Puerto Octay

About

Like many of the towns that ring Lake Llanquihue, Puerto Octay was settled in the 19th century by German immigrants who built their new community in the style of their homeland. For locals, Puerto Octay was one of the most important in the region since it had the only well-stocked general store. In fact, the town name is derived from the general store founder’s - Cristino Ochs. But as tourism in the region grew, Puerto Octay was largely forgotten about, saving its German heritage for visitors willing to go off the beaten path. There’s admittedly not much in the way of monuments, outside the requisite white and red church, but the real draw is just the lived-in history exuded by the clapboard houses. So wander around and maybe sit down at a cafe for a slice of kuchen before heading down to the waterfront to enjoy the view of the twin volcanoes across the lake.