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Puerto Montt was founded by German colonists in the middle of the nineteenth century. It's a fast-growing Chilean city and for tourists the gateway to the Isla de Chiloé and other islands. The city is stuck between the ocean and the peaks of the Andes.
The city has approximately 175,000 inhabitants.
Puerto Montt is located in the south of Chile on the Seno Reloncaví, which is connected with the Golfo de Ancud. East of town lies the Andes and north of Puerto Montt lie several lakes (there's a reason why the region is called Los Lagos). The distance to the Chilean capital Santiago is more than 1,000 kilometers.
Puerto Montt is the capital of the Los Lagos Region and the main port city of southern Chile. Many products from the hinterland (meat, wood and dairy) are transported via the port. The last few years many salmon farms have appeared in the fjords around the city and the fish-processing industry has contributed to the explosive growth of Puerto Montt. Its salmon industry is larger than the one in Norway! Tourism is also important; the surroundings are beautiful: islands, sea, mountains and lakes.
Puerto Montt Airport is called El Tepual Airport. There are mainly domestic flights (Santiago, Punta Arenas, Balmaceda, Concepción, Temuco), but there are also daily flights to Bariloche in Argentina. Puerto Montt Airport is situated 20 kilometers west of the city center and is easily reachable by rental car via Ruta Cinco (Route 5).
The city's taxis and minibuses are the most popular means of public transport: quick and cheap. From the bus station near the port there are bus connections with destinations in the vicinity, including Isla Chiloé. There are also several ferry connections with places along the coast, including Punta Arenas far south.
Puerto Montt is an active city and the center is therefore best explored by foot. Many hotels offer parking facilities for their guests. A rental car is an ideal means of transportation to explore the surroundings: the beautiful lakes north of Puerto Montt, the Isla Chiloé southwest of town and the Andes. There are still many German influences in this region, for example in the town of Frutillar on Lake Llanquihue.
Tourism to Puerto Montt has significantly grown in recent years and so have the number of accommodations in town. There are many luxury hotels, but the budget traveler can also find a suitable room in one of the many guesthouses (hospedaje).
For more information about Puerto Montt, we recommend Google and the following sources: