Culinary Tour of Patagonia's Lake District - 7 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Bariloche

Welcome to Argentina! When you arrive at San Carlos de Bariloche Airport (BRC), a driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel in the city.

After you check in and get settled, you will have the rest of the free. As the strong influence of Barlioche's early German and Swiss settlers is most evident in the local cuisine, you may want to find some local restaurants that serve regional dishes such as Patagonian lamb, smoked fish, and wild deer, or Alpine favorites like goulash and fondue.

After your meal, consider checking out the city's many boutique breweries where you can try a large variety of handcrafted beer, or the nonalcoholic hot chocolates and baked sweets that are served up in the iconic tea houses. 

Day 2: Nahuel Huapi Lake Sailing Trip

This morning, you'll board a boat and set off on an all-day sailing expedition around Bariloche. You'll navigate the San Pedro Peninsula to reach a beautiful and secluded bay, and then you'll continue heading toward Puerto Venado, Viveres Island, and the coast of the Neuquén Province.

Then, you will sail along Serena Bay, past Huemul Island and Gallinas Island. In the middle of the day, you will stop in one of the secluded bays off Nahuel Huapi Lake offers for tea and lunch.

At the end of your sailing trip, you'll return to the dock in Bariloche and have the rest of the evening free.

Day 3: Traditional Cooking Class

Today, you'll take an in-depth cooking class and learn all about the Argentine cuisine in this unique region of the country. You will focus on classic recipes, which could be centered on regional ingredients like pine mushrooms, squash, and wild calafate berries.

As you'll be meeting and dining with locals today, you will also be able to learn about the cultural importance of certain foods and how the Argentine cuisine varies across different regions.

At the end of your class, you'll sit down for a full three-course meal. You will have the rest of the day free, and you may want to track down local ingredients to take home so you can recreate some of the unique dishes for friends and family.

Day 4: Boat Tour of Patagonian Lakes

A driver will pick you up at your hotel this morning and transfer you to the pier to board a ship for your full-day tour of some of Patagonia's most beautiful lakes. You will begin your cruise on the beautiful Nahuel Huapi Lake and head toward Puerto Blest.

When you reach Puerto Blest, you will get off the boat and take a short bus ride to Puerto Alegre, where you will board another boat and sail across Frías Lake before heading back to the shore and taking another private transfer across the border into Chile.

After you clear customs, your ride will continue, and you will see the nine glaciers that sit at the top of Mount Tronador as you enter Pérez Rosales National Park.

When you reach the town of Peulla, you will board another boat and set off on the majestic Todos Los Santos Lake, also known as the Emerald Lake due to the green-bluish tone of its waters.

You will have clear views of the impressive Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes, and after approximately 2 hours of navigation, you will get to Petrohué. After boarding a coach here, the tour continues through Ensenada and on to your final destination of Puerto Varas.

When you arrive in Puerto Varas, you will be transferred directly to your hotel where you'll have the evening free.

Day 5: Heritage & Brewery Tour of Puerto Varas

Today, you'll take a tour of Puerto Varas, a city in Patagonia's Lake District that was founded by German settlers around 1852. As you explore the streets, you will learn about the history of the city and the influence of German culture and architecture.

For the second half of your tour, you'll stop at a traditional German-style brewpub that brews its beer with the area's naturally filtered water. A guide will tell you all about the process for brewing different styles of beer, and you will be able to taste a flight of three different beers while you enjoy the views of the nearby volcanoes and the Llanquihue Lake.

After your tour of the brewpub, you'll have the rest of the night free.

Day 6: Day-Trip to Chiloé Island

After breakfast, a driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you about an hour south to Pargua where you will board a ferry and cross the Chacao Channel. On the ferry, you can spot unique wildlife like sea lions, pelicans, and other sea birds that are native to this area.

Once you reach Chiloé Island, another driver will take you to the small city of Ancud where you can see the San Antonio Fort. This historic fort is located on the shore, and it is one of the last Spanish fortifications in Chile. After you see the fort, you can visit the Local Churches Heritage Foundation, the town's main square, and the Central Market, which hosts plenty of food and craft vendors from around the island. 

You will then continue your trip to Dalcahue where you can tour another food market that is built over the water. After you soak in the spectacular view, you'll also want to visit the handicraft market and the wooden Quinchao Church that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Later in the day, you will continue your trip to Castro, the capital of Chiloé Island. You will be able to visit the San Francisco Church in front of the main square, the biggest handicraft market on the island, and the colorful houses on stilts that are perhaps the most popular attraction in the city.

At the end of the day, you will board the ferry again and take an additional transfer back to your hotel in Puerto Varas.

Day 7: Departure

It's time to say goodbye to Patagonia! After your final free morning, a driver will pick you up at your hotel and transfer you to El Tepual International Airport (PMC) to catch your flight home.