Puerto Montt

Puerto Montt is a city in the south of Chile, just north of Chiloé Island. Puerto Montt, with great views of the ocean and towering peaks of the Andes, is a center in Northern Patagonia for heading south along the Carretera Austral to Chiloé island, Chaitén, Torres del Paine, Puerto Natales, or east to Bariloche, Argentina.

Understand
It was founded as late as 1853 during the German colonization of southern Chile. The city's cultural endowment mixes elements of Chiloé culture with a German heritage, although the city has attracted a significant number of newcomers from all over Chile since the 1990s in search of employment opportunities.

Puerto Montt, with a population of almost 250,000 in 2017, is the capital of the Los Lagos Region, and the main sea port at the lower end of Chile's western continental land. The city is the principal commercial, services, and financial hub of the Chilean Northern Patagonia—Zona Austral.

Puerto Montt is also the gateway to the Chiloé Archipelago and Chiloé Island across the Chacao Channel, and the many other smaller islands in Chile's inland Sea of Chiloé.

The city's economy is based upon agriculture, cattle, and forestry on the surrounding islands, and fishing and salmon aquaculture in the fjords and nearby Pacific Ocean.

By ferry


Kémelbus takes passengers to Chaitén by bus and ship in a daily, 10-hour scenic trip through the fjords south, "ruta bimodal" leaving at 07:00 from bus station. Buy tickets in advance.

Ferries all the way to Chaitén have many departures in summer, but often only one per week in winter.

Naviera Austral connects Puerto Montt with Chaitén. Ferry leaves at midnight and journey takes 10-12 hours. Simple seat costs 19,000 pesos, berths are twice as expensive. Check their website for current schedule and pricing, as both vary with tides and seasons. If you just arrived by bus, walk west along the waterfront for a few hundred meters to reach their office.

The ferry to Chiloé Island leaves about southwest of town, takes 30 min and costs 1,000 pesos pp and 8,300 pesos for a car. See entry for Cruz del Sur above.

Get around
Your feet will take you most places, but plentiful taxis and colectivos.

See
The area along the beach near the bus station is pleasant for a walk with things along the way to entertain you. Walking east you will get great views, especially at sunset, from the hills there.

Buy
In Angelmo you can find different types of crafts, such as clothing, hair accessories, earrings, key rings, rugs, figures, and ornaments among others. Most are made from wood, leather, wool, copper, and lapis lazuli. You can also enjoy varied gastronomic offers.

Also in the Mall Paseo Costanera there is the so-called "entre piso" where you will find different products at a reasonable price, such as clothing, accessories, and musical instruments.

Eat
Being a port, Puerto Montt has a rich variety of seafood and fish. You can go to Angelmó, where you can find fresh products, both for consumption and for purchase.

Micro-entrepreneurs have stalls in Angelmó and on the waterfront, where you will find various artisan products, such as chocolates, fruit jams, liqueurs and cookies.

There are many cafés, restaurants and bars in the centre, but a good place to have some seafood is a 15- to 20-m walk, 1 km or so southwest of bus station at the fishing community of Angelmó. Along with the seafood market there are some restaurants, and options for shopping Mapuche craftworks.

Sleep
There is a multitude of cheap hospedaje in Puerto Montt, so don't despair if your travel guide only shows a few expensive ones.