Seven seasons in Chile’s Los Lagos Region, as told by the Hotel AWA team, from wild foraging to
hot springs and lake days

In Chile’s Los Lagos Region, the seasons do not arrive in neat calendar blocks. Instead, they unfold in seven micro seasons: brief, sensory-rich windows marked by ripening berries, sudden bursts of fungi, mist-laced volcano views, and the deep quiet that follows rain.

Drawing on the staff and management team’s favorite seasons at Hotel AWA, a design-forward lakeside boutique hotel near Puerto Varas, this nuanced seasonal perspective invites travelers to experience Chile’s Lake Region not as a destination with four seasons, but as a lush landscape in constant transformation.

“Chile’s Lake Region doesn’t move by seasons on a calendar; it moves by light, mist, and what the forest decides to reveal,” says Mauricio Fuentes, General Manager of Hotel AWA. “One week you are foraging murta berries, the next the trails are alive with mushrooms, and by morning the volcano is wearing fresh snow. That constant shift is the region’s magic, and it is what makes sharing it with our guests so rewarding.”

March to April: Murta Berry Season, the Forest’s Sweet Reward

One of the most anticipated micro seasons arrives in early autumn, when murta berries ripen along forest trails, particularly in Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park. After rainfall, the forest becomes a forager’s paradise. Hotel AWA guests exploring the greenery can spot the small berries along the trail, which add subtle sweetness, turning a simple hike into a forager’s dream.

April to June: Wild Mushroom Season

As temperatures cool and the forest floor stays damp, wild mushrooms begin to fruit, bringing the Andean forest to life with sudden color and form. This is one of the best times of year for hiking, nature photography, and slow exploration, when every walk becomes a discovery of textures, shapes, and fleeting natural detail.

April to June: Autumn Color Season, a Golden Transformation

Autumn in Los Lagos is defined not only by harvest and fungi, but by a remarkable shift in color. Forests take on warm golden tones, adding drama and cinematic light to the landscape. It is a quieter, more contemplative time, when travelers are drawn to unhurried walks and a deeper connection with the region’s natural rhythm.

May to August: Winter Season, Stillness in the Andean Forest

Winter in the Lake Region is not simply colder; it is restorative. Rain refreshes the forest, intensifying greens and deepening contrast across the landscape. Volcanoes become snow-capped icons on the horizon. It is also the season for comfort: the perfect moment to pair a stormy afternoon with a traditional southern kuchen (German cakes), as rain falls softly onto leaves and the forest floor feels alive underfoot.

September to November: Spring Renewal and Hot Spring Season

As spring arrives, the days begin to lengthen, but the lake remains too cold for long swims. For cold plungers, the water offers a bracing yet invigorating chill, especially when entering from Hotel AWA’s dock. This transitional season is also ideal for thermal tourism, when travelers can soak in nearby hot springs while enjoying crisp air and fresh landscapes, before the warmth of summer fully takes hold.

December to March: Summer Lake Season, Longer Outdoor Days

Summer is when days in Chile’s Lake Region stretch long into the evening, inviting swims in clear lakes, sunset picnics, and an outdoor lifestyle that feels distinctly southern Chilean. For Hotel AWA’s General Manager, Mauricio Fuentes, the height of summer from December through February is the most vibrant time of year. Guests linger on the lakeshore beach and at the hotel’s pier, while the gardens reach their peak, showcasing the widest variety of flowers and vegetables in full display.

Year-Round: Petrohué River Rafting Season

Unlike many seasonal highlights, rafting on the Petrohué River has no end date. Available year-round, this excursion consistently surprises visitors and offers a water-drenched way to experience the region’s raw volcanic geography through movement and immersion.

Chile’s Lake Region: Defined by Subtle Change

What emerges from Hotel AWA’s collective observations is a better way of understanding Chile’s Lake Region: as a destination best experienced through nature’s smallest signals; rainfall that deepens color, berries that appear along a path, mushrooms that transform the forest overnight, and volcanoes that reveal themselves on their own schedule.

In Los Lagos, each microseason is fleeting. That is precisely what makes it unforgettable.