Osorno Soars Above the Competition
August 11, 2018 - 2 minutes read
What’s the scoop on that 8,700-foot-high volcano that hovers above so much of the Cruce Andino route?
It’s called Osorno. And like Mt Fuji in Japan, it’s perpetually snowcapped and almost perfectly shaped — a majestic mountain that rises high above the gorgeous Lake District and Cruce Andino’s scenic journey between Chile and Argentina.
But it’s more than just a landmark — and a convenient means to orient yourself to the cardinal directions. Volcán Osorno is also hub for various types of outdoor recreation, from climbing and hiking by summer to skiing and snowboarding in the winter.
One of the most active volcanoes in the southern Andes, Osorno erupted 11 times between 1575 and 1869, spewing lava that reached the shores of lakes Llanquihue and Todos los Santos on either side of the mountain.
Charles Darwin caught sight of the January 1835 eruption from Chiloe Island during his around-the-world voyage of discovery aboard the HMS Beagle. “It was curious to watch,” the famed naturalist quipped. “As the sun rose, the outline gradually fading away in the glare of the eastern sky.”
While the volcano’s near-perfect conical shape gets most of the attention, the heavily forested lower slopes are also picture perfect, especially the slope that descends into the valley that harbors Saltos de Petrohué waterfall.
Adventurers can climb the volcano in about six hours from Puerto Kloker, Ensenada and Petrohué village. It’s strongly recommended to do this with a local guide who knows the mountain well. Because even in the summer, weather at the top can change quickly from bright sunshine and blue sky to cold howling winds and possibly even snow.
Osorno is home to many different creatures including the tiny pudú
deer, the chingue skunk, culpeo fox, puma, and long-muzzled weasel.
In addition to the region’s iconic coihues and lengas, the Osorno forest includes Andean birch trees, a protected species that can live to between 4,000 and 5000 years of age.
Depending on the snow cover, Osorno Volcano Ski Center is 
generally open from June to November. The winter resort sprawls across 500 acres of mountainside, with two chairlifts and a drag lifting visitors to the summit of a dozen ski and snowboard trails.
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