Puerto Montt Things to Do

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Puerto Montt, established in 1853, was originally settled by German families who provided services to families going to the lake resorts. Settlers bring stuff, and a Chilean has made it a life's vocation and avocation to rescue everyday stuff. This includes farm equipment, cooking things, washers, clocks, musical instruments and other stuff. Amazingly, they have been restored to operational status.

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The last lake in the crossing is Lago Nahuel Huapi which gives its name to the first national park in Argentina. You leave from Puerto Blest and travel along one arm of this huge lake to Puerto Pañuelos where another bus takes you to San Carlos Bariloche.

The lake is much bigger and the scenery quite different. Unfortunately when I saw it the snow capping the mountains was a dirty biege colour due to the still errupting ash from Volcan Puyehue.

The bird life is amazing on this lake and Pacific Gulls fly around and swoop down to take food from our hands.

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Lago Frias is the smallest of the three lakes in the lakes crossing. The ferry also is the smallest because people travelling this leg are crossing from Chile to Argentina or vice versa and not the day trippers that enjoy the return trip on the other two lakes.

It is from this lake that you get the best view of Volcan Tronador.

The journey ends at Puerto Alegre where a bus take you 3km to Puerto Blest to continue the crossing over Lago Nahuel Huapi

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One of the best ways to cross into Argentina is by the famous Lakes Crossing. The trip starts in either Puerto Montt or Puerto Varas and goes through Vicente Perez Rosales National Park to Petrohue where a short visit to the falls is included.

The fisrt leg is a boat trip to Puella across Lago Todos los Santos also known as the Emerald Lake because of the colour of the water. It looked very Sapphire the day I was there!

The scenery is amazing with spectacular views of Volcanoes Orsono, Puntiagudo and Tronador. The weather can be changeable and even the sunniest day in late October can be quite cold.

Meals are available in Peulla where you can have lunch. There is also food available on the boat.

Although I didn't use the company the website immediatley below explains the itinerary and gives costs.
http://www.visitchile.com/en/tours/lake-crossing-to-bariloche-in-one-day-full-day.htm

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Part two of this amazing trip takes place on land and is where you actually cross the border. Stops are made to view Cascada las Mellizas and Volcan Tronador before arriving at Puerto Frias where you go through the border formalities.

At the border you also leave Vicente Perez Rosales National Park and enter Nahuel Huapi National Park.

At Puerto Frias you board another boat to cross Lagos Frias to Puerto Alegre. Here you take a short bus trip to Puerto Blest for the final part of the trip.

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Osorno Volcano at 2,652-metres is Chile's answer to Mt Fuji. It is on the south eastern shore of Llanquihue Lake and also is a feature from Todos Los Santos Lake.

Although considered one of the most active (11 recorded eruptions) of the Andean volcanoes Orsono hasn't erupted since 1869. The upper slopes are covered with glaciers and it is continually snow covered.

The best views of the volcano are from the shores of Llanquihue Lake on the road to Petrohue or from Puerto Varas where it can be seen alongside another active volcano Calbuco.

Half day bus trips are available from Puerto Montt in spring and summer to the ski lodge where you have a spectacular view of the Andes and over Llanquihue Lake to Puerto Varas. There is a choice of following a track over the lava fields or catching the ski lift to the Red Crater (at an extra cost).

Although not the company I used, the website give an idea of the trips available.

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Petrohué Waterfalls is a favoured stop for tourists travelling between Puerto Montt and Bariloche in Argentina. The source of the Petrohué River is from Todos los Santos Lake which is the first lake in the famous Lake Crossing to Bariloche. It is in the Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park.

The falls are known for the aqua-green colour of the water.

One a clear day you can have an amazing view of the volcano Orsono.

There is a small charge to enter the park (Nov 2011)

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Angelmó is a small bay about 2km from the centre of Puerto Montt. It is the home of the fish markets. These covered markets not only sell fresh and smoked salmon, cockles, mussels and sea urchin but you can buy fruit and vegetables and local cheese.