Laguna Verde in Ensenada, 500 m from our base

Laguna Verde (the Green Lagoon) is an emerald lagoon surrounded by native forest, in the Ensenada area of Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, about 45 km from Puerto Varas. It is 500 m from our base on Route 225, so you can walk there. This guide covers the trail, opening hours, the rules of the area and how to fit it into your day.

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Quick factsUpdated 25 October 2026

Where: Laguna Verde area, Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park (CONAF), Ensenada
From our base: 500 m: you can walk there
From Puerto Varas: ~45 km on Route 225, just past Ensenada toward Petrohué
Trail: Short, universal access; 45 minutes to 1 hour at an easy pace
Hours: Every day, 9:00 am–5:00 pm
Entry: Free
Swimming and pets: Not allowed

Wooden house at the TerraSur base in Ensenada, with a cabins and campsite sign and a red kayak

500 m from our base: walk to Laguna Verde

Our base is at Route 225 km 44, in Ensenada, and the entrance to Laguna Verde is 500 m away, toward Petrohué. It is less than a 10-minute walk: no car or parking needed.

A short walk before or after your activity

The lagoon fits into free time: before a river trip, while someone else in the group does their activity, or late in the afternoon. The trail takes 45 minutes to 1 hour, walking slowly and stopping to look around.

If you stay at Barlovento

From the cabins in Ensenada and the campsite on Lake Llanquihue you can walk to the lagoon. It is the easiest outing for your first day, without moving the car.

Why Laguna Verde is green

The emerald color comes from microalgae suspended in the water, such as Cryptomonas ovata and Melosira granulata. That is why the shade changes with the light and the season: on calm days the water reflects the forest on the shore.

A lagoon inside the evergreen forest

The lagoon is surrounded by native evergreen forest, the same forest that covers the slopes of Osorno Volcano and much of the park. It is a good spot for forest birds: walk quietly and stay on the trail.

Not the Laguna Verde near Valparaíso

Chile has several lagoons and towns with this name: a beach and a village near Valparaíso, and lagoons in Araucanía, Aysén and Atacama. This is Laguna Verde in Ensenada, in the Puerto Varas district, next to Lake Llanquihue and below Osorno Volcano.

Snow-capped Osorno Volcano above the native forest and the shore of Lake Llanquihue

Laguna Verde and Los Pilleyos trails

The area has two short CONAF trails, both easy.

Laguna Verde trail: universal access

It was designed for universal access, so everyone can walk it, including wheelchair users and families with strollers. It has ramps and viewpoints with rest areas by the lagoon.

Los Pilleyos trail: on volcanic rock

A short trail in the same area where you walk on volcanic rock, because lava forms part of the path. Shoes with a firm sole are best.

What to bring

Bring a waterproof jacket even on a clear day: it rains a lot here, and after rain the ground is muddy with slippery roots. Spring, summer and autumn are the best seasons; you can go in winter, with more rain and mud.

Opening hours, entry and rules

The area is open every day from 9 am to 5 pm and entry is free; you do not need the pasesparques.cl pass, which is charged at the Petrohue Waterfalls. There is parking at the entrance. Hours can change with the weather: to confirm, call the CONAF office in Ensenada, +56 65 221 2036.

Swimming in the lagoon is not allowed.
No pets: it is a national park.
No fires and no smoking.
Stay on the trails, do not feed wildlife and do not take plants or stones.
Take your trash back with you.

Getting to Laguna Verde from Puerto Varas

By car on Route 225

From Puerto Varas take Route 225 toward Ensenada, along Lake Llanquihue, about 45 km on a paved road. The entrance is on the left, just past Ensenada toward Petrohué. The map shows our base: the lagoon is 500 m further on.

By bus from Puerto Varas

Minibuses to Ensenada and Petrohué leave from San Bernardo and Walker Martínez in Puerto Varas every 30 to 45 minutes. Get off in Ensenada: from the village, the entrance is just over 1 km on foot.

On foot from Ensenada

If you are already in the village or at our base, you need no transport: it is 500 m from the base to the entrance.

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Kayakers at sunset on the shore of Lake Llanquihue, in the Laguna Verde area

The Laguna Verde shore from the lake, by kayak

The Laguna Verde area faces Lake Llanquihue, and you can paddle along the same shore. From our beach you can rent a kayak or SUP by the hour and paddle along the national park toward Laguna Verde, with views of the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes. If you prefer a guide, the sea kayak tour on Lake Llanquihue follows the park shore.

What else to see in the park after the lagoon

Laguna Verde is the first stop in the park coming from Puerto Varas. For every area, trail and rule, read our guide to Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park.

Petrohue Waterfalls, 9 km away

Further along Route 225 toward Petrohué are the best-known falls in the park. Tickets, hours and trails are in our guide to visiting the Petrohue Waterfalls.

Osorno Volcano

The road up Osorno Volcano starts in Ensenada, with viewpoints over the lake and, in winter, the Osorno Volcano ski resort.

A longer hike

If Laguna Verde left you wanting more, the Rincón del Osorno trek follows native forest along Lake Todos los Santos, with a guide and minimal difficulty.

A raft runs a rapid on the Petrohue River with snow-capped Osorno Volcano behind

Rafting on the Petrohue River, minutes from the lagoon

From the same base we run rafting on the Petrohue River, from age 10, and hydrospeed on the Petrohue, from 16: 8 km of class III rapids with a guide and a rescue kayaker. A morning on the river and a quiet afternoon at the lagoon.

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Laguna Verde FAQ

Where is Laguna Verde near Puerto Varas?

It is in Ensenada, in the Puerto Varas district, in the Laguna Verde area of Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park. It is beside Route 225, just past Ensenada toward Petrohué, and 500 m from our base.

How much is the entrance fee?

Entry is free. The pasesparques.cl pass is charged at the Petrohue Waterfalls, not at Laguna Verde.

What are the opening hours?

It is open every day from 9 am to 5 pm. Hours can change with the weather: confirm with the CONAF office in Ensenada, +56 65 221 2036.

How do I get to Laguna Verde from Puerto Varas?

It is about 45 km on Route 225 to Ensenada; the entrance is on the left as you leave the village toward Petrohué. By bus, minibuses to Ensenada and Petrohué leave from San Bernardo and Walker Martínez.

How long is the Laguna Verde trail?

It is short: 45 minutes to 1 hour at an easy pace. The Laguna Verde trail has universal access and can be done in a wheelchair or with a stroller.

Can you swim in Laguna Verde?

No. Swimming in the lagoon is not allowed. For a swim, the Lake Llanquihue beaches in Ensenada are a few minutes away.

Can I bring my dog?

No. CONAF does not allow pets in national parks, and the lagoon is inside Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park.

Why is Laguna Verde green?

Because of microalgae suspended in the water, such as Cryptomonas ovata and Melosira granulata. The shade changes with the light and the season.

Is this the Laguna Verde at Osorno Volcano?

Yes. It is the lagoon in Ensenada, on the slopes of Osorno Volcano and next to Lake Llanquihue. It is not the Laguna Verde near Valparaíso or those in other regions.