After a few days in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, it was time to cross the border back to Chile. We headed up the mountains, had a quick check at immigration and customs, and headed into Chile towards Lago Llanquihue towards the town of Frutillar, where we would spend the next couple days exploring the area around the lake.
We found a great little place to stay with some cottages on the top of the hill (Frutillar Alto, just before you go down the hill to Frutillar Bajo) that had stunning views of Lago Llanquihue. They had a pool with a slide for the kids as well as a playground that the kids enjoyed thoroughly since we had spent a lot of time in the car crossing over from San Carlos de Bariloche.
We had a relaxing evening and played some card games, then got up the next day to explore the area around the lake. Frutillar is a quiet little town on the edge of the lake that many of our Chilean friends rave about and it was easy to see why. There isn't a whole lot to do, but it is very relaxing and beautiful. We headed south towards Puerto Varas and rounded the tip of the lake towards the Saltos de Petrohue and the Osorno Volcano (basically directly across Lago Llanquihue from Frutillar).
We took a short walk to the waterfalls (Saltos de Petrohue) and took in the power of the river as well as the up-close views of the Osorno Volcano. The riverbed was slick from the lava flows that had come off the volcano from the last eruption, which was very cool to see (very similar to the river where we went canyoneering near the Villarica Volcano near Pucón, Chile about a week or so earlier).
After spending some time at the Saltos de Petrohue, we headed toward the volcano. To our surprise, we were able to drive up some very steep hills all the way onto the base of the volcano and see it up close and personal. We bought some tickets to take the ski lift even further up the volcano, which was very cool. If we were closer to winter, they let you ski on the slopes of the volcano, which would be a great experience...possibly next time. There was a smaller volcano at the bottom of the cone of the Osorno Volcano that we were able to hike to from the top of the ski lift. We explored that small volcano for a few hours and were even able to hike right down into the crater (the small volcano is inactive, so no danger). We got some great views of the valley below and Lago Llanquihue from atop the volcano. We stayed until late in the afternoon and then we had to make our way back up north as our northern Patagonian journey had come to an end.
We drove from the volcano all the way back up to Temuco, Chile (well into the night) and stayed the night in the Holiday Inn that we stayed in the first night of our trip, redeeming 20,000 IHG points per room for the one night stay.
View from our cabin in Frutillar, Chile...you can see Lago Llanquihue in the distance.
Ryder and Nash, playing on the playground at our cabin in Frutillar, Chile.
The kids on the shore of Lago Llanquihue in Frutillar, Chile.
View of the Osorno Volcano across Lago Llanquihue near Puerto Varas, Chile.
Volcanic lava flows from the Osorno Volcano down the creek at Saltos de Petrohue near Lago Llanquihue and Puerto Varas, Chile.
The kids at the bridge at Saltos de Petrohue near Lago Llanquihue and Puerto Varas, Chile.
Saltos de Petrohue near Lago Llanquihue and Puerto Varas, Chile.
View of the Osorno Volcano in the background at the Saltos de Petrohue near Lago Llanquihue and Puerto Varas, Chile.
Zander giving mommy a smooch at the Saltos de Petrohue near Lago Llanquihue and Puerto Varas, Chile.
Video of one of the tight sections of the Saltos de Petrohue near Lago Llanquihue and Puerto Varas, Chile.
Video of the Saltos de Petrohue near Lago Llanquihue and Puerto Varas, Chile.
The kids playing in the crater of one of the small side volcanoes on the edge of the Osorno Volcano.
The kids at the base of the Osorno Volcano near Puerto Varas, Chile.
Looking down on Lago Llanquihue from the base of the Osorno Volcano.
The kids running down the hill on the Osorno Volcano.
The kids, hiking up the ridge of one of the small volcanoes at the base of the Osorno Volcano near Puerto Varas, Chile.
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