Are you still unsure about where to stay in Puerto Varas when you travel to Chile?
Choosing the right place to stay in Puerto Varas, despite its small size, makes a significant difference. Imagine exploring everything on foot while enjoying a stunning view of Lake Llanquihue!
Puerto Varas is a charming city located in southern Chile, in the Los Lagos region. In winter, it’s a popular destination for romantic getaways due to its beauty, excellent hotels and restaurants, and breathtaking views of the lake.
In the summer, Puerto Varas transforms into a paradise for couples, families, and adventurers. With breathtaking trails, majestic volcanoes, and exciting activities on the lake, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
The best place to stay in Puerto Varas
Editor’s Choice
This area is a true hub of convenience and leisure, filled with splendid restaurants, cozy hotels, charming shops, and lively bars. Additionally, it provides incredible ease in organizing tourist excursions. By staying here, you’ll have the privilege of exploring various attractions on foot, enjoying the best of the destination hassle-free.
Regardless of your travel style, when deciding where to stay in Puerto Varas, it’s important to opt for a well-located, comfortable hotel with exceptional service. With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of the best hotels to stay in Puerto Varas.
Our personal recommendation is to choose a hotel with a lake view (preferably a room overlooking the lake). This is the city’s main attraction, and the view is truly spectacular.
Discover the best hotels in Puerto Varas
Best hotels with a lake view: Hotel AWA and Wyndham Puerto Varas Pettra.
Best luxury hotels: Casa Molino and Hotel AWA.
Best value for money: Wyndham Puerto Varas Pettra.
Best budget hotel: Hotel Puerta del Lago.
Where to stay in Puerto Varas, Chile?
Puerto Varas is a small town with few options of places to stay. Therefore, the best place to stay in Puerto Varas is downtown.
The downtown is where most of the shops, restaurants, bars, and tour agencies are located, making it easy to book your excursions in Puerto Varas. Staying in this area allows you to explore much of the destination on foot, especially when going out to eat and drink at night.
If you don’t have a car, staying in the heart of downtown near Plaza de Armas is the best choice. This way, you can easily enjoy everything and make your trip much more convenient.
For relaxation or a romantic getaway, in addition to the hotels in downtown, the waterfront area offers excellent accommodation options with stunning views.
Hotels farther away are ideal for those with a car and looking for even more tranquility. If you choose to stay in more remote accommodations, opt for those with restaurants and breakfast included for added convenience.
Best hotels in Puerto Varas, Chile
1. Wyndham Puerto Varas Pettra
An elegant and cozy hotel in Puerto Varas with sweeping views of the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes and Lake Llanquihue. The hotel is located in a structure with tasteful furnishings and decor that is typical of the area. The combination of wood and glass in its construction creates a cozy, well-lit environment with panoramic lake views. The property includes a spa, gym, restaurant, pool, and bar, and serves a varied breakfast in an open area with views of the lake. Located just four blocks from downtown, it’s a convenient option even for those without a car.
2. Radisson Hotel Puerto Varas
An amazing hotel located right in downtown, facing Lake Llanquihue. This hotel in Puerto Varas features spacious, well-lit rooms with classic décor and options for rooms with lake views. It offers a small indoor pool, restaurant, bar, gym, and spa. This hotel offers comfort, lake views, and a prime location in the center of Puerto Varas, making it the best place to stay.
3. Solace Hotel Puerto Varas
A charming hotel in Puerto Varas, located in the downtown just 600 meters from the lake. The Solace Hotel is housed in a beautiful building and features comfortable rooms with views, as well as a gym, bar, restaurant, and a delicious breakfast. The restaurant’s dining area offers a magnificent view of the Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús.
4. Hotel Puerta del Lago
Just a few meters from downtown, this budget-friendly hotel offers simple and cozy rooms. Puerta del Lago provides excellent value for money, featuring friendly service, essential comfort for a pleasant stay, well-lit rooms, and an amazing breakfast.
5. Casa Molino
This hotel in Puerto Varas is incredible but is located about 10 kilometers from downtown, making it ideal only for those with a car. The hotel is housed in a charming building situated right in front of the lake, featuring a large garden perfect for relaxation. It also offers activities such as cycling, horseback riding, fishing, and hiking. The rooms are spacious, comfortable, and beautifully decorated. The restaurant serves a variety of delicious dishes, and the breakfast is exceptional.
