Chile · Los Lagos
Petrohué Falls
Saltos del Petrohué
Turquoise glacial meltwater from Lake Todos los Santos tears through channels carved into ancient lava flows, with the snow-capped cone of Osorno Volcano rising directly behind. The falls are more about ferocity and color than height, a compact stop on the classic Andean lake crossing route.
Turquoise glacial meltwater from Lake Todos los Santos tears through channels carved into ancient lava flows, with the snow-capped cone of Osorno Volcano rising directly behind. The falls are more about ferocity and color than height, a compact stop on the classic Andean lake crossing route.
Petrohué Falls drops 9 metres (30 ft) on the Petrohué, inside Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park. It is a cataract-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Puerto Varas, with PMC the closest airport. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy.
Southern summer (Dec-Mar) gives clear views of the Osorno Volcano behind the rapids.
What you can do here
Kayaking
Flatwater above the lip or big water below it — kayaking gets you closer to a waterfall than any walking trail.
White-water rafting
Below a great waterfall there is usually a great gorge, and in that gorge some of the biggest commercially runnable water on earth.
Hiking
From ten-minute boardwalks to multi-day approaches through cloud forest.
Photography
Light angles, moonbows, spray management and the hours that actually work.
Wildlife & safari
Falls that sit inside serious wildlife country, where the water is only half the reason to come.
When to go
Southern summer (Dec-Mar) gives clear views of the Osorno Volcano behind the rapids.
Entry: Park entry ~$8-12 USD
Getting there
- Base townPuerto Varas
- AirportPMC
- CountryChile
- RegionLos Lagos, South America
- AccessEasy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint
On the map
-41.1394, -72.3961
Quick answers
How tall is Petrohué Falls?
Petrohué Falls drops 9 metres (30 feet). It is a cataract-type waterfall on the Petrohué.
When is the best time to visit Petrohué Falls?
Peak flow is January to March and December. Southern summer (Dec-Mar) gives clear views of the Osorno Volcano behind the rapids.
What can you do at Petrohué Falls?
Beyond the viewpoints: kayaking, white-water rafting, hiking, photography and wildlife & safari. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint.
How do you get to Petrohué Falls?
The usual base is Puerto Varas, and the closest airport is PMC. A short walk or roadside viewpoint from there. Park entry ~$8-12 USD.
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