Attractions and activities, Northbound Route

The great attractions of Navimag’s northbound route are Chile’s national parks and national reserves. Worthy of special mention for the natural beauty of their flora, such as araucaria and alerce trees and areas of endemic species such as the Valdivian forest, are the Conguillío, Villarrica, Puyehue, Alerce Andino, Chiloé and Vicente Pérez Rosales parks.

A land of myths and legends, the Chiloé archipelago is considered to be one of Chile’s most fascinating regions. These islands can be reached and their cities visited by crossing the Chacao channel aboard Navimag. Aside from its unique architecture, represented especially by its churches and by its waterside houses known as palafittes, Chiloé offers visitors its special gastronomy and its handicraft based on wood and wool, as well as the wealth of its typical customs.

The existence of volcanic activity in the Andes cordillera accounts for the presence of a large number of thermal springs in the region. The thermal baths at Puyehue, Coñaripe, Palguín and Huife, among others, offer their visitors complete facilities for enjoying the waters with temperatures bordering on 50°C.

With its height of 2,840 metres and still in activity, the Villarrica volcano offers mountain lovers ascent routes with different degrees of difficulty. The view from the summit makes the effort worthwhile. From there one can see the volcano’s crater as well as the lakes that surround the Villarrica. Another alternative for those who engage in this sport is the Osorno volcano, situated on the shores of the Llanquihue lake. With its height of 2,652 metres, it offers its visitors activities all year round. In the summer season guided ascents are offered, enabling hikers to enjoy the natural beauty of its alerce forests as well as that of the variety of bird species that inhabit the area.

The geographical characteristics of the Los Lagos Region make it a paradise for lovers of rafting, as the proximity of the Andes cordillera to the sea generates excellent rivers for the practice of this sport. In the Pucón area, the Trancura river stands out for the clarity of its waters. The Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, for its part, offers the possibility of enjoying the beauty of the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes while living the adventure of going through the rapids of the Petrohué river.

Situated in the cordilleran zone of Chile’s Region IX, the Villarrica ski centre offers tourists the unforgettable experience of skiing on an active volcano, on slopes characterised by their different degrees of difficulty. Only 98 kilometres from the city of Osorno is the Antillanca ski centre, which offers an incomparable scenic beauty for those who want to ski on any of its 14 slopes as well as a variety of recreational activities, both for those who enjoy the snow and for those who only enjoy going for a stroll.
It is distinguished as offering the best conditions for cross-country winter sports and is outstanding for its slopes and cornices.
Considered to be the largest in Patagonia, the Catedral ski centre is another alternative. Situated only 19 kilometres from the city of Bariloche in Argentine territory, it has 53 slopes and an excellent infrastructure.
Cross-country skiing and snowboarding are also among the different types of winter sports that can be practised on the snows of Patagonia.