Victoria

Day Trips

Arrive in Victoria and settle into your charming boutique hotel near the Plaza de Armas. Stroll through the historic square to admire the colonial church and colorful murals depicting Mapuche legends. Stop at a local cafe to sample araucaria honey-infused coffee alongside freshly baked empanadas.

Join a guided walking tour through cobblestone streets while hearing tales of Spanish settlers and indigenous heritage. Explore the Museo Centenario to view antique photographs, traditional crafts, and wartime memorabilia. Refuel at a riverside café with fresh trout ceviche and crisp salads made from local produce.

Head to the Mirador Estero viewpoint to watch the sun dip behind the surrounding volcano peaks. Dine on slow-cooked lamb and roasted vegetables at a cozy family-run restaurant filled with warm wooden décor. Toast to your first night in Victoria with a tasting flight of craft beers brewed using native forest herbs.

Set out early for a scenic 30-minute drive to the Malleco Falls National Monument. Walk along wooden platforms that skirt the roaring waterfall to feel the mist on your face and admire the turquoise plunge pool below. Capture breathtaking photos framed by ancient coihue and raulí trees.

Head back to Victoria for lunch and then explore the Museo Regional de la Araucanía to learn about Mapuche history and local wildlife. Marvel at handcrafted silverwork, traditional textiles, and immersive dioramas depicting rural ranch life. Sample artisanal cheeses and chutneys at the museum’s café overlooking the Traiguén River.

Return to town and dine at a lively parrilla restaurant known for wood-grilled meats and homemade chimichurri. Enjoy a performance of traditional Mapuche music featuring the trutruka and cultrun drums. Stroll back to your hotel under a star-filled sky scented with pine and eucalyptus.

Venture to the Termas Ruca Malen nestled in the foothills of the Andes for a relaxing soak in mineral-rich pools. Feel rejuvenated as steam rises around you amid native coigüe and arrayán trees. Savor a light breakfast of fresh fruit, yogurt, and honey sourced from nearby apiaries.

Drive onward to the Rio Quepe Canyon for an adrenaline-pumping rafting adventure through narrow gorges. Navigate class II and III rapids under the guidance of expert instructors while soaking in panoramic views of volcanic cliffs. Celebrate with a riverside snack of empanadas and icy mote con huesillos.

Return to your spa hotel to indulge in a massage that incorporates volcanic stones and pine-scented oils. Delight in a farm-to-table dinner featuring locally foraged mushrooms, hand-rolled pasta, and a glass of aromatic Malbec. Relax by the fireplace with a board game or a novel from the hotel’s curated library.

Leave Victoria at dawn for Tolhuaca National Park, passing through araucaria forests that harbor ancient trees. Begin the hike along the park’s main trail toward Laguna Lonquimay, listening for the call of cantharo woodpeckers. Picnic on homemade sandwiches and energy bars at a viewpoint punctuated by alpine flowers.

Continue deeper into the park to reach the turquoise waters of Laguna Curanilahue, framed by snow-capped volcanoes. Join a guided nature walk led by a park ranger to learn about endemic flora and fauna, including pudú deer and Darwin’s fox. Sip yerba mate brewed over a portable stove while absorbing the serene wilderness.

Drive back to town and unwind with a soak in a rustic riverside hot tub under the stars. Enjoy a hearty meal of pastel de choclo accompanied by a crisp glass of torrontés. Share stories with fellow travelers in the communal lounge warmed by a crackling wood fire.

Visit a nearby Mapuche community to witness a traditional weaving workshop where artisans craft intricate textiles. Learn to spin wool and weave patterns that carry ancestral symbolism passed down for centuries. Taste freshly brewed muday, a fermented corn drink, as elders recount the meaning of each motif.

Participate in a cooking demonstration, helping prepare charqui, sopaipillas, and guiso de poroto. Harvest herbs and vegetables from the community garden to add authentic flavors. Enjoy a communal lunch in a thatched-roof ruka while listening to legends told around the hearth.

Return to Victoria and spend the evening attending a workshop on Mapuche music instruments like the kultrún drum. Try your hand at rhythms that echo the heartbeat of the land under the guidance of a local musician. Sip a soothing herbal infusion made from nettle and peppermint before heading back to your lodging.

