Church photo from the neighboring village of Puerto Varas
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About Puerto Montt Puerto Montt is the "Gateway" to Chile's famous Lake District which lies in Forest Chile and consists of eight large lakes and a great number of smaller ones in the Andean foothills. Some of the most photographed areas include the dense forested Andes and its many volcanoes, the largest and most picturesque being Mt. Osorno (Pictured on our home page). Cuisine The entire length of this country (nicknamed the "Shoestring Country") stretches almost 2,700 miles along the Pacific Ocean. Chile at it's widest point is only 150 miles across. This oceanic borderline has created the most picturesque collection of inexpensive and satisfying seafood restaurants throughout the country and especially in the seaport city of Puerto Montt. In addition to salmon from over 30 salmon farms in the area, you may also expect to find exquisitely prepared large lobsters, king crab, abalone, prawns and mussels. A variety of local and unusual dishes can also include items such as barnacles and sea urchin eggs. If a cup of coffee is your drink of choice, be especially cautious when ordering. Your high school Spanish will surely lead you where you don't want to go. If you request café, you will receive a cup of hot water. (Instant coffee is available on the table along with a jar of sugar). Café con leché (coffee with milk), will net you a glass of hot milk whereby you will be expected to spoon in the instant coffee once again. Ordering café café will sometimes produce percolated coffee or you may safely order café espresso. While in Chile, be sure to sample the Chilean wine and the unforgettable Pisco sour (Chile's national drink). The People You will find the people to be some of the friendliest in the world. Invariably visitors will long remember the warmth and hospitality afforded them during their stay in Puerto Montt. There is a bit of German influence throughout the region as you will see in the European architecture of this City. Buildings are constructed primarily from wood. And the timber used comes from alerce, a native tree which is very much like redwood. The first German colonists arrived in the area in 1852; and their descendants have remained a small but influential part of the 130,000 inhabitants. Shopping Puerto Montt is not unlike other tourist areas with it's shops of tiny trinkets, but wise shoppers will also find some really great bargains on authentic hand crafted items such as textiles, hand made sweaters, leather goods, coppercraft and a lot more. (The center of town is approximately one mile from the pier). Sight Seeing Aside from the wooden shingled roofs, quaint shops and flower lined streets, most of the beauty is left to be found in the outlying areas and surrounding communities. You will find, in addition to the breathtaking beauty of Mt. Osorno, some of the most beautiful lakes in the world and the Petrohue River cascading its waters over hard volcanic rocks surrounded by a virtual canvas of beautiful lush countryside. The nearby community of Frutillar sports a German Museum "Museo Alemàn de Frutillar". This small German-style village was established in 1856 as a shipping port for German settlers living around the lake. The homes in this community are immaculately maintained with lovely gardens and shingled roofs. The museum provides insight into the accomplishments and lifestyle of the German settlers who colonized Frutillar near the end of the 19th century. This is probably the tidiest and most expensive area in the Lake District. The view across Lake Llanquilhue (pronounced yahn-KEY-way) from Frutillar is exquisite with the beautiful Mt Osorno (a smoldering volcano which is just under 10,000 ft high) as a backdrop.
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