Petrohue Falls & Osorno Volcano from Puerto Varas, Chile

If you find yourself in Puerto Montt or Puerto Varas, you’ll no doubt find yourself wanting to get out and explore nature. One of the best ways to do that is a visit to the Osorno Volcano and Petrohué Falls. These two sights are often packaged together as a tour, offering visitors some truly beautiful scenery in one day.

While it’s possible to explore on your own, I chose to book a guided tour. I was traveling solo and didn’t want to deal with the hassle of renting (or driving) a car in Chile. Since there are plenty of tour operators in Puerto Varas, it wasn’t hard to find a tour to Petrohué Falls and the Osorno Volcano.

In this guide, I’m going to cover everything you need to know about taking a tour to the Osorno Volcano and Petrohué Falls.

How to Book Your Tour

I did mention that it was easy to book a tour, but I want to give a little more information because it can definitely impact your trip. There are numerous tourist agencies in town that can help you book a tour, but your hotel or hostel may also be able to help you as well.

I chose to wait until I was in Puerto Varas and could talk with my hostel. They handled all of the arrangements and were able to get me signed up for a tour the next day. This turned out to be a fantastic decision.

Prior to my trip to Chile, I looked online at popular sites like GetYourGuide and Viator. While I did find some tour options, the price for a solo traveler was insane. These tours showed $45 per person for groups of two or more, but as soon as I changed the sign up to one person, the price spiked to $90 per person. I decided to wait and see what I could find while I was in Puerto Varas.

So those tours that were $90 for solo travelers and $45 per person for groups of two or more? My hostel arranged my tour for 25,000 pesos, or about $29 USD. That’s a good savings.

In addition, my hotel was able to guarantee that I’d be on a tour that spoke some English. While it’s not something I would have put a lot of thought into before arriving in Puerto Varas, I did run into some issues earlier in my trip when I booked a tour to El Cajon del Maipo online. Despite selecting English at booking and arranging my hotel pick up in English, the tour was led entirely in Spanish. If you work with an agency or your hotel, they’ll be able to help you get the language you need.

I know this for a fact because when I tried to arrange a second day trip, my hostel was honest with me. They called all of the agencies they knew and while there were tours where I wanted to go, all the offerings were Spanish only. We were able to work together to find another tour that would have an English option which I was super thankful for. The area around Puerto Varas is so beautiful and I’m glad I was able to get all of the information, regardless of which language I spoke.

What’s Covered On Your Tour

Now that you’ve booked your tour to Petrohué Falls and the Osorno Volcano, let’s talk about the tour itself and what you should expect to see and do on your day trip.

Petrohué Falls (Saltos del Rio Petrohué)

The first stop of the tour is Petrohué Falls which is located in Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park. When you arrive, you’ll need to pay an additional entrance fee. In 2023 when I visited, it was 7,000 peso entrance fee (about $8 USD). As a note, they preferred that this fee is paid by card and NOT in cash. Since the fee varies by nationality, it’s easier for tour companies to just exclude this entrance fee from your tour, but be prepared. You will need to pay it.

We had about an hour at Petrohué Falls which gives enough time to explore the area without feeling rushed. I visited on a day where there weren’t a lot of visitors, so getting good photos was a breeze. But I had a guide tell me that on days when cruise ships are in port (at nearby Puerto Montt), up to 2,000 people can visit the falls in one day. That’s insane!

So what do you do at Petrohué Falls? Obviously, the best thing to do is to walk to the viewing platforms to see the waterfalls. But, don’t just stop there. There are also some short hiking trails that will take you into the forest and down to the river. The trail (named the Lovers Trail, or Sendero Los Enamorados) is short and can easily be completed during your hour visit (with plenty of time to take in views of the waterfalls).

All Saints Lake (Lago Todos los Santos)

After our visit to Petrohué Falls, we drove down the road to board a boat. I was not aware that this was part of our tour, but I went with it (because what choice do you have?). Our group boarded the boat, going up to the second level for some amazing views of the Osorno Volcano, while our guide stayed on the first level and used a microphone to narrate what we were seeing.

We had such a perfect weather day, that this was a great addition to our tour, even if it does cost extra. In 2023, this cost 6,000 pesos (about $6.75 USD) per person and had to be paid in cash. So be prepared and bring some cash with you.

Lunch

We stopped for lunch at a restaurant near the lake. Lunch was not included, but it was implied that everyone should eat. On my tour to El Cajon de Maipo, our lunch stop was a buffet for 17,000 pesos and from what I gathered from others, pretty mediocre. On this tour, we stopped at a restaurant that had a view of the Osorno Volcano and several options for a menu del dia. I had a soup, salmon, french fries, and a bottle of water for 17,000 pesos (about $20 USD). While it may be more than you want to spend, the food was delicious and the view was amazing.

