Puerto Montt

Puerto Montt sits at the head of the Reloncaví Estuary in Chile's Lake District, with the Osorno Volcano visible on clear days. The port area has the Angelmó fish market and craft market, where stalls sell smoked mussels, dried seaweed, and woollen goods alongside fresh seafood served at basic waterfront restaurants. This is where most cruise passengers start their exploration. Puerto Varas, about 20 minutes north on Lake Llanquihue, is a prettier town with a German-colonial heritage, a lakefront, and cafés serving kuchen (German-style cake). Petrohué Falls, about an hour away, has vivid green water flowing over black basalt. The Osorno Volcano can be visited for skiing in winter or hiking in summer. Frutillar, another lakeside town, has a German colonial museum and a striking modern concert hall on the lake. Curanto (a stew of shellfish, meats, and potatoes) is the regional speciality. The Chilean Peso is the currency.