Tours and Activities:
Setting out aboard the Colono
Moving unhurriedly across the water, while the shoreline and volcanoes frame the journey, allows for a different, broader, and deeply appealing perspective of the surroundings of Frutillar.
Frutillar can be chosen as a destination to enjoy its serenity, its volcanic-sand beaches, and its steadily growing cultural scene. Added to this is the opportunity to navigate Lake Llanquihue aboard the tourist vessel Colono, an experience that enhances the city’s close relationship with the water.
During a walk through the town, the silhouette of the vessel caught our attention as it stood out against the lake’s reflective surface. Its bright white hull and gentle movement sparked our curiosity, so we approached the Yacht Club. There it was, moored at the pier, impeccable and elegant. After admiring its style and meticulous presentation, we made our reservation to sail the following day.
We arrived at the scheduled time, and everything was ready to set sail. The lake was calm, with clear skies and no wind, ideal conditions that promised a pleasant outing. We glided slowly just a few meters from the shore. From this vantage point, Frutillar revealed a different side, more striking and even more expansive. In the foreground, built over the water, stood the imposing figure of Teatro del Lago, with its wooden walkways, glass tower, and large windows that allow natural light to flood the concert hall.
We took in Philippi Avenue along the waterfront, where old, spacious wooden houses built by German immigrants line the shore, many of which now operate as tea houses, hotels, and German-style restaurants. These living testimonies of the past appeared even more appealing when viewed from aboard the Colono.
Frutillar also reveals itself as a town in transformation, committed to preserving its surroundings and its essence as a peaceful village, while clearly embracing a high-quality tourism vocation. From the lake, we observed the Patagonia Virgin development, conceived as a project integrated into the landscape, featuring low-density housing, its own marina, and a reforestation plan using native species.
Although the temperature on deck was pleasant, we chose to settle into the comfortable interior of the vessel, arranged in two sections with spacious seating. The first offers large outward-facing windows; further inside, a carefully arranged buffet allows guests to enjoy hotcold beverages accompanied by a brunch. As we sat down and admired the wooden details, we realized that neither the sound of the engines nor the motion of the boat was noticeable, making the moment even more enjoyable.
When we asked a member of the crew about the vessel, he told us: “It is 20 meters long, equipped with modern technology, and has been navigating these waters since 2008, when the Frutillar Nautical Brotherhood decided to revive the spirit of lake transport that settlers had maintained for decades on the lake.”
Even so, our attention was drawn again and again to Osorno Volcano, its summit crowned by clouds and wrapped in an almost ethereal halo that heightened the atmosphere of the landscape. When we finally docked back at the Yacht Club, we said goodbye to the Colono with the feeling of having lived a different kind of experience, one capable of renewing the spirit and clearing the mind.
Contact
Cofradía Náutica de Frutillar
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