Chile's Southern Cities Host Winter Food Festivals to Boost Tourism

The municipality of Puerto Varas will hold its third Winter Gastronomic Festival on July 31, August 1 and 2. The free‑entry event expects around 20,000 visitors and will feature 27 restaurants, live cooking stations, workshops and family activities, showcasing local producers and chefs such as Tomás Mundaca, who will co‑lead a class with Mapuche chef Miguel Millalonko. Mayor Tomás Gárate said the festival is part of a strategy to break the seasonal nature of tourism and generate year‑round economic opportunities for the community.

From July 27 to August 1, Puerto Montt will host the 2026 Salmon Week, a public‑private initiative involving SalmonChile, local authorities and academic partners. More than 2,000 kg of salmon will be donated and 50 restaurants will participate in cooking shows, tastings and cultural performances in the city’s central plaza. Francisco Renner, director of communications at SalmonChile, highlighted the event’s aim to cement Puerto Montt’s reputation as the “world salmon capital” and to use the fish industry as a driver of employment and regional pride.