Page Type Page Type: Area/Range
Location Lat/Lon: 40.73477°S / 71.9165°W
Activities Activities: Hiking, Mountaineering, Skiing
Seasons Season: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Additional Information Elevation: 12388 ft / 3776 m
Sign the Climber's Log

Overview

Volcán Osorno and Lago...
Volcan Osorno and Lago Llanquihue





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South America's so-called Lake District is a land of stark contrast and sharp transitions that exists where the High Andes have finally subsided after thousands of imposing kilometers and Patagonia is just starting to begin its march to Antarctica. The region is home to amazing landscapes with snow-capped volcanoes, enormous lakes, and enchanting forests. The region has become a popular tourist destination for Argentinos, Chilenos, & Gringos alike. For the outdoor enthusiast, there is no shortage of activities, with a good mix of infrastructure and wilderness. There are endless mountains to climb, including a handful of glaciated volcanoes, with Tronador, Lanin, & Osorno perhaps the most famous. The region boasts two world class climbing venues: Chile's Valle de Cochamo and Argentina's Cerro Catedral that attract climbers from all over the world. There is virtually unlimited back-country skiing terrain, as well as a few decent ski resorts. There is decent rafting on the Rio Trancura near Pucon, Chile & the Rio Manso near Bariloche, Argentina, as well as proximity to the stored Rio Futualefu and Rio Biobio. There are several National Parks with popular back-packing circuits and excellent networks of Refugios. And let's not forget the crystal clear lakes, or the proximity to the Pacific Ocean. The best part is that there is generally reliable transportation, good food, and nice hostels & campgrounds filled with friendly people. There's no doubt that the region ranks high on the list of places to visit in the Andes, or anywhere on the continent for that matter.

For the purposes of this page, this area will be defined as the portion of the Andes bounded by the Rio Bio Bio to the north and the Rio Manso to the south.  In Chile side, this includes Region de la Aruacania, Region de Los Rios, and the northern part of Region de Los Lagos. In Argentina, this includes the southern part of Provincia de Neuquen and the Provincia de Rio Negro

 (Undoubtedly it is a region to visit, if you happen to go one day in Chile or Argentina !) Interestingly enough, although most of the tourist guides reeer... located in southern Argentina and Chile roughly 600 km south of Santiago and roughly 1200 km south-west of Buenos Aires. (Lago Llanquihue near Puerto-Varas is the 3rd largest in South America
Volcan Calbuco (2015m)
Frutillar Bajo - flower 03

Peaks

Here is a list of all the 2000m peaks in the region with over 400m of prominence, taken from John Biggar's List.

#MountainPhoto#     MountainPhoto#     MountainPhoto
1

Lanin - 3717m

(Neuquén, Argentina)

(Aruacania, Chile)

Volcan Lanin (3776m)
2

Tronador - 3470m

(Río Negro, Argentina)

(Los Lagos, Chile)

Monte Tronador, Patagonia, Argentina
3

Llaima - 3125m

 (Aruacania, Chile)

Vol. Llaima, Patagonia, Chile
4

Villarrica - 2842m

(Aruacania, Chile)

Volcan Villarrica (2840m)
5

Tolhuaca - 2806m

Tolhuaca
6

Lonquimay - 2726m

(Aruacania, Chile)

Volcán Lonquimay from Curacautín
7

Osorno - 2652m

(Los Lagos, Chile)

Volcan Osorno (2680m) 
8

Sierra Nevada - 2554m

Unnamed Image
9

Puntiagudo - 2493m

(Los Lagos, Chile) 

Puntiagudo
10

Unnamed - 2441m 

 11

Azul - 2437m

 12

Choshuenco - 2415m

(Los Lagos, Chile) 

Choshuenco
13

Catedral - 2409m

(Río Negro, Argentina)

Catedral from Tres Reyes
14

Unnamed - 2400+ 

 15

Chapelco - 2394m 

 
16

Quetrupillan - 2360m

(Los Lagos, Chile)

Volcan Lanin (3776m)
17

(Bayo Norte) - 2342m 

 18

Lancu - 2296m

Cerro Lancu
19

Rucachoroi - 2296m 

Rucachoroi
20

Huanquihue - 2260m 

Huanquihue
21

Bonete - 2257m

Cerro Bonete
22

Puyehue - 2240m

(Los Lagos, Chile)

Unnamed Image
23

Picudo - 2224m 

 24

Cuyin Manzano - 2220m

 
25

Crespo - 2225m

 26

Agujas de Queni - 2214m

Agujas de Queni
27

(Repollo) - 2210m

 
28

????? - 2193m

 29

(Negro) - 2168m

 30

(Punta Negra) - 2166m

Punta Negra
31 

Aserel - 2146m

 32

Capilla - 2146m

Cerro Capilla
33

Batea Mahuida - 2139m

Batea Mahuida
34

Punta Blanca - 2134m

 35

Currihue - 2130m

 36

Ezpeleta - 2124m

 
37

Alto - 2123m

 38

Tres Picos - 2116m

 39

Nevados de Sollipulli - 2100+

Nevados de Sollipulli
40

Cuernos del Diablo2100+

(Río Negro, Argentina)

Cuernos del Diablo
41

V. Lopez - 2076m

(Río Negro, Argentina)

Lopez from Navidad
42

Unnamed - 2035m

 
43

Rancahue - 2060m

 44

Bastion - 2063m

(Río Negro, Argentina)
Cerro Bastion
45

de los Lagos - 2044m

 
46

Picos del Caburga - 2042m 

Picos del Caburga
47

Traful - 2040m

 48

Penascoso - 2036m

 
49

Unnamed - 2035m

 50

C. de Chihuihue - 2032m

 51

Divortium - 2030m

 
52

Pantojo - 2024m

(Los Lagos, Chile)

(Río Negro, Argentina)

Pantojo
53

Calbuco - 2015m

(Los Lagos, Chile)

Volcan Calbuco (2015m)
54

Trelel - 2006m

 
55

Unnamed -  2000+

 56

Ljungner - 2000m

 57

Casablanca - 1990m

(Los Lagos, Chile) 

Casablanca

The elevations listed here are taken from John Biggar's List, which I believe to be the definitive reference for the region at this time.

