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| DESTINATION GUIDE PUERTO MONTT, PUERTO VARAS & THE LAKE DISTRICT |
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Puerto Montt was founded on February 12, 1853 by Vicente Pérez Rosales, together with German immigrants. The city underwent a rapid growth. In 1912, with the implementation of the railroad, it became the nerve center for those who traveled to the island of Chiloé and Magallanes.
Today, the city counts on evoking streets, houses with European features, avenues that flirt with the sea, markets where fish and seafood are worshiped. Its recreational activities are mainly related to the navigations along fjords and lakes, or visiting the closer attractives such as the Petrohue Falls, Osorno Volcano or National Parks.
Other destinations in the same region are Pucon, Valdivia, Frutillar and Peulla. |
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Heavy rainfall is a feature of the weather in Puerto Montt. It rains every month, but rainfall is more intense in June, July and August, with an annual average of 1,200 to 3,000 mm.
Besides, the climate in this area of Chile presents an average relative humidity of 80%, coupled with low temperatures, with a minimum of 4° Celsius (July through September) and a maximum of 21° C, with an annual average temperature of 11.2° C. |
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The entire extension of the Lake District can be visited all year round and it will depend on the season the activities you will enjoy, the best seasons to visit the Chilean Lake District are spring and summer. Prices rise during the winter season in Pucon, when people go for skiing and enjoying other winter sports; accommodation is a bit tricky as many are booked in advance. |
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If you are planning to visit Puerto Montt, we recommend staying at least two or, if possible, three nights. If you idea is to travel all along the Lake District (Pucon, Valdivia, Chiloe and Puerto Montt), we recommend at least six or seven nights. Many people in this area rent a car and combine the visit to both, the Argentine and Chilean sides in about ten days. |
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Puerto Montt is accessible by plane from Santiago de Chile (1:40h), Punta Arenas (2:10h) and Bariloche (40m). By bus, you can get there from Santiago de Chile (16h), Pucon (6h), Valdivia (4h) and Argentina (Bariloche, 8h). By boat, there’s an excursion named “Cruce de Lagos” which allows you to get to Puerto Varas from Bariloche in one or two days. Another option to get to Puerto Montt by boat is from Puerto Natales aboard the Navimag Ferry (5 days, 4 nights). |
| Restaurants, Bars & Clubs |
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| Azzurro |
Italian. Av. Inés Gallardo 146. Tel: 318-989. |
| Club de Yates |
Seafood. Av. Juan Soler Manfredini 200. Tel: 82-810. |
| Hotel Viento Sur |
South American. Ejército 200. Tel: 258-701. |
| Pazos |
South American. Liboro Guerrero 1. Tel: 252-552. |
| Sherlock |
South American. Antonio Varas 542. Tel: 288-888. |
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- Hotel and Museum “La Casa de la Oma” (Frutillar)
- German Colonial Museum (Frutillar)
- Stones Museum “Monte Verde” |
Osorno Volcano (lookout point from Lake Todos los Santos) & Petrohue Falls Tour
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| Departures: |
Everyday, 9am. |
| Length: |
8 hours. |
| Difficulty |
Easy. |
| Lunch: |
Not Included. |
| Entrance Fee |
Not included ($). |
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Visit the small enclave of Petrohue and the stunning waterfalls of the same name located in the Vicente Perez National Park. Leaving Puerto Montt the tour will border the spectacular Lake Llanquihue until arriving in the quaint village of Ensenada. From Ensenada you’ll follow the route to Petrohue and visit the stunning Petrohue Falls where successions of emerald green cascades flow over hard volcanic rock. A short distance further on you’ll arrive at the stunningly emerald Lake Todos Los Santos, where you’ll be welcomed with breathtaking views of the Osorno Volcano and surrounding forests.
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Chiloe Island Tour
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| Departures: |
Everyday, 8am.. |
| Length: |
8 hours. |
| Difficulty: |
Easy. |
| Lunch: |
Not Included. |
Chiloe Island (Ancud)
Visit the mysterious island of Chiloe one of Chile’s most fascinating and unique areas. Covered in patchwork fields and thick forest, this tour will provide you with a lasting sense of rural calm. Board the ferry at the mainland harbor of Pargua and cross the Gulf of Ancud to Chacao, whilst onboard lookout for the variety of sea birds overhead as well as the playful dolphins following in the ships wake. Once on the island continue through winding country roads to Caulin Bay. Here be on the lookout for more diverse wildfowl, such as, black-necked swans, flamingoes, dabbling ducks and other coastal birds. After a deliciously fresh seafood lunch in Caulin, proceed to one of the islands main towns, Ancud. Take a walk along the town’s streets and visit the Municipal Market, where there is a stunning array of fresh produce, as well as Chilote arts and crafts on offer.
