ABOUT QUINCHO COUNTRY HOME ACTIVITIES - in their own words:

At Quincho Country Home we develop all outings with great care and attention to every detail. We want our guests to have a closer look, to get in touch with nature and people, and of course to enjoy and relax.

Upon arrival a briefing about the region takes place, either in the garden with a glass of Quincho Sour, inside our cozy kitchen or sat by the fireplace. During this conversation the exploration program for the following days will be fixed according to the special interests of each of our clients. The program is flexible and every day we check to see if it is still the best option.

Most of our activities are provided on a private basis but a few explorations have to be shared such as river rafting (minimum of four persons), or the navigation on lake Todos los Santos to Peulla.  

Depending of the length of the activity we send a Quincho picnic or lunch is enjoyed at a local restaurant or it might be at Quincho Country Home.

Half days and full day outings to the following locations

National Park Vicente Perez Rosales:
Ffounded in 1926 and the oldest park of Chile, is just 45 driving minutes from Quincho. One of the most beautiful panoramic roads imaginable follows the shores of lake Llanquihue with the Andes and volcanoes as a stunning backdrop.

The park’s 251,000 hectares lie between Lake Llanquihue and the Argentine border flanked by Volcán Osorno 2.652, Mount Puntiagudo 2.490 and Mount Tronador 3.460 mtrs. A wide variety of activities are available including hiking through temperate rainforest and up the slopes of volcán Osorno, rafting on the Petrohue river (Grade 3+), a boat excursion which takes you across lake Todos los Santos to Peulla or to Isla Magdalena (half-way to Peulla). Another must beside the drive half way up the volcano is the visit to the waterfalls at Petrohue.  

Lake Llanquihue:
Immense Llanquihue lake covers 56.000 ha and is the second largest in Chile.   When German settlers arrived from Valdivia and Puerto Montt in the mid 19th century they could hardly even see the lake due to the extremely dense native forest. Today several villages with German influence like Frutillar, Puerto Octay and Puerto Varas thrive on the lake shores. Small museums show our great grandparents’ handicrafts and tools and one of our favourite ways to explore the past is by just driving around the lake; wonderful old wooden farmhouses with gardens brimming with flowers are a living testament to this history of settlement.

Fjord Reloncavi :
Set in beautiful surroundings this is the northernmost fjord in Chilean Patagonia. Following lake Llanquihue in direction of Lake Todos los Santos the road splits after the village of Ensenada, one to NP Vicente Perez Rosales and the other to the Reloncavi estuary.  The hamlet of Ralun lies at the northern end of the fjord about 30 kms from Ensenada; just a few houses and a small grocery shop but a  view to die for with volcán Yates as a backdrop to the fjord.  Following the east shore of the estuary the pretty village of Cochamo lies a further 17 kms on a gravel road. The main attraction besides the beautiful setting is a wooden church similar to those built around 1900 on the island of Chiloe.  Several salmon farms can be seen on the way to the pristine Puelo valley which connects with Argentina (special transfers and programs to Argentina can be organized).  The gravel road continues between the fjord and volcano until the ferry at Puelche which crosses the estuary to reach La Arena. From here Ruta 7 - the famous Carretera Austral or Austral road - is taken back to Puerto Montt passing by the entrance to National Park Alerce Andino. 

Alerce Andino National Park :
Located a little south of Puerto Montt this National Park covers about 40.000 hectares and as its name indicates features many Alerce trees, a slow growing conifer living up to around 3000 years old. Imagine a tree where you need three or four people to make a circle around it and there are thousands of them!  Several trails penetrate the forest where you can get to know the other typical native species of Evergreen woods like Coigüe, Lenga, Mañío, Tineo, Canelo and Tepa, among others. Hikes from two to eight hours.

Reserva Nacional Llanquihue:
A national reserve of approximately 34.000 ha with difficult access and Volcán Calbuco its main attraction. This volcano of 2.015m erupted last in March 1961 and is part of an Andean massif separated from the main range by lake Chapo. Two trails allow us to approach the volcano and explore the evergreen forest typical of this region.

Puerto Montt:
The regional capital with more than 150.000 inhabitants was founded in 1853. A National & International airport (flights to Bariloche with Lan Chile) and a transport and cruise ship harbor makes this city the gateway between the Lake District, Chiloe and Patagonia. Between modern buildings traditional shingle houses can be seen.  The redwood cathedral (Iglesia de los Jesuitas) on the city's plaza is the city's oldest building. A must is the fish market of Angelmo where the huge variety of local sea food and fish can be seen.

Chiloe Island :
The main island of the archipelago is 250 kms long, 50 kms wide and covers more than 9000 square kms. A unique mixture of indigenous, Spanish and German influences is reflected in the island’s culture, architecture, religion and daily life. Rolling green landscapes are dotted with colorful fishing villages and agriculture and fishing besides tourism are the most important sources of income.

On the wild and pristine pacific side of the island sea wildlife gets more and more interesting. Between November and March Humboldt and Magellan Penguins nest together on a small island close to the coast which can be reached by boat; from time to time whales can be seen far away in the ocean. For those interested in architecture there are more than 70 wooden churches built by the Jesuits in the middle of the last century and 16ten of them protected by Unesco as National heritage sites.  

Calbuco and beaches :
Half-way to the ferry to get to Chiloe island and connected by a bridge with the continent, peninsula Calbuco was founded in 1602 as a Spanish fortress. Today around 12.000 inhabitants make their living from salmon, seaweed and agriculture. There are beautiful views across the channel to the surrounding islands, and a further one hr drive brings you to the endless white beaches of Maullin and Carelmapu; wonderful for long wild walks open to the Pacific Ocean.

Getting a little more active:

Golf – close to Puerto Varas about 15 minutes from Quincho Country Home the El Alba 9-hole golf course is perfect for experienced players

Rafting: 1 ½ hrs on rapids of grade 3+ enjoying not only the thrill of the adventure also beautiful views on volcano Osorno and the river itself. Note:- not recommended in January due to horseflies which are not dangerous but troublesome.

Sea-kayaking:   from three hrs to a whole day according to the expertise of the participants

Horseback-riding:  Chilean horses with excellent Chilean saddles take you up towards Volcán Calbuco – from two hrs to a full day exploration.

Trekking:  from short hikes of 20 minutes up to full day activities in the surrounding National Parks and Reserves.

Skiing: From end July to beginning of September Volcano Osorno (1 ½ hrs driving) ski center with two ski-lifts and also the Antillanca (2 ½ hrs driving) ski center opens.

AT ADDITIONAL COST WE OFFER THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:  

Fly fishing , Golf or Ski Lessons, massage service