The Lakes and Volcanoes Scenic Route, which officially launched in January 2020 and covers destinations primarily between the Los Lagos and Los Ríos regions, famous for their ancient forests, also boasts a wealth of cultural and heritage resources.
In Panguipulli, Ranco, Puyehue, and Llanquihue, adventurers will find museums and houses of diverse styles, highlighting the architecture that arrived in southern Chile with European settlers. Added to this is an intense artistic and musical scene, thanks to its theaters, and the opportunity to connect with the ancestral culture of the indigenous peoples.
All of this makes the area an ideal place for families who enjoy a combination of adventure and learning more about the rich cultural heritage of southern Chile. At Ruténica, we share a selection of activities with you, ideal for enjoying together.
Heritage activities
–Princess Licarayén: This sculpture located in La Puntilla, Puerto Varas, inspired by the Mapuche legend of the same name, is one of the commune's main tourist attractions. It's ideal for a day trip on this significant date, and to learn more about the tragic story that inspired its creation.
–Guided cultural walk in Frutillar: This experience seeks to reveal and introduce various aspects of local history through a tour that includes visits to various locations in the city. The guide will show you mansions and temples in the typical area, highlighting the diverse manifestations of local heritage: living, architectural, cultural, and other aspects ( https://t.ly/625Hf ).
–Museo Molino Fundo Los Chilcos-Ranco: A journey back more than 100 years that will allow you to learn about the flour production and maquila process. You will be able to observe the operation of each of the machines in the flour production process and experience how the power of water allows an entire factory to be put into operation. Located on the banks of the Ralitrán River, you will be able to see the dam that channels the energy of the water that runs the mill and the waterfall that forms said dam, among other surprises ( https://t.ly/Gh9eX ).
–Guided tours of Teatro del Lago: A magical tour of Teatro del Lago with a visit that invites you to discover its spaces and the history that lives in its various corners ( https://t.ly/wbYj ).
–Automuseum Moncopulli: This is the largest Studebaker automobile museum outside the USA. You can see not only the cars, but also model trains and cars, as well as toys. There's also an incredible collection of cameras, agricultural machinery, and hundreds of antiques. It's a unique family experience with period-inspired music ( https://shorturl.at/nopUY ).
Ancestral Mapuche culture
–La Isla Park - Salto La Olla: Located in the town of Pilmaiquén, Puyehue commune, about 45 minutes from Osorno, La Isla Park - Salto La Olla, a pristine six-hectare forest, receives up to 100 national and international visitors daily who want to escape from everyday life and surround themselves with the beautiful landscapes that this territory offers. Managed by the Mapu Pilmaiquén community, who have inhabited the area for more than a century, it is an interesting opportunity to learn about and connect with the ancestral Mapuche culture ( https://shorturl.at/qyGHN ).
–Getting to know our ancestors on Huapi Island: On this full-day tour, you'll enjoy breakfast at the campfire, a basic Mapudungun workshop, an intercultural guide, a visit to wool, wood, and medicinal herb crafts. You'll also visit heritage sites, enjoy a picnic lunch, and a Mapuche worldview workshop ( https://shorturl.at/rzJMX ).
–Guided tour of Fortín Mapuche + voucher for Typical Gastronomy consumption: This is a walk through the history of the Mapuche people's resistance, which recounts and relives the different strategies of their great toquis and defenders of their culture and land, such as Colo Colo, Caupolicán, Jaqueneo, Lintur, and Lautaro, represented by Chemanus (wooden men). The trail takes approximately 20 minutes to complete and its archaeological history dates back almost 600 years ( https://t.ly/EWCH ).
–Ancestral knowledge and guided experience in Puerto Octay: Doraliza Ester Hueichan, a Huilliche artisan passionate about her mapu (land), her witrales (looms) and her traditions, is in charge of the tour that will take you on a guided experience through the countryside with her typical clothing and a natural panoramic view of the place and where we can appreciate the Puntiagudo, Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes; we will share ancestral knowledge respecting the process and the care of the raw materials, how the vegetables are harvested to begin the wool dyeing process. What does it include?: Witral materials and tools, their accessories, wool, Cumiyal witral weaving and tasting ( https://bit.ly/3MIjbwW ).
–Mapuche Astronomy Tour–Panguipulli: This surprising experience includes a talk on ancestral Mapuche wisdom and cosmological mythology, as well as deep-sky observation using telescopes. The tour lasts two and a half hours and also includes a gourmet dinner featuring agroecological products and sustainable cuisine ( https://shorturl.at/cloy3 ).