There were other, cheaper options if you wanted something small. And of course, you could always refuse to eat lunch and just wait outside for the rest of the group. It’s your choice, but I’d recommend getting something to eat for lunch.

Osorno Volcano (Volcan Osorno)

The last stop of the day was at the Osorno Volcano. We had seen glimpses of it throughout the day, but it was time to actually walk on the volcano. We drove up the windy, mountain roads to the ski lodge as our guide gave us a few warnings.

The ski lodge has food for purchase, but it’s incredibly expensive and not very good (according to my guide). Additionally, there is a chair lift that will take you up the mountain. Our guide said it was up to us if we wanted to do it, but explained that the views weren’t much different than what we’d see if we didn’t climb up the chair lift. Basically, she told us to save our money. And now I’m passing that advice on to you.

With that information, we were left to explore the area. There was a path of snow near the chair lift and a trail that went in the opposite direction. I took the trail to the right and walked out for some pictures overlooking the town of Puerto Varas. We had an exceptionally clear day, so the views were just incredible. I don’t know how we got so lucky because this area typically gets a lot of rain (on average there’s over 200 days of rain per year), but I wasn’t complaining.

We had about an hour to explore before we had to be back at the van. While you won’t be able to walk the whole path, it gives you enough time to enjoy the views and walk a little ways out.

More Things to Know About a Tour

My tour included hotel pick ups and drop offs which was greatly appreciated. Our guide was wonderful and did her best to make sure we all had a good time and that we knew what was going on (even those of us who spoke very broken or no Spanish).

I got so lucky with the weather on my trip. It was a bit cloudy in the morning but by the time we reached Petrohue Falls, the skies cleared and stayed clear through our visit to the Osorno Volcano. I couldn’t have asked for better weather. But you may not be as lucky. As long as you don’t have torrential downpours and horrible fog, you’ll still be able to have a good day.

The biggest annoyance was the additional add on costs. I knew that I’d have to pay an additional entry fee at Petrohué Falls, but I was not aware that lunch (that felt mandatory) or that we’d be doing the boat ride. I paid 25,000 pesos for the tour, plus I spent an additional 30,000 pesos. Admittedly, 17,000 of those pesos were for lunch and I’d have to pay for food at some point during the day regardless.

So before you think you’re getting a great deal on a tour, keep in mind that there may be extra costs. All totaled, I spent 55,000 pesos (about $62 USD) for my tour, additional fees, and lunch that day. Without lunch, it’s down to 38,000 pesos, or about $42 USD, but that’s still cheaper than what I found online.

When to Visit Puerto Varas

Peak tourist season is the summer months, but because you are in the southern hemisphere that means December through February. One of my tour guides mentioned that when the cruise ships come in, there are just so many people. As many as 2,000 people can visit Petrohue Falls in one day.

On the other hand, many businesses will close for the winter months (June through August).

So, I recommend aiming for shoulder season. The weather may not be as great as peak season, but you’ll have significantly fewer crowds. I visited in October and had great weather, but I think I may have been an anomaly. I’d recommend looking at late October to November or March to April for your visit.

Is Visiting Petrohué Falls and the Osorno Volcano Worth It?

In my opinion, yes! Without a doubt, Petrohue Falls and the Osorno Volcano make up the most popular day trip in this region. If you have good weather, you’ll be sure to have a good time. My biggest piece of advice is to realize that if you take a tour, realize that the price you pay won’t include everything.

More in Puerto Varas

The Osorno Volcano and Petrohué Falls is just one day trip from Puerto Varas. The town itself is cute, but it’s small and there’s not a lot to do. That said, there are some nice parks and great views if you have a little down time.

That said, the best thing to do in Puerto Varas is to explore the nearby nature on one of its many day trips. The Osorno Volcano and Petrohué Falls is arguably the most popular but it’s by no means the only day trip. The island of Chiloé has a lot to offer and there’s way more to see than just a day trip, but I really enjoyed my visit. And it’s not just guided tours. There are DIY day trip options like visiting the town of Frutillar.

Final Thoughts

I absolutely loved my tour to the Osorno Volcano and Petrohué Falls. The scenery is incredible and its a fun day out. I now understand why this day trip is one of those things you have to do when you’re in Puerto Varas.

Continue Your Adventure

Puerto Varas: Considered by some to be the gateway to Patagonia, the town of Puerto Varas is a delight to explore. The Osorno Volcano and Petrohué Falls is just one day trip from Puerto Varas. Another great option is a visit to the Island of Chiloé.

Chile Itinerary: For first time visitors, I recommend my 9 Day Chile Itinerary or my 7 Day Itinerary. Visit the capital city of Santiago, the beaches in Viña del Mar, and head south to Puerto Varas.

Chile Travel Guide: Check out my Chile Travel Guide for everything you need to start planning your trip, including itineraries, city guides, travel tips, and a detailed budget.

More Volcanoes: Do you like the idea of getting up close to volcanoes? Add the Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica to your list.