Drive east to the vast Lake Budi, the only saltwater lake in Chile, and embark on a small-boat tour around its serene shores. Observe gulls, terns, and other waterfowl as you glide past hidden inlets and artisanal oyster farms. Sample freshly shucked oysters with a squeeze of lemon from local fishermen.

Stop at a lakeside Mapuche village to meet families weaving raw-silk textiles on foot pedals. Wander through stalls of hand-carved wooden utensils and silver jewelry, chatting with artisans about their ancestral techniques. Midday brings a picnic of chupe de mariscos paired with crisp sparkling cider.

Watch the sunset from a secluded beach where driftwood fires are lit by local families. Sit on woven mats and taste mote con huesillos as the sky blushes pink and orange. Return to Victoria in time for dinner, reminiscing about the tranquil rhythms of lakeside life.

Depart before sunrise for Conguillío National Park, winding along volcanic ridges and araucaria groves. Reach the park gates and start a trail ascending the slopes of Llaima Volcano, inhaling the crisp mountain air. Pause for a snack near a bubbling fumarole field that steams with earth’s warmth.

Continue your trek to the shores of Laguna Arcoiris, where reflections of snow-capped peaks ripple on emerald waters. Marvel at ancient lava flows dotted with bladder ferns and monkey puzzle trees. Enjoy a rustic picnic of empanadas, fresh fruit, and yerba mate brewed on a portable thermos.

Return to Victoria and stop at a roadside pulpería for homemade sopaipillas drizzled with chancaca. Indulge in a wood-fired pizza topped with wild mushrooms and locally smoked trout back in town. End the night with a stargazing walk along the Traiguén Riverbanks.

Visit an organic dairy farm on the outskirts of Victoria to milk cows and gather fresh eggs alongside sheepdogs. Learn how cheeses and yogurts are made using traditional methods passed through generations. Enjoy a breakfast feast of soft cheeses, farm eggs, freshly baked bread, and honey.

Join the farm family in preparing a regional cazuela soup, chopping vegetables, simmering broth, and seasoning with homegrown herbs. Bake an alfajores dessert in a wood-fired oven and sample sweet tres leches cake infused with local vanilla. Dine at rustic wooden tables overlooking rolling green pastures.

Spend the night in a cozy guesthouse on the farm, falling asleep to the soft lowing of cattle and the stars overhead. Sit around a bonfire sharing stories with the hosts while roasting marshmallows. Sip aromatic herbal tea made from farm-grown chamomile before turning in.

Meet your guide for an exhilarating ATV adventure on backcountry trails winding through pine forests and riverbeds. Tackle muddy sections and shallow streams as you race toward the foothills of Tolhuaca volcano. Feel the wind on your face and the thrill of remote wilderness exploration.

Park the ATVs by a hidden waterfall known to locals as Salto El León and enjoy a packed lunch by the cascades. Swim in the cool pools beneath the falls or simply relax on smooth river stones surrounded by moss-covered boulders. Capture photos of rainbows forming in the mist.

Return to Victoria and treat yourself to a spa session featuring volcanic clay masks and eucalyptus-infused steam rooms. Dine at a modern bistro that fuses local ingredients with international techniques. Toast with a signature pisco sour that balances tart citrus and sweet sugar.

Spend a leisurely morning exploring the artisan fair in Plaza de Armas, where vendors display ceramics, woven textiles, and carved wooden sculptures. Chat with craftspeople about the symbolism and techniques behind each piece. Purchase unique keepsakes like hand-painted pottery and silver jewelry.

Relax at a secret garden café tucked behind a colonial façade, sipping single-origin coffee and nibbling homemade alfajores. Sit among blooming hydrangeas as you write postcards to friends and reflect on your journey. Take a final stroll along the Río Traiguén, listening to migratory birds overhead.

For your farewell, enjoy a multi-course dinner at a nearby vineyard estate overlooking the Malleco valley. Savor wines paired with delicate hors d'oeuvres, artisan cheeses, smoked trout, and chocolate truffle desserts. End the night with live folk music and a final toast under lantern-lit grape arbors.