At a glanceFour nights on the lakeshore in Bariloche, three in Puerto Varas after a boat-and-bus crossing of the Andes, then three in Pucón, flying home through Santiago. It suits active couples who love mountains, lakes and long scenic days more than beaches. December to March is the season, with March a quieter favorite and the forests starting to turn.
Northern Patagonia's lake district straddles the Andes, with Argentina on one side and Chile on the other. This 11-day route spends four nights in Bariloche, crosses the mountains by boat and bus on the Cruce Andino to Puerto Varas for three nights, then drives north to Pucón for three nights before flying home through Santiago.
Bariloche is the grand opening, a town on huge Nahuel Huapi Lake with the historic Llao Llao resort, chocolate shops and boat trips to forested islands. The Cruce Andino is the day you will talk about for years, a chain of lakes and short drives through the Andes ending on emerald Lake Todos los Santos. Puerto Varas is the gentle Chilean chapter, a lake town facing the perfect cone of Osorno Volcano. Pucón is the adventurous finale, with a smoking volcano, araucaria forests and the red walkways of Termas Geométricas hot springs.
There are no long flights between stops. The only early start is the crossing. That day is the highlight rather than a chore.
The route
- BarilocheArgentina · 4 nights
- Puerto VarasChile · 3 nights
- PucónChile · 3 nights
- Best months
- December to March, especially March
- Trip length
- 11 days
- Budget
- About $250–700 a night for two in lakefront hotels and lodges (approximate)
Day by day
Days 1–4: Bariloche
Fly to Buenos Aires, then a little over two hours to San Carlos de Bariloche (BRC). The Llao Llao peninsula, about 40 minutes from the airport, is the classic honeymoon base. The Llao Llao Resort, Golf-Spa has lake-view rooms and a spa with an indoor-outdoor pool. Ask for a lake-view room specifically. Smaller lodges along Avenida Bustillo between Km 5 and Km 20 give you lake frontage at lower prices.
Rest on day one. On day two, take the boat from Puerto Pañuelo to Isla Victoria and the cinnamon-barked arrayanes forest. On day three, rent a car and drive the Seven Lakes Road north toward Villa La Angostura. Day four is the slow day: kayak a calm bay of Nahuel Huapi, then work your way along Calle Mitre tasting chocolate.
The romantic moment is the chairlift up Cerro Campanario at sunset, with lakes and peaks spread out below. Pack layers, since mornings on the lake can start in the 40s.
Days 5–7: Puerto Varas
On day five, cross the Andes on the Cruce Andino, a long day of boats and buses across a chain of lakes. It ends on Lake Todos los Santos below Osorno, then continues by road past the Petrohué rapids to Puerto Varas. Book it well ahead in summer. Bring passports, since you cross an international border on the way.
Hotel Cumbres Puerto Varas sits on the lakeshore with big windows facing the volcano. AWA Hotel, a short drive out of town, is a contemporary design hotel on the water. Ask for a room that faces Osorno.
On day six, pick up a rental car and drive to the Petrohué rapids over black lava, or take a day trip to Chiloé's wooden churches. On day seven, visit lakeside Frutillar and catch a concert at the Teatro del Lago if one is on.
The romantic moment is watching Osorno Volcano glow pink at sunset from the lakefront. Check the sky at dawn, when the volcano is most often clear.
Days 8–10: Pucón
On day eight, drive north about four hours on the Pan-American Highway, then east to Pucón on Lake Villarrica. Travel by day. Hotel Antumalal, a low 1950s modernist lodge on a wooded bluff above the lake, is the classic choice for couples who love design and gardens. Lodges on the road toward Villarrica have private beaches and volcano views.
On day nine, hike to the araucaria lakes of Huerquehue National Park, then spend the late afternoon soaking at Termas Geométricas, where red walkways wind through a forest gorge between hot pools. On day ten, very fit couples can book a guided climb toward Villarrica's crater rim, weather and alert status permitting. Everyone else can swim off the black sand of Playa Grande and take it slow.
The romantic moment is watching the volcano glow after dark from your terrace. Leave a flexible day, since climbs and boat trips depend on weather.
Day 11: Pucón to Santiago and Home
In summer there are flights from Pucón (ZPC) to Santiago. The rest of the year, drive about an hour and a half to Temuco La Araucanía Airport (ZCO) and fly to Santiago, a little over an hour. Most US flights leave Santiago in the evening, so a morning domestic flight connects comfortably.
If you prefer a buffer, add a final night in Santiago. Lastarria has charming boutique hotels within walking distance of cafés. The drive to the airport takes 30 to 45 minutes. A last dinner of Chilean seafood and Carménère makes a good ending.
Return the rental car at the airport you fly from. Check one-way drop fees when you book, since picking up in Puerto Varas and dropping in Temuco may add a charge. Pack a warm layer for the flight. Keep any bottles of wine from Chile or Argentina wrapped in checked luggage.
Getting Between Stops
Buenos Aires to Bariloche is a flight of a little over two hours, with several departures a day in high season. Rent a car in Bariloche for the Seven Lakes Road and lake drives, then return it before the crossing.
