Before you go

Your trip to Frutillar.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Frutillar – Los Lagos Destination Lakes and Volcanoes about 48 km from Puerto Montt

How to get there

Aeropuerto El Tepual (PMC) Puerto Montt · 45 km
Terminal de Buses de Frutillar 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

It is about 45 km from El Tepual airport and 30 km from Puerto Varas via Ruta 5. Micros depart frequently from Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas and stop at the Frutillar Alto terminal; from there you descend to the waterfront by shared taxi. Long-distance buses also stop in town.

How many days

Half a day or a full day is enough for the museum, the waterfront and the theater when leaving from Puerto Varas. If you go for a concert you can sleep in Frutillar Bajo and enjoy the next morning at the beach.

When to go

Summer, from December to March, brings long days and a crowded beach. At the end of January and beginning of February the Semanas Musicales fill the theater and the accommodations. In winter the town becomes quiet and rainy.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

Not necessary. Frutillar Bajo can be explored on foot, and buses connect the town with Puerto Varas and Puerto Montt. A car is useful if you want to combine Frutillar with other points around the lake in the same day.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Frutillar

Morning
Museo Colonial Alemán
Start with the open-air museum, passing the mill, the smithy and the settler's house, with a view of the lake.
Afternoon
Waterfront and Lutheran Church
Walk down the Costanera de Frutillar, pass the Lutheran church and the pier, and have lunch at one of the avenue's restaurants.
Late afternoon
Teatro del Lago and kuchen
Take the guided tour of the theater or just admire the wooden façade, and try a raspberry kuchen while looking at the Osorno.
Evening
Concert or return to Puerto Varas
If there's a performance, stay for the concert. If not, return to Puerto Varas via Ruta 5 before it gets dark.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

How to get from Puerto Varas to Frutillar?

By car it's about 30 km via Ruta 5, roughly half an hour. Buses run the route throughout the day; check whether the bus goes down to Frutillar Bajo.

How long to stay in Frutillar?

One day is enough for the museum, the theater and the waterfront. Those who come for a concert can spend the night.

When do the Semanas Musicales de Frutillar take place?

Generally at the end of January and the beginning of February. Dates change each edition: check before you go.

Why does Frutillar have so much German influence?

The town was founded in 1856 by settlers from Germany, brought by the Chilean government to occupy the shores of the Llanquihue. The heritage appears in the houses, the churches and the cuisine.

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