Puerto Varas ~ South Chile Travel Pictures
Church of Sacred Heart of Jesus, Colonial Houses, Backpackers
Puerto Varas Chile on the south shore of Lago Llanquihue, is a popular south Chile destination for Chileans and visitors alike. It's also the location of the landmark Church of Sacred Heart of Jesus [in Spanish: Iglesia del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus] and a number of old colonial wooden buildings. Some old wooden houses are now hostels, popular with backpackers.
Related: Lake district Park; Chile flowers and plants; Santiago; Valparaiso; Vina del Mar; Chile; Patagonia; traditional Chilean foods pictures.
South Chile Travel : To Puerto Varas From Puerto Montt 
But first, you have to get to Puerto Varas. You can drive north from Puerto Montt past farm fields and volcano along the toll highway between these two cities (the airport is in Puerto Montt).
The highway route rises steeply from Pto Montt, then levels out as it passes through 20 kilometres (12.5 miles) of farm land dotted with new subdivisions of small affordable homes, to reach Puerto Varas, on Lago Llanquihue. From Puerto Varas, the route turns northwest to Frutillar, or east to PN Vicente Perez Rosales, and Ensenada and the lake crossing to Bariloche, Argentina.
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Iglesia del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus Puerto Varas Chile
The Church of Sacred Heart of Jesus, built in 1915, commands this hilltop overlooking Puerto Varas and the lake.
The church is one of many German colonial style buildings in the area.
This church, made entirely of oak, was modeled after the Marienkirche in Germany's Black Forest.
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Wooden Colonial era Building is a Hostel in Puerto Varas 
One of many wooden colonial homes built by German immigrants between 1910 and the late 1940s; eight homes are national monuments.
This home, one of many nice hostels in Puerto Varas, has north views to the lake.
It's in a residential neighbourhood, a few blocks east of Sagrado Corazon. Local tourist offices offer a walking tour map of 28 such homes in the area.
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Hand-crafted Copper Jewellery - backpackers on Lake Llanquihue Chile
These young people, appearing to be in their 20s, were selling their copper craft from ground blankets on the grassy area between the lakefront street and the small wharf, across from the Casino Puerto Varas.
Using needle nose pliers to to unwind, bend and shape thin strands copper wire pulled from nine inch spools, they carefully fashioned elaborate necklaces and earrings.
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Colonial Style Wood Home in Puerto Varas Chile 
One of the well-kept wooden homes in Puerto Varas, reflecting the Middle European style.
The strong legacy of Germany's people and culture in this area did not extend to restaurants as I had expected.
My guide said that some foods, like bratwurst, are readily available, though. And the wonderful European style pastries and baked goods were always included on menus and buffets.
See More Puerto Varas >Lago Llanquihue pictures
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- Volcan Puyehue
- volcano ID
Add A CommentPaul - February 8, 2010, 2:37 pm
Just a short note: The volcano showed here is vn Calbuco near Ensenada. Vn Puyehue is about 100km north of here and cannot be seen from Ensenada. Puyehue erupted in May 1960. Nice photos and interesting comments.
Karen - February 9, 2010, 6:42 pm
Hi Paul,
Not going to argue with someone who has Patagonia as their email :-)
My guide was quite particular about naming everything - and Osorno is the ski hill, no?
And you can see if from Puerto Varas, no?
Do you mean the picture with kids in it in town, or the one further down the page, where I turned around between two volcanoes and you can see it's a farm?
Yes Puyehue was a tragedy - and glad you like my comments - I loved my time in Chile and am trying to get back as soon as I can.
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