Bariloche to Puerto Varas is a full day on the Cruce Andino, which combines boats and buses across a chain of lakes. Book ahead, since it is popular in summer. The road crossing through Villa La Angostura is faster but far less scenic. Entry and visa rules depend on your citizenship and can change at short notice, so check the official government website before you book.
Puerto Varas to Pucón is about four hours by car on paved roads. Pucón to Santiago is a short flight from Pucón in summer or from Temuco, about 90 minutes away by car.
Where to Stay
In Bariloche, the Llao Llao peninsula is the classic base. The Llao Llao Resort, Golf-Spa is the splurge. Lodges and cabins along Avenida Bustillo give you lake frontage closer to town. Villa La Angostura, on the north shore, suits couples who want a quiet village with boutique lodges.
In Puerto Varas, Hotel Cumbres Puerto Varas is right on the lakeshore, while AWA Hotel offers contemporary design on the water a short drive away. Lodges near Petrohué on Lake Todos los Santos feel deeper in nature.
In Pucón, Hotel Antumalal is the design classic above Lake Villarrica. Lodges along the road toward Villarrica have private beaches. Cabins toward Lake Caburgua or the Liucura Valley trade nightlife for birdsong and quick access to the hot springs.
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When to Go
December to March is the season. Days are long and mild, usually in the 60s and 70s. The volcanoes are clear more often. This is when the Cruce Andino, boat trips and hiking trails all run at full schedule.
January and February are the busiest months, when Argentine and Chilean families take their holidays. Book hotels and the crossing well ahead. In Frutillar, the Semanas Musicales classical festival runs in late January and early February.
March is our favorite for honeymooners. Crowds thin after school starts, the weather is usually settled and the forests begin to turn.
November and April are shoulder months with more changeable weather. From May to September, the region is wet and gray, with skiing at Cerro Catedral but fewer services elsewhere.
Budget and Booking
As an approximate guide, the Llao Llao Resort runs from about $450 a night for two, with lake-view rooms higher. Good lakefront hotels and lodges in Puerto Varas and Pucón run roughly $200 to $500. All prices are approximate and climb in January and February.
Book the Cruce Andino first, since the dates of every other stay hang on it. Then book the Llao Llao or your Bariloche lodge, then Hotel Antumalal or your Pucón lodge. Book Termas Geométricas and any volcano climb a few days ahead in summer.
You need two rental cars, one in Argentina and one in Chile, since cross-border rentals are complicated. Carry some Argentine pesos and Chilean pesos for small purchases, tips and hot springs.
Staying Comfortable and Safe
Weather changes fast in the lake district. Pack layers and rain gear for both of you, even in summer. Summer mornings can start in the 40s. The volcano climb is cold at the top.
The US State Department rates Argentina at Level 1 and Chile at Level 2. The advisory mentions unrest in Chile's Araucanía region, which includes Pucón, mostly in rural areas away from tourist towns. Check current conditions before you drive north from Puerto Varas and travel by day.
Check Villarrica's alert status before booking a climb and only go with a licensed guide. Some side roads to the hot springs are gravel and slippery after rain, so drive slowly. Lake water stays cold all year, so swim close to shore.
Make It Shorter or Longer
For an 8-day trip, skip Pucón. Spend four nights in Bariloche and three in Puerto Varas, then fly home from Puerto Montt through Santiago, about 25 minutes from Puerto Varas.
For 13 to 14 days, start with two nights in Buenos Aires to break up the flight. Or add Chiloé as an overnight from Puerto Varas. Ancud is about two hours away by road and a short car ferry, with wooden churches, stilt houses and a penguin colony nearby.
For a longer Patagonia trip, fly from Puerto Montt to Punta Arenas for Torres del Paine, or from Bariloche to El Calafate for the Perito Moreno glacier when summer flights run. Both add three or four nights and a dramatic contrast to the green lake district.
FAQPlanning this trip
What is the Cruce Andino?
It is a full-day crossing of the Andes between Bariloche and Puerto Varas that combines boats and buses across a chain of lakes. It ends on emerald Lake Todos los Santos below Osorno Volcano. Book ahead in summer and bring your passports for the border crossing.
Is the Llao Llao worth it for a honeymoon?
For most couples, yes. The historic resort sits on a peninsula between two lakes with mountain views, a spa with an indoor-outdoor pool and a golf course. Ask for a lake-view room, since views vary a lot. Lakefront lodges along Avenida Bustillo cost less and still have water views.
Do we need a car in the Patagonian lake district?
It helps a lot. Rent one in Bariloche for the Seven Lakes Road, then another in Puerto Varas for Petrohué, Frutillar and the drive to Pucón. Cross-border rentals are complicated, so use the Cruce Andino for the crossing and rent separately in each country.
When is the best time for a Bariloche and Puerto Varas honeymoon?
December to March, when days are long and mild and everything is open. March is ideal, with thinner crowds and the first fall color. January and February are busiest. From May to September, the region is wet and gray outside the ski areas.
Can we climb Villarrica Volcano on our honeymoon?
Fit couples can, with a licensed guide and good weather. It is a long, steep climb on snow and loose rock toward the crater rim. Check the volcano's alert status before you book and listen to your guide on the day. Hot springs make a good recovery afterward.