Chiloe Island (Castro)
Visit the mysterious island of Chiloe one of Chile’s most fascinating and unique areas. Covered in patchwork fields and thick forest, this tour will provide you with a lasting sense of rural calm. Board the ferry at the mainland harbor of Pargua and cross the Gulf of Ancud to Chacao, whilst onboard lookout for the variety of sea birds overhead as well as the playful dolphins following in the ships wake. Once on the island the tour heads southwards to the islands capital, Castro. A small friendly town full of bars and seafood restaurants, Castro is also the islands tourist capital, and its unique charm is epitomized by its ‘palafitos’, colorful wooden homes which jut out into the bay on stilts. Other highlights include; the awe-inspiring San Francisco Church, the Plaza de Armas with its waterfront view and the Museum of Modern Art which houses works from some of Chile’s best known artists.
Navimag Ferry
Route: Puerto Montt ~ Puerto Natales.
**High season: November to March.
Includes:
- Lodging according to category.
- Meals (breakfast, lunch & dB&B/Inner).
- Movies & Hall games.
- Disembark in Puerto Edén (optional visit in local boats).
- Include glacier sighting.
Check-in time:
- Check-in: from 9.00 AM to 12.30 PM.
- Final check to board: 2.00 PM.
**Low season: May to October.
Includes
- Lodging according to category.
- Meals (breakfast, lunch & dB&B/Inner).
- Movies & Hall games.
- Landfall in Puerto Edén (disembarking only for residents and passengers with final destination in this port).
- Do not include glacier sighting.
Check-in time:
- Check-in: from 9.00 AM to 12.30 PM.
- Final check to board: 2.00 PM.
Day 1 - Monday
- Informative talk 2:00 PM.
- Boarding at Puerto Montt 2:30 PM.
- Departure 4:00 PM.
- Captain’s welcoming talk and safety video 5:00 PM.
- Talk on idiomatic expressions 6:00 PM.
- DB&B/Inner 19:30.
- Film (dining room) 10:00 PM.
- Live music (pub) 10:00 PM.
Attractions:
Sailing past Calbuco.
Reloncaví Bay.
Ancud Gulf.
Corcovado Gulf.
Day 2 - Tuesday
- Breakfast 08:00 AM.
- Morning briefing 09:15 AM.
- Talk on flora and fauna (Spanish) 09:45 AM.
- Talk on flora and fauna (English) 10:30 AM.
- Lunch 12:30 PM.
- Talk on Kaweskar people (Spanish) 3:30 PM.
- Talk on Kaweskar people (English) 4:00 PM.
- Documentary 6:00 PM.
- DB&B/Inner 7:30 PM.
- Film (dining room) 9:30 PM.
- Live music (pub) 9:30 PM.
Attractions:
Sailing past Melinka and along North and South Pérez Channels (high season).
Sighting of seal colony and cormorants.
Brieva Strait and Peñón Blanco.
Entry to Pulluche Channel with abundant vegetation.
Sailing out to sea in the evening.
Day 3 - Wednesday
- Free early coffee (pub) 06:00 AM.
- Breakfast 08:00 AM.
- Morning Briefing 09:30 AM.
- Disembarking Puerto Edén 11:00 AM.
- Lunch 1:00 PM.
- Talk on geology/glaciation (Spanish) 3:00 PM.
- Talk on geology/glaciation (English) 3:30 PM.
- Talk on Torres del Paine (Spanish) 6:00 PM.
- Talk on Torres del Paine (English) 6:30 PM.
- DB&B/Inner 7:30 PM.
- Bingo and final party 9:30 PM.
Attractions:
Entry into channels zone, Messier Channel.
Passing through Angostura Inglesa and Bajo Cotopaxi.
Call at Puerto Edén.
Abismo Strait.
Concepción Channel.
Day 4 - Thursday
- Breakfast 08:00 AM.
- Morning briefing 09:30 AM.
- Returning of keys 10:00 AM.
- Disembarking at Puerto Natales (depending upon wind conditions) 11:00 AM.
Attractions:
White Channel.
Última Esperanza Fjord.
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Destination Guides |
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