6. Weisserhaus
A simple yet charming family-run hotel in Puerto Varas. Weisserhaus has a cozy, home-like atmosphere, with colorful decor, warm hospitality, and comfortable rooms. Located in downtown, just two blocks from the waterfront, the hotel offers basic amenities and a continental breakfast.
7. Hotel AWA
A modern and luxurious hotel located on the shores of the lake. In addition to the stunning location and beautiful lake views, the hotel offers impeccable service. Its amenities and services are designed to ensure maximum guest comfort. The hotel features a heated pool, spa, gym, and a variety of activities, including fishing, cycling, hiking, and horseback riding. The restaurant serves sophisticated dishes, and the breakfast is fantastic.
Puerto Varas or Puerto Montt: Which City to Stay In?
Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas are approximately 20 minutes apart, so it’s common to wonder which city to choose for your stay when visiting southern Chile.
Where to Stay: Puerto Montt or Puerto Varas?
The best city to stay in is Puerto Varas. During our trip, we stayed in Puerto Montt and took a day trip to Puerto Varas. As soon as we arrived in the city, we regretted staying in Puerto Montt.
Puerto Varas is more beautiful, cleaner, and has all the basic services a tourist might need, as well as charming bars and restaurants, excellent hotels, and a breathtaking view of the lake. The range of tours available in Puerto Varas is also significantly greater.
View Hotels in Puerto VarasThe main difference between the two cities lies in their pricing and lifestyle. Puerto Montt is a larger, more chaotic, and more affordable city, while Puerto Varas is smaller, quieter, more picturesque, and more expensive. Below, we’ll discuss each city in more detail to help you decide where to stay: Puerto Montt or Puerto Varas.
Puerto Montt: A Base city to explore the lake region
A large city with shopping malls, currency exchange offices, bars, restaurants, markets, and an airport. Puerto Montt is a good place for shopping, whether for artisanal products at local markets or for department store goods at places like Paris and Falabella. Additionally, the nightlife in Puerto Montt is lively, with plenty of bars and clubs.
However, despite its complete commercial infrastructure, we didn’t find the city very appealing. It felt somewhat disorganized and even dirty in some areas, such as the waterfront. Moreover, all the main attractions and tours are located outside of Puerto Montt, most of them in Puerto Varas and its surroundings.
The range of hotels in Puerto Montt is good, including many budget options, as well as some chain hotels and more comfortable accommodations. Puerto Montt is typically the base city for travelers visiting the lake region, as it is home to the closest airport to Chiloé, Puerto Varas, and other cities in the area.
Puerto Varas: A charming city with many attractions
Puerto Varas is a small and charming city with German-style houses, located on the shores of Lake Llanquihue and offering stunning views of the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes. It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful destinations in southern Chile.
The city boasts a good selection of restaurants, bars, and numerous activities, including hiking, various lake activities, and even a cruise to Bariloche. Puerto Varas is also a safe, well-organized, and clean city. Its gardens are always well-maintained, and the waterfront is a lovely, pleasant area for walking.
Did you enjoy our tips on where to stay in Puerto Varas, Chile? And for your trip, discover where to stay in Santiago de Chile.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO CHILE
Ensure a stress-free trip by booking your hotel in Chile ahead of time
For an unforgettable stay in Chile, we recommend using Booking.com or Hotels.com, a platform we trust for all our travels. Offering a great selection of hotels at the best rates, you’re sure to find the perfect option for your stay, ensuring an amazing and affordable travel experience. Our favorite hotels in Chile are:
- Hotel Cumbres Lastarria (Santiago)
- Rakau Lodge (Pucón)
- Hotel Cumbres (Puerto Varas)
- Alma Chilota (Chiloé)
- Hotel Poblado Kimal (Atacama)
Make your trip easier by renting a car in Chile
With its stunning landscapes and charming cities, Chile is a great place to travel by car. If you’re planning to visit more than one city and want to enjoy maximum comfort and freedom, renting a car is the perfect choice. We recommend using Discover Cars and Rental Cars for your car rental needs.
Book your tours and experiences
You can save a significant amount of time on your trip by scheduling your tours in advance. Just imagine booking all your activities from the comfort of your home and paying with your credit card. We love and recommend using Viator, Civitatis, and Get Your Guide for booking tours and tickets.