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Wicked Campervan Trip Options: Pickup in Puerto Varas & Dropoff in Santiago
Well my fella, you just decided to do a really long trip!! Obviously you didn’t hire a great campervan to drive along the road direct to the capital, so we’re gonna give you some ideas about places you can visit and enjoy anyway you want; after all, this is all about freedom right?! From south to north, Chile has a lot to offer, from amazing landscapes to perfect spots for practicing ski, sailing, snowboard, free ski, mountain bike, surfing and much more!
You are now on Puerto Varas. One of the many cities in Chile where you’ll be enchanted. Good food, nice people and, of course, the best landscapes of this part of the world are just the beggining of a trip that includes lakes, volcanoes, beaches, lonely and crazy nights and everything the road will give you while you drive on your Wicked Camper Van!
Go from Puerto Varas to Frutillar and Puerto Octay, both towns located at the edge of the Llanquihue Lake, and visit Osorno Volcano or the Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park. You can go also to Llanquihue National Reserve and do some trekking to Calbuco Volcano. You can camp anywhere you want and maybe spend the night in the peace and lonelyness only southern Chile can give you!
Keep going north to visit the impressive and enormous Puyehue Lake, Puyehue National Park and Puyehue volcano. Practice water sports, climb, go hikking or relax at the hotsprings you’ll find there. From there go back to Route 5 and drive to Lago Ranco and Futrono, a little loop whre you can enjoy the deep blue waters of Ranco Lake. Camp, go horseback riding, and keep using your camper van that will take you where you want, when you want it.
Up north, you can also go to Valdivia National Reserve or Valdivia Coastal Reserve, both places known for its great variety of flora and fauna. As an abstract, in this area you can drive and visit (for sleeping, having fun, doing sports, taking photos, go crazy, etc) the Mocho Coshuenco Volcano, Huilo Huilo Reserve, San Pablo de Tregua Reserve, Villarrica National Park, Villarrica National Reserve and the Villarrica Volcano. Are you looking for snow? Well, come on winter season and visit Villarrica Volcano Ski Center. Go swim at Lago Caburga and chill out at San Luis Hotsprings or Palguin Hotsprings. Just choose your destiny and drive through this corner of the earth on your camper van!!
Ok so, when you’re ready to keep driving north, go back to Route 5 and drive north till you get to the city of Temuco. Near Temuco you can visit one of the most famous places among every one who has handled a Wicked Campervan in this zone: The Conguillio National Park, where you can practice trekking, snowmobile ride, winter navigation (seasonal) and take a short nature photography workshop. Near Conguillío you have two more National and Natural Reserves to visit (Galletue Lake, Alto Bíobío).
Your next stop should be near teh city of Los Angeles to drive east, to Antuco Ski Center (seasonal). The center is located 82 kilometers from the city and, even if there’s no snow you still must go, there are other options like trekking. You’re gonna love it! Indeed, it was nominated to be considered as one of nature’s seven wonders worldwide.
Once you’re done there and want to keep your trip to the capital, take again Route 5 and drive to Chillán, a perfect place where to eat as much as you can! Try the traditional “Longanizas” (special kind of sausage), the “Arrollado huaso” (a special preparation of pork meat) and the famous “Caldillo de Congrio” (Conger soup). Specially if you have a hangover, this last dish will be a bless!!
Near Chillán is located the Termas de Chillán center. One of the favorite ski and hotsprings center in the country, with 28 ski slopes and with 10 thousand hectares of skiable surface. Not bad uh? There you can go absolutely wicked: Practice snowboarding, skiing, sled riding or nordic ski, do it all or the one you like the most, it’s up to you!!
From Chillán go to Altos del Lircay National Reserve, a place where to swim and do some trekking, horseback riding, climbing and more! This reserve is located near Talca and it’s pretty close to another great attraction: Radal Siete Tazas National Reserve, a spectacular circuit of seven natural pools that feed water to each other, in the middle of the forest and surrounded by mountains and nature everywhere you look!
If you love wine take a ride to Curicó and visit the Wine Route of the Curicó Valley. There are 16 vineyards waiting for you to walk through its facilities, learning about the process of making wine and tasting some of the best Chile has to offer in this matter. Arround there, you can visit the Laguna Torca National Reserve, known for its varied flora and fauna, and where you can see (among other species) beautiful black necked swans!
More good news!! If you went to the reserve, you’re really near of a surf paradise: Great Pichilemu!! a world known beach where to find the best waves in Chile for pro surfers. If you want to accept a real challenge, then come ride this waves!
You’re already finishing your trip, after driving over a thousand kilometers through the wildness, sharing with lot’s of people, walking through the heart of millenary forests and living the wicked way!! But there’s even more! Go back to Route 5 and try your god look at the casino or visit Río Clarillo Natural Reserve, before you arrive to Santiago to say goodbye to your great partner in all this trip: Your Wicked Campervan!
Here at Wicked Campers we’ve developed a range of Campervan Trip Ideas for roadtrips around Puerto Varas – check them out!
You wanna’ jump out of a plane or sail the Cabo de Hornos? Just ask Us baby! We have friends all over the place!
We have a variety range of van from a 2, 3, 4 and 5-seater campervans, minicampers and 4WD that will accommodate your travel in Chile. Enjoy the country and save your pocket money for beers and tickets to atractions and activities, instead of putting it in expensive accommodation.
Check out our campervans and see which one is the perfect option for you:
Land Phone: +56 9 4207 3790
Address: Salar Surire Nº 1067, Pudahuel, Santiago.
Santiago de Chile.