【Puerto Varas】
The place with the best value for refrigerator magnets is not in Puerto Varas, but in Puerto Montt. However, let’s first talk about Puerto Varas, with three recommended places:
① The most concentrated area for souvenir shops is in Figure 4. This small market has about 7-8 stores, selling everything from sweaters to refrigerator magnets. Some merchants do not allow photography, so I didn’t take pictures. The same style of refrigerator magnets here is about 500-1000 pesos more expensive than in Puerto Montt.
If you must buy here, I recommend the second store on the left, run by an old lady. The copper sticker-style refrigerator magnets are only sold at her store for 2000 pesos.
② I personally recommend the open-air market next to Plaza de Armas (Figure 5), but this market is not available every day. There are 2 stalls selling genuine hand-painted refrigerator magnets. One of them is very rough, while the other old lady’s stall sells refrigerator magnets painted by her daughter, which are very exquisite! Recommended! I bought the one in Figure 6 for 2500 pesos, although it depicts Tinquilhue, not Puerto Varas. There is another one for 3000 pesos that is also quite good.
③ Museo Pablo Fierro by the lake. The refrigerator magnets here (Figures 1-3) are usually the styles I dislike the most, printed images + magnetic sheets. However, the museum itself does not charge admission, and the experience of visiting is great. Moreover, these paintings are done by the owner of the museum, which I like a lot.
They are 2000 pesos each, or 5000 pesos for 3. I chose the ones with the museum, the yellow caravan, and the owner riding a bicycle over the house. The yellow caravan immediately reminded me of the caravan where the protagonist of “Into the Wild” finally settled, and the scene of the bicycle flying over the house with birds on the back is really not a tribute to “E.
T.” [Laughing] Even if you don’t buy the refrigerator magnets, I highly recommend visiting this museum.
【Puerto Montt】
As you walk from the station towards the seafood market, you will see many souvenir shops along the way. If you’re looking for value and just want a memento, you can get nice ones here for 1000 pesos (Figure 7). You can also find various refrigerator magnets from Chiloé Island here, which I estimate would be cheaper than buying locally, though there are no styles from Frutillar and Llanquihue towns.
Something special is the variety of traditional Chilean food refrigerator magnets (Figure 12) found in one of the shops, 2500 pesos each. Don’t miss out if you like collecting these.
Here, I got the refrigerator magnet I had my eye on in Puerto Varas (Figure 13) for 2000 pesos, which was 2500-3000 pesos in Puerto Varas [Cute].
【Frutillar】
There are various souvenir shops by the lake, with similar styles of refrigerator magnets, mostly music-themed (Figure 15). The cheapest ones are at a stall by the grass, 1000 pesos each (Figure 14).
【Llanquihue】
Nestled by the serene lake, you’ll find two charming shops that share a similar vibe, differing only in their names [Laughing]. While they may not be the most extraordinary, they offer a quaint and cozy atmosphere.
【Airport】
And now, for a bit of humor, let me introduce you to the outrageously expensive refrigerator magnets at the airport [Laughing][Laughing][Laughing] (Figure 17). It’s a perfect reminder of just how much we sometimes pay for convenience and a unique souvenir!
Lastly, this post is meant for sharing and recording my experiences. I do not assist with purchasing, so please refrain from sending private messages.
