Travel to the Chilean Lake District

The Chilean Lake District is served by two main airports at Puerto Montt and Temuco, as well as a small airport on Chiloé island. 

Puerto Montt’s Tepual airport (PMC) is the main entry point for those travelling to Puerto Varas, Chiloé and the southern part of the Lake District. It has up to 10 daily flights to Santiago (SCL, 1¾hrs). There are also daily flights to Punta Arenas (PUQ), connecting the Lake District to Torres del Paine National Park (2hrs), and to Coyhaique (BBA) daily (1hr).

Temuco’s Araucanía Airport (ZCO) is the main entry point for those heading to Pucón. There are at least three daily flights to Santiago (75 minutes).

For Chiloé, Castro’s Mocupulli airport (code MHC) has daily flights to Santiago (2hrs), but is also easily accessible from Puerto Montt.

The Panamerican Highway runs south from Santiago through the Chilean District. The route is well-plied by buses, which take around 9hrs to reach Temuco, or 12hrs to Puerto Varas. With the Andean Cordillera a constant presence along the way, and the smooth road is quick to drive with plenty of interesting diversions – not least because it passes through some of Chile's best wine country.

If you're arriving from southern Patagonia by road, you'll be approaching the Chilean Lake District along the famous Carretera Austral highway, which terminates in Puerto Montt. Driving on this more than 1200km-long route is a truly memorable experience but one that requires a bit of preparation – see our dedicated page for more information. 

Although it's possible to fly direct from Puerto Natales to the Chilean Lake District, a tremendously enjoyable alternative is to travel by ship to Puerto Montt following the dramatically crinkled coastline of Chile's fjords. The Navimag ferry Esperanza sails once a week and takes four days/three nights to slowly make its way north. The forest-clad fjords, mountains and snow-capped volcanoes you pass along the way make this one of the most breath-taking ferry rides in the world, not to mention the chance to spot whales, dolphins and marine birdlife. Cabins on board are simple but comfortable, and should be booked in advance.

To get to Chiloé, the most straightforward route is on the car ferry that runs between Pargua, 62km south of Puerto Montt, and Chacao on Chiloé. Allow around three hours to travel between Puerto Montt and destinations on the north of the island.

Ferries are also involved if you're travelling from the south by road. The Carretera Austral highway is broken in two places by car ferries south of Puerto Montt. Between Caleta Gonzalo and Hornopirén, there is a car ferry along the coast (6hrs), followed by the 30 minute crossing of the Reloncavi Sound between Puelche and La Arena.