Can you do this cruise port on your own?
Puerto Montt
DIY Score
Doable with planning
Do the Lake District by bus; Chiloe is a long, tight day.
Tender or Docked?
Varies by ship, often tendered near Angelmo. You land by the fishing cove, a short walk from the town centre and bus station.
How to Get Into Town
Bus to Puerto Varas: ~30 min, about US$1.50. Puerto Montt's own centre and Angelmo market are a short walk from the pier.
Main Attractions
Puerto Varas and the Osorno volcano, Petrohue falls, or far-off Chiloe. The Lake District is the easy day; Chiloe needs a long call.
How Much Time You Need
Half a day for Puerto Varas; a full day for the park or Chiloe. The nearer lakes fit any call.
Keep in Mind
Puerto Montt is not Puerto Varas. The pretty lakeside town with the volcano view is a 30-minute bus away.
Safety & Comfort
Generally safe with normal city caution. Keep an eye on valuables around the market and bus station.
Tips from Cruisers
"Ship anchored and we tendered in, which added a bit of waiting each way. We took it slow, bus to Puerto Varas, a gentle stroll by…" — by George T.
Ship anchored and we tendered in, which added a bit of waiting each way. We took it slow, bus to Puerto Varas, a gentle stroll by the lake and a slice of kuchen. Just mind the tender queue coming back, we left ourselves plenty of time.
Skipped the ship tour and took the local bus to Puerto Varas for about a dollar fifty each. Half an hour later we're drinking coffee with the Osorno volcano across the lake. Buses back run all afternoon so it was completely stress-free. Wish more ports were this easy.
Did the Petrohue falls and volcano on a tour with the kids. The water is this unreal turquoise colour and they loved scrambling the boardwalks. Bring rain jackets, we got a proper soaking, but the volcano popped out of the clouds just long enough.
Booked a Chiloe tour thinking it would be a nice island hop. It's not. Hours in a van, a ferry, more van, and we barely had an hour in Castro before turning around. The stilt houses were cool but I'd think hard about it unless your ship is in all day.
didnt go far at all. wandered down to the angelmo market, watched the sea lions begging by the fish stalls, had a big bowl of curanto. rained on and off but honestly a lovely lazy day