It is one of the symbols of southern Chile, with its recognisable silhouette. If you want to make a tour to the Osorno volcano, we recommend you options and how to get there.
It is undoubtedly one of the main volcanoes in Chile for tourism. Although many years have passed since its last eruption, it cannot be considered a dormant volcano, as it continues to produce some minor activity in the form of fumaroles.
The interesting thing about the Osorno volcano is that you can choose to do short treks and then continue the ascent by chairlift. If you don’t have a car for your visit, the best way to get to the Osorno Volcano is by tour.
🔎 Check out our guide to travel to Chilean Patagonia with recommendations, best times to visit and what to see.
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How to visit the Osorno volcano
Whether by car or on an excursion, the arrival will be at the Osorno volcano ski centre, some 1,200 metres above sea level.
In winter, it is one of the main ski resorts in Chile with several ski runs and a ski school. It also has a restaurant called Mirador with fabulous views of the lake, volcanoes and adjacent mountains and the Patagonian forest.
If you wish, there is the option of continuing up the Osorno volcano on foot along the trails or in two sections of chairlift. The first stop is at 1450 metres above sea level and the second at 1640 metres. If you want to continue climbing the Osorno volcano, the only alternative is to make the summit, which is explained below, but an authorised guide is required.
Of course, the chairlift service has to be paid for separately, you can find the current prices on the official website of the Osorno Volcano Ski Centre. The chairlift prices are not cheap, but at least it is worth taking the first section of the chairlift, as you go up the scenery becomes more spectacular with the Todos los Santos lake, Llanquihue and the Calbuco volcano.
In addition, there are other activities that can be done in summer at the Osorno volcano, such as canopy tours through the forests.
If you don’t have a car or don’t want to rent a car in Puerto Montt or Puerto Varas, the option is to take a tour to the Osorno volcano. We tell you about the options below and which one we recommend.
Osorno volcano tour only
If you want to do a low-difficulty trekking on the Osorno volcano, and optionally, climb a section of the chairlift, then this is the ideal tour.
It is a four to five hour hike, where you take a short trekking route on the lower part of the volcano and then reach the ski centre. Then, on your own, you have free time to go further up by chairlift or just stay in the cafeteria of the ski centre.
The tour to the Osorno volcano both from Puerto Varas and Puerto Montt includes guide and transfers from the city centre.
📷 To see tour prices and book the Osorno Volcano tour from Puerto Varas click here. You can also book the excursion from Puerto Montt.
Tour to the Osorno volcano and Petrohué waterfalls, which we recommend.
Taking advantage of the short distance between one attraction and the other, we recommend you to visit these two wonders of the Chilean Patagonia in the same day, to which you can also add a visit to Lake Todos los Santos. The duration of the excursion is about eight hours.
The Petrohué waterfalls are impressive waterfalls that are characterised by their great water flow. In addition, the tour will go along the shore of the Todos los Santos lake and then we will go up to the ski resort of the Osorno volcano, having free time to go up the chairlift and enjoy the views from the cafeteria.
The tour to the Osorno Volcano and Petrohué Falls from both Puerto Varas and Puerto Montt includes a guide and transfers from the city centre.
📷 You can see tour prices and book the excursion to the Osorno Volcano and Petrohue Falls from Puerto Varas here. The excursion can also be booked from Puerto Montt.
Tour prices do not normally include the entrance fee to the Vicente Perez Rosales National Park where the attractions are located. The updated prices for access to the Vicente Perez Rosales National Park are displayed on the official CONAF website, and you can purchase your ticket online in advance (recommended if you are visiting the park during the summer season).
For the ascent of the Osorno volcano we recommend that you take warm clothes, as the weather is very cold and windy, as well as a small backpack with water for hydration and some food.
Climb Osorno volcano by car from Puerto Varas or Puerto Montt
To get to the Osorno volcano from Puerto Varas or Puerto Montt by car, take Route 225 along Lake Llanquihue to the town of Ensenada. From here the turn off to the left onto the v-555 road, whose final destination is the ski centre of the Osorno volcano.
It is about 60 kilometres in total to get from Puerto Varas to the Osorno volcano by car, which takes about an hour on a tarmac road.
If you arrive at the Osorno volcano from Puerto Montt, it is the same route, only you have to cover the distance between the cities of Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas at the beginning of the route.
It should be noted that in winter the use of chains is required due to the presence of snow and ice.
On the way up the v-555 mountain road, we recommend you make at least one of these two stops, both with parking to leave your car. One is La Burbuja crater, formed by the ancient erosion of the volcano.
The other stop is the Bosque viewpoint, overlooking the Patagonian forests. There is also a short trail to see the summit of the volcano.
At both stops you are sure to see foxes, one of the animals that inhabit the slopes of the volcano.
Can the Osorno volcano be reached by public transport?
Unfortunately not. Currently, you can only get to the town of Ensenada by bus from Puerto Varas on the purple or pink Thaeb line. From Ensenada you can try to take a taxi to the Osorno Volcano ski resort or hitchhike.
Osorno volcano ascent schedule
The Osorno volcano can be accessed between 9 am and 5 pm. If you want to take the chairlift, please note that the last ascent is at 4:30 pm, half an hour before closing time.
Osorno volcano trekking, ascent to the summit
If you are more adventurous, there is the possibility of summiting the Osorno volcano, 2650 metres above sea level. No previous experience is required, but it should be noted that this is a trek of medium/high physical difficulty and you will have to climb on ice. Not permitted for children under 18 years of age.
This is a one-day activity from Puerto Varas or Puerto Montt and must be done with authorised guides through an agency.
The ascent to the summit of the Osorno volcano starts very early in the morning, in order to register at the CONAF office and start the trekking at sunrise. The summit, weather permitting, is reached around midday, and then the descent begins, returning to the starting point around 3:30 pm.
From the top the panoramic views are indescribable. The field of view includes the lakes Todos los Santos, Llanquihue and Rupanco, volcanoes such as Puntiagudo, Tronador and Calbuco and even with good visibility you can see the Pacific Ocean and the Lanín volcano.
Is it possible to sleep in the vicinity of the Osorno volcano?
Of course it is. There is a mountain hut which is open all year round. It has both shared and private rooms, at a price that is not so expensive for sleeping on the slopes of a volcano. Dinner and lunch are also available.
Waking up and seeing the views of Lake Llanquihue and the surrounding mountains from the refuge is highly recommended, and you can even expect snowy days or days when the clouds completely block the view.
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