Founded by German colonists in 1853, the Chilean port city of Puerto Montt serves as the gateway to the Andes Mountains and Patagonia fjords. The city's architecture, culture, and cuisine are strongly influenced by its German past. The region’s lakes, mountains, and volcanoes offer endless activities for the outdoor adventure traveler.
Travelers docking at the Puerto Montt port generally head out for a half- or full-day tour of Puerto Montt’s main landmarks and surrounding natural attractions. Tours often include round-trip transportation from the port and visits to top area attractions such as Petrohué Waterfall, the German city of Frutillar, and Lake Llanquihue.
Puerto Montt city highlights include Puerto Montt's cathedral, one of the few buildings that survived the devastating 1960 earthquake, the seafood markets and colorful fishing boats at Puerto Angelmo, and the German Colonial Museum. Adventure travelers have the choice of waterfall hikes in Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, Osorno Volcano tours, and boating on Lake Llanquihue.
The main Puerto Montt Cruise Port is located at the Puerto Angelmo fishing cove, 2 miles (3 kilometers) west of downtown Puerto Montt. From there, you can walk or take a taxi into town. Shore excursions typically pick up at the parking lot adjacent the dock.
Puerto Montt is a tender port. Large cruise ships dock in the harbor, and tenders deliver passengers to the terminal at Puerto Angelmo. Smaller cruise ships can dock inside Canal Tenglo. Spanish is the main language in Puerto Montt, but English may be spoken by those working in the travel and tourism industry. The local currency is the Chilean peso, and ATMs are widely available in the city.