Lake District, Chile Holidays

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Lake District Holiday Guide

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Check out our free interactive Lake District holiday guide and discover Lake District's biggest attractions, best restaurants and much more. If you've visited Lake District before tell us your holiday tips and help other travellers enjoy great holidays in Lake District, Chile.

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LAKE DISTRICT LOCAL HISTORY

In the mid to late 1800s the development of the railways in Chile opened up previously remote parts of the country to settlers. With a strong drive in Europe promoting immigration to Chile, a large number of Germans made the long journey and began settling the Lake District of Chile. On arrival the wild jungle was slowly cleared and pushed back and farms planted.

Over time the region grew but never to any great extent and today is still fairly sparsely populated. The tourist industry is today one of the major contributors to the local economy of this area. Eco-tourism is the major draw card with the vast natural beauty of the lakes mountains and forests.

LAKE DISTRICT ATTRACTIONS

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The Alerce & Araucaria – The forests of the Lake District are home to two of the oldest living trees on the planet. The Alerce is a giant that grows less than 1mm each year and lives for more than 3000 years. Mature Araucarias can grow as high as a fifteen-story building and resembles an umbrella in appearance. These trees live for up to 1250 years and along with the Alerce are best seen in the national parks surrounding the Lake District.

Lake Llanquihue – This spectacularly beautiful lake with its crystal clear waters is the second largest lake in the country. The snow capped Volcan Osorno and other rugged mountain peaks add to the beauty of the area. There are plenty of outdoor activities to be enjoyed here including fishing, rafting, volcano ascents and of course sightseeing and bird watching.

Parque Nacional Villarrica – This large park is covered in pristine forrest and includes three imposing volcanoes; Volcan Villarrica is one of the most active volcanoes on Earth. There is plenty to do here including skiing, hiking, horseback riding, bird watching and more. Lava tunnels are open to visitors from 10am to 8.30pm and include a guided tour.

LAKE DISTRICT CUISINE

The fairly harsh climate of Chile has lead to a great dependence on the sea for food. This has led to a cuisine that has its mainstay in seafood and is definitely worth trying out. Parillada de Mariscos is a dish of mixed grilled seafood and is usually served with rice.

Cancato is grilled fish stuffed with vegetables, cheese or sausage. Curanto are various meats, sausages, fish, molluscs, crustaceans, potatoes and corncobs cooked in an earthen pit covered in leaves. This is a specialty dish and is usually served on holidays and at festivals.

LAKE DISTRICT RESTAURANTS

Eltermere Country House – This fine restaurant is well known for its superb homemade cuisine that features traditional cooked roasts. The wine list is as good as you will find anywhere with a selection that includes wines from all over the world.

Latitude 42 – This fine restaurant boasts breathtaking views of the lake and volcano with its waterside location. The decor is ideal as it captures the warmth of the restaurant and adds to the inviting atmosphere. The menu is first class with fine meat and seafood options. The wine list is equally impressive with selections from over 50 vineyards. The restaurant is on the road to Esenada to the east of Puerto Varas.

Merlin – This elegant restaurant combines the traditional flavours of Chile with the creative ideas of today. The hillside location at Imperial 0605 rewards your visit with beautiful views of the area. The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner.

LAKE DISTRICT SHOPPING

This region is characterised by its many small villages and towns. As such you are not likely to encounter any malls as such here. Weekends are the best days for shopping although you are more likely to pick up a bargain on a slower weekday.

Useful Holiday links - Lake District

www.chile-travel.com - Chile travel and booking website.
www.rbrww.com - Information on the lake district area of Chile.