Puerto Montt ~ Chile travel pictures & information

Puerto Montt Highway around the bay to Angelmo

Puerto Montt is sited on an inlet of the Pacific, not one of this area's many lakes, so harbour views change with the tides. This day, the winds were very chilly, and though it was an early spring day, it was cold enough that bare ears and hands cried for cover. When the wind blows from the south, it will be cold; from the north, fine and warmer weather is forecast. Here, the highway is leading to Angelmo, a fishing port west of town.

Plaza De Armas Puerto Montt

Teens and young parents with toddlers, seniors and children riding bikes all gathered much of the daylight hours -- roughly 6:30 a.m - 9 p.m. in early November.

Puerto Montt is the capital of Region X Los Lagos. From here, you can take a day trip to Chiloe, but it's better to allow several days. There's an extensive promenade along the downtown waterfront, and at this square is the Romanesque-style Iglesia Catedral, built from a native wood called alerce -- like sequoia, I was told.

City Street in Puerto Montt

A few blocks inland from Plaza De Armas, shops line busy streets, and there's a good sized shopping mall.

There are a number of banks in the area as well, including Redbank, with its cash machines accessible even after banking hours. Street vendors were selling roasted peanuts in the shell.

Isla in the bay near Angelmo

The island is just west of PUerto Montt, and you can hire one of the small boats with driver to take you across. This day, though, it was much too chilly for the beach. Early spring wildflowers bloomed in the fields, and as we stopped to have a closer look, a small goat came scampering up to us. I knelt down and held him till his owner retrieved him a few minutes later.

From Angelmo to Puerto Montt, hilltop chalets

The rooftops peeking over the crest of the hill look like chalets, but they are typical of the newer housing being bult in the area.

The city's population, I was told, was about 160,000; and there's a cab for every one of them. This may not be much of an exaggeration, for the city is notorious for its heavy traffic.

Puerto Montt Navimag Boat Yards

This is the Navimag boat yards, where the boats that ferry cargo, vehicles and passengers from here to Puerto Natales, further south, a trip of several days are repaired and serviced.

When I asked one local if he'd ever made this trip, he replied yes, once, and never again. At one point, he said, the boat heads out over open ocean, and even those who never get seasick, will do so at this point.

Calbuco Volcano seen from Puerto Montt

The Navimag boat trip from here to Puerto Natales is more of a bragger's rights experience than pleasure cruise. Skorpios Cruise lines -- which builds its own ships -- is another carrier that cruises the lakes and fiords.

The name of this active volcano that backdrops the Navimag boatyards is Calbuco. Its last eruption was just over 30 years ago. It rises 2003 metres (about 6500 feet).

Angelmo views of Isla Tengo

The view looking out from the front of the market at Anglemo. Small fishing boats must be painted a bright yellow, so they are visible to other boats (and possible rescuers).

As well as handicrafts and foods, there's a large indoor fish market. I did go inside for about 30 seconds, when the strong fish odor sent me racing outdoors again.

Angelmo Food & Produce Market

With about 70 cruise ships a year stopping at Puerto Montt, the craft market can get crowded.

This vendor had a good selection of cheese and honey. But this day early in the season, I had the place almost to myself. Angelmo is 3 kilometres (just under 2 miles) from Puerto Montt.

Angelmo Clothing and Handicrafts vendors traditional crafts

Among her many wares, this vendor had some rugs, or throws, made from alpaca. Puerto Montt is the site of a new university, Universidad de Los Lagos, specializing in aquaculture and oceanic biology.

Now, not only are local students able to stay home instead of travelling to Santiago, but also students from other centres come here to study.

Restaurant Kiel  Puerto Montt area

I had lunch at this seafood restaurant located 8 kilometres (5 miles) from Puerto Montt.

Unaccustomed to eating my largest meal of the day at lunch, I opted for the chicken soup (see Chile foods page), which was excellent.

The rhododendrons were ablaze with blooms in early November, as were lilacs and jacarandas. The Kiel dining room overlooks the inlet.

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