Things to do in Frutillar, a small paradise located on the shores of Lake Llanquihue, with the imposing Osorno Volcano as a backdrop.
Frutillar is located 45 kilometers north of the city of Puerto Montt in the Lakes Region. Its origins are rooted in the first German settlers who arrived in the city in the mid-nineteenth century and who populated these then practically deserted areas of population.
It should be clarified that Frutillar is a town divided in two, Frutillar Alto and Frutillar Bajo. The latter is the one that concentrates most of the tourist attractions and is located on the shores of Lake Llanquihue.
Visiting Frutillar is not only to make contact with the legacy left by the Germans in architecture and gastronomy, but also to contemplate the natural beauty of its surroundings. Below we will make a tour of the places to visit in Frutillar so you don’t miss anything.
🔎 Touring the southern part of Chile? Take a look at our 3-day itinerary to travel to Chiloé and how to travel the Carretera Austral.
Table of Contents
German Colonial Museum
One of the main attractions to do in Frutillar is the German Colonial Museum, whose tour recreates the life of the German settlers when they arrived in these lands in the 19th century.
The tour takes you through the old buildings of the estancia, among which the water mill, the country house, the bell tower and the blacksmith’s house and workshop stand out. The four houses conserve objects and show the way of life of these settlers.
In addition, the gardens surrounding the grounds are a true marvel and are very well maintained. There are lots of trees such as larches, flowers and even a small lagoon with lotus flowers. Also among the gardens is the old cemetery.
Lake Theater
At the foot of the lake, the theater is one of the symbols of Frutillar. Built on the outside in wood and with large windows that allow to observe the immensity of the lake and the Osorno volcano in the background, it hosts a large number of musical shows.
It has nine halls, the largest with a capacity for 1,200 people. During the summer season, the renowned Musical Weeks are held at the venue, a festival that hosts national and international artists and where classical music and jazz play a leading role.
The Teatro del Lago can be visited by booking a ticket for one of the shows on the program or by taking a tour of the theater. For more information about schedules and shows, please visit the official website of the Teatro del Lago.
📷 If you are in Puerto Montt, you can book a day trip to Frutillar. Transfer and guide included.
Waterfront of Llanquihue Lake in Frutillar
The lakefront concentrates all the charm of Frutillar. It is about a 30-minute walk, where you will see the aforementioned Teatro del Lago, the Lutheran church the early 20th century, the Immaculate Conception church, the typical wood architecture of the houses, restaurants and coffee shops to stop and take in the views, and the colorful Casa Richter with its architecture of German origin and where today the school of arts is located.
One of the emblems of the waterfront is the pier, an ideal spot for taking photographs with the Osorno volcano in the background. From here the catamaran departs for a trip around the lake. In summer, another of the options offered by the Frutillar waterfront is the beach.
📷 Book the boat trip on Lake Llanquihue from here. You also have the option of renting kayaking or paddle surfing equipment to enjoy the lake on your own.
Taste the Kuchen
The German settlers left many legacies in Frutillar and in the sweet gastronomy the kuchen stands out, a cake that stands out for not having a filling and whose dough is mixed with a variety of fruits. So you can try apple kuchen, strawberry kuchen, cherry kuchen, banana kuchen and more.
We recommend two places to try the best kuchen in Frutillar. One is the Herz café, very close to the quay, which has excellent pastries. The other option is Casa Rosalba, whose interior design is spectacular and where you can have coffee, breakfast or good cakes overlooking the lake.
The Germans left behind not only their gastronomy but also the custom of beer. If you visit Frutillar during the month of February you can’t miss the Frutillar Beer Festival, a small Oktoberfest in the south of Chile.
Edmundo Winkler Park
This park located at the end of the promenade along the waterfront is actually a forest reserve. Here you will enter the Patagonian forest on a 40-minute trail surrounded by trees that are over 500 years old.
Things to do around Frutillar
Frutillar is surrounded by a truly spectacular natural environment. There are many places to visit in the surrounding area:
- Green Lagoon: near the locality of Ensenada and metres from the shore of the Llanquiheu Lake, this small greenish lagoon is surrounded by forest and has a path of little physical difficulty that borders it.
- El Bosque viewpoint and Osorno Ski Centre: The V-555 road leads to the El Bosque viewpoint, with fantastic views of the lake, and to the Osorno volcano ski centre.
- Vicente Perez Rosales Park: within the protected park are the impressive waterfalls of the Petrohue River. The waterfalls and the turquoise colour of the water are breathtaking. In addition, there are walking trails surrounded by forest.
- Lake Todos los Santos: catamarans run trips on the lake.
📷 Check out this excursion from Puerto Montt to visit the Petrohue waterfalls and the Osorno volcano.
How to get to Frutillar
By plane, the nearest airport is Puerto Montt. From Puerto Montt or Puerto Varas there are buses every 30 minutes to Frutillar.
📷 Book your transfers from Puerto Montt airport to the city centre here.
If you come by car, it is almost 1,000 kilometres by road from Santiago de Chile. From Osorno it is 65 kilometres and from Puerto Montt it is about 45 kilometres.
From Argentina, the best way to get to Frutillar is through the Cardenal Samore Pass. From Villa La Angostura it is a 200-kilometre journey.
Where to stay in Frutillar
Frutillar is not a cheap place to stay, although within its high price range there are options for all budgets. Our recommendations for where to stay in Frutillar are as follows:
- Hostal y Cabañas Lagune Club: about three kilometres from the centre of Frutillar and on the shores of the lake, it is an ideal place to unwind. It has a large garden and swimming pool.
- Hosteria el Arroyo: is housed in an old traditional wooden house in Frutillar in perfect condition. Right in the centre and in front of the lake.
- Cabañas del Teatro Frutillar: flats with fully equipped kitchen, ideal for families and for total independence. In the city centre.
🏨 See here where to stay in Frutillar and find your ideal accommodation.
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