Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park

Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park is a protected area in Chile’s Los Lagos Region that includes volcanoes, lakes and river gorges in the northern Patagonian Andes. The park contains notable features such as a steep volcanic cone, clear mountain lakes and dramatic river falls.

Key highlights are the bright-blue cascades on the Petrohué River and the broad lake set beneath the volcanic skyline. Alpine slopes and sheltered lake shores create short, accessible walks and water-based sightseeing routes used year-round.

Visitors also use the park as a base for mountain recreation on the volcano slopes and for boat trips that cross the lakes. Infrastructure near the lakes and falls concentrates visitor services in a few small lakeside towns and landing points.

The park lies in the Andean foothills of southern Chile, within the Los Lagos Region, and surrounds sections of Lago Todos los Santos and the upper Petrohué River. Nearby towns on the lake shore and routeways to the coast provide the usual approach for day visitors and longer stays.

• Main access points: The park combines volcanic peaks, waterfalls and lakes in the northern Chilean lake district and is commonly accessed from the towns of Petrohué and Puerto Varas.
• Popular activities: Water-based activities such as boat trips on Lago Todos los Santos and short walks to Petrohué Falls are among the easiest ways to experience the park’s scenery.

What to See#

• Osorno Volcano: A volcanic cone in the northern Andes visible from the lakes in the park; its steep profile is a distinctive landmark and it is used for trekking and seasonal ski activity on its slopes.
• Petrohué Falls: A short, cascaded river section with strong turquoise water that lies downstream from Lago Todos los Santos and is a major scenic draw within the park.
• Lago Todos los Santos: A deep Andean lake fed by mountain streams and glaciers, set beneath the park’s volcanoes and used for boating and shoreline walks.

The park is accessed from Puerto Varas and Puerto Montt in the Los Lagos Region. From Puerto Varas, follow Route 225 toward Ensenada and the Petrohué area; the park has signposted entrances and parking. Long-distance buses and car rentals from Puerto Montt provide the common access routes.

• Visit Petrohué Falls early morning to avoid buses from Puerto Varas and to see the water in cooler light.
• If aiming to see Osorno Volcano, check visibility in the morning-clouds often build in the afternoon.
• Consider a drive along the Carratera Austral section that borders parts of the park for dramatic lakeside vistas.