Climbing

No doubt there are other excellent climbing locales in the region, but there are two places that really stand out:

Refugio Cochamo
Refugio Cochamo - Chile
Camping @ Frey
Camping @ Frey - Argentina
Cochamo: A full day's journey from Puerto Montt, hidden deep within the temperate Valdivian rainforest, you will find some of South America's finest big wall climbing. A private refugio is surrounded by the thousand meter granite walls that form the Valle de Cochamo. Heavy rains, thick brush, and half day approaches guard the walls, but there are plenty of new routes are just waiting to be opened if you persevere.    
 
Frey: On the back side of Bariloche's Cerro Catedral Ski Resort, tucked along Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi's most popular hiking circuit, right next to Laguna Toncek, lies the epic Refugio Frey: a local climber's mecca featuring two alpine cirques surrounded by countless granite spires. It may be the best alpine training ground in the Andes. It's where I learned to climb and it's where I fell in love with Argentina.   

Skiing

Cerro Catedral - Bariloche, Río Negro, ArgentinaCentro de Esqui Pucon - Aruacania, Chile
Cerro Otto - Bariloche, Río Negro, ArgentinaCentro de Esqui Antillanca - Los Lagos, Chile
Cerro Chapelco - San Martín de los Andes, Neuquén, ArgentinaCentro de Esqui Las Aruacarias - Aruacania, Chile
Cerro Bayo - Neuquén, ArgentinaCentro de Esqui Corralco - Aruacania, Chile
Cerro Caviahue - Neuquén, ArgentinaCentro de Esqui Las Arenales - Aruancania, Chile
Centro de Esqui Batea Mahuida - Neuquén, ArgentinaCentro de Esqui Osorno - Los Lagos, Chile

National Parks

To protect this wonderful area, both countries have created several National Parks : (from North to South)

In Chile :
PN Conguillio (near Temuco)
PN Huerquehue (near Pucon)
PN Villarrica (near Pucon)
RN Mocho Choshuenco (near Choshuenco)
PN Puyehue (near Puyehue)
PN Vicente Peres Rosales (near Puerto Varas)
PN Alerca Andino (near Puerto Montt)

In Argentina :
PN Lanin (near Junin de Los Andes)
PN Nahuel Huapi (near Bariloche)
PN Los Arrayanes (near Bariloche)
Map of Lake District


Red Tape

This region has a lot of infrastructure. Unfortunately, it can also have a lot of red tape, at least compared with many other parts of Argentina and Chile. That said, if you don't ask too many questions and you seem to know what you're doing, you will generally be allowed to do what you want. Many of the volcanoes are located in National Parks, where you will often be required to pay an entrance fee. Sometimes you will be asked to show your equipment and a mountaineering club card to prove your preparedness, but the rules are often negotiable and/or avoidable, if you can figure out how to work the system.

Getting There

Unnamed Image
CHILE (Via Santiago): The main cities in the region are Temuco, Osorno, and Puerto Montt. Puerto Varas & Pucon are popular adventure tourism locales. 
You can take a night bus to one of the three main spots, offering hiking and climbing : Temuco (for Llaima), Pucon (for Villarrica) and Puerto Varas (for Osorno and Calbuco). Other sites would require to take a local bus. You can also fly directly to Temuco (for the northern part of Lake District) or Puerto Montt (for the southern part of Lake District).

Unnamed Image
ARGENTINA (Via Buenos Aires) :
San Carlos de Bariloche, the regional tourist center, is a 20-25 Hour Bus Ride from Buenos Aires. Andesmar & Via Bariloche are the major companies. Alternatively, there are several flights daily with both Aerolineas Argentinas & LAN Argentina. San Martin de los Andes and Villa La Angostura are also popular tourist destinations with mountains nearby. Junin de los Andes, a top fly-fishing destination, is right near Volcan Lanin.

Books & Maps

 
Petrohue Falls 

Two good guidebooks for hiking would be :
Trekking in the Patagonian Andes(Lonely Planet)
Chile and Argentina Trekking Guide(Bradt)

For Climbing a good one is :
Andes - A guide for climbers (John Biggar)

Good maps of the area can be found in any outdoor shops.
Those edited by JLM Mapas are recommendable.

Weather

 
Frutillar Bajo - flower 01

Weather forecast for :

1. Chile
Los Lagos (Region X)
Araucania (Region IX)

2. Argentina
Bariloche

Additions and CorrectionsPost an Addition or Correction

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Ski Mountaineer

Ski Mountaineer - Jul 8, 2007 4:54 am - Hasn't voted

Llaima Elev.

Llaima official IGM elevation is 3125m. No idea where that 3050m number on the map comes from. Stick to official numbers (unless it is an Argentine Map) if in doubt. Nice page otherwise. Will browse through more and see if I can add something. T.A.

Andino

Andino - Jul 10, 2007 5:54 am - Hasn't voted

Re: Llaima Elev.

Hello T.A. Thanks for your comment, I update the page, and double-checked all altitudes. I'll be please for more information if you have any, I can add up. Feel free to vote ;o)

Jose84

Jose84 - Apr 20, 2013 11:39 pm - Hasn't voted

Lanin location

Lanin volcano is also located at the Araucanía region of Chile.

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