Panguipulli on Lake Panguipulli

Panguipulli lies on the shore of Lake Panguipulli, the largest and best-known of the seven lakes along the Ruta Siete Lagos. The lake shapes the character of the town; along its waterfront promenade, the landscape and urban culture come together. If you are looking for a destination with a lake and cultural discoveries, you might consider Panguipulli when searching for a holiday apartment for your trip.

Waterfront promenade and town views

The Costanera de Panguipulli is one of the municipality’s most visited areas. It has been renovated, with a particular focus on landscaping, decoration and cleaning. The waterfront promenade is also home to Osvaldo Peña’s work “Fundadores y Forjadores de Panguipulli.” It symbolizes the Mapuche people, Capuchin missionaries and pioneers. The promenade therefore offers not only a connection to Lake Panguipulli, but also an introduction to themes associated with the town’s history and identity.

Church, art and community culture

A distinctive feature of the townscape is the Templo y Parroquia San Sebastián, with its two towers. The building was designed and constructed entirely of wood in 1947 by Capuchin priest Bernabé de Lucerna; its design is inspired entirely by Swiss architecture. Visitors interested in architecture and church art will find a specific cultural highlight here in Panguipulli.

Behind the church is the Casona Cultural, which brings together art, education and music. Historical photographs documenting the construction of the church are on display there. The Casona also hosts long-term and short-term art workshops. Its year-round long-term program includes exhibitions, talks and excursions. This makes it possible to shape a visit around different cultural interests: the photographs and their connection to the church, or the broader offering of art, education and music.

Another community cultural venue on Lake Panguipulli is the Teatro Educativo de las Artes de Panguipulli. There, audiences and artists work together, with audience members also taking part on and behind the stage. Travelers interested not only in watching performances but also in community-based forms of cultural creation can include this venue in their plans.

Market and local handicrafts

The Mercado Campesino Panguipulli takes place in Plaza Bernardo O’Higgins. All year round, it brings local producers directly together with residents and visitors. Products on offer include fresh seasonal produce, such as farm eggs, vegetables, seeds and plants, as well as textiles. The market thus combines shopping for local products with an insight into what local producers have to offer.

There is a local handicrafts shop beside the Casona Cultural. Visitors can meet artisans making items from wool, felt, wood, woven materials and ceramics. This offers another cultural dimension to consider when planning a trip: alongside architecture and the arts program, there is a focus on craft materials and methods of production.

Getting there and choosing a destination

For air travel, Aeródromo Pichoy de Valdivia (ZAL) and Aeropuerto La Araucanía de Temuco (ZCO) are important options. The transfer from ZAL covers 80 kilometers and takes one hour and 30 minutes; from ZCO, it is 130 kilometers and takes two hours. At both airports, you can rent a vehicle or take a bus to Panguipulli.

From Santiago, the drive follows Ruta 5 Sur and then branches off onto Ruta 203. The distance is 830 kilometers and the drive takes about nine hours. An intercity bus from the capital takes ten to eleven hours. You can take these differences into account when choosing how to travel. If lakes, local culture, handicrafts and markets match your travel interests, Panguipulli offers several different points of interest to consider when searching for a holiday apartment.

More destinations: Valdivia, Paillaco, Mariquina, Corral.

See the broader travel overview: Provincia Valdivia: Valdivia, Corral and Panguipulli.