Pauly
17.4 km
Templo luterano de Frutillar
20.8 km
Zona Típica de Puerto Varas
131 m
Casa Yunge
560 m
Templo luterano de Puerto Varas
1.1 km
Casa Götschlich
665 m
Casa Raddatz
1.8 km
Torre campanario del colegio San Francisco Javier
17.3 km
Casa Klenner-Kaschel
659 m
Casa Maldonado, Puerto Varas
652 m
Casa Juptner-Klenner
682 m
Casa Muñoz
641 m
Museo Antonio Felmer
9.2 km
Monumento a Los Colonos
10.5 km
Monte Verde
27.8 kmReviews
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