Puerto Varas has no airport or train station of its own, but it is one of the easiest places in southern Chile to reach. The nearest airport, El Tepual (PMC) near Puerto Montt, has frequent flights from Santiago, and the town sits just off the Pan-American Highway (Ruta 5).
These are the main ways in, compared.
The options at a glance
| How | Journey time | Rough cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fly Santiago → El Tepual + transfer | 1 h 45 min + 40 min | Airfare + about US$20–50 transfer | Most international visitors |
| Overnight bus from Santiago | 12–14 h | Varies by seat class — check current fares | Budget travellers, saving a hotel night |
| Cruce Andino from Bariloche | Full day (about 12 h) | From around US$355 | Travelling on from/to Argentina, scenery |
| Bus from Bariloche via Osorno | Roughly 6–8 h | Moderate — check current fares | Crossing the border on a budget |
| Drive / rental car | About 1,000 km from Santiago | Car hire + fuel + tolls | Freedom around the lake and park |
1. Fly to Puerto Montt (El Tepual)
LATAM, Sky and JetSMART fly between Santiago and Puerto Montt several times a day, in around 1 h 45 min, and there are also flights from other Chilean cities such as Punta Arenas and Balmaceda. El Tepual is about 40 minutes by road from Puerto Varas.
From the airport you can take a shared minibus (which drops off at hotels), a taxi from the official rank, or a pre-booked transfer. Pre-booking is worth it for late arrivals and families — see the airport transfers on our tours page.
2. Bus from Santiago
Companies including Turbus, Pullman and Cruz del Sur run overnight buses south on Ruta 5 to Puerto Varas and Puerto Montt in roughly 12–14 hours. The semi-cama and cama (reclining-seat) classes are comfortable enough to sleep in and save you a night’s accommodation. Book a day or two ahead in summer.
3. From Bariloche: the Cruce Andino
The most spectacular way to arrive — or leave — is the Cruce Andino, a full-day journey between Bariloche in Argentina and Puerto Varas that links Lake Nahuel Huapi, Laguna Frías and Todos los Santos lake by boat, with short bus sections and border formalities at Puerto Frías and Peulla. Book it in advance: it runs year-round but has limited seats in summer.
4. From Bariloche by bus
Regular buses cross the Andes via the Cardenal Samoré pass to Osorno and continue to Puerto Varas and Puerto Montt. Allow a long day including the border crossing; the pass can close temporarily in winter snow.
5. Driving
Ruta 5 is a good toll motorway most of the way from Santiago (roughly 1,000 km). A car is very useful once you are here: the loop around Lake Llanquihue, the Osorno volcano road and the park are all easy drives. Rental companies operate in Puerto Varas and at El Tepual. If you plan to cross into Argentina, you need a special permit from the rental company — arrange it well in advance.
Getting around once you are here
- Puerto Montt: frequent minibuses, about 25 minutes.
- Frutillar and Llanquihue: regular minibuses north along Ruta 5, about 30 minutes to Frutillar.
- Ensenada and Petrohué: minibuses run along Ruta 225, more often in summer.
- Chiloé: buses from Puerto Montt to Ancud and Castro, including the Chacao ferry.
Combine your trip
Crossing the Andes, by the Cruce Andino or by bus over the Cardenal Samoré pass, brings you to San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina’s lakeside mountain town, which deserves a few days of its own. Our Bariloche travel guide covers the Circuito Chico, Cerro Catedral and where to stay.
The last stretch of the lake crossing is a boat ride on Lake Nahuel Huapi, the heart of Argentina’s oldest national park. Our Nahuel Huapi National Park guide explains its islands, viewpoints and boat trips.
If you fly in via Santiago, a day or two in the Chilean capital is easy to add before or after the south; see our Santiago de Chile travel guide for its neighbourhoods, day trips and getting around.
