Puerto Montt, Patagonia, Chile

Lake Front Hotel - Frutillar, Chile

Downtown Puerto Varas - Patagonia, Chile

Restaurant - Frutillar, Chile

Puerto Varas, Chile - "City of Roses"

Lake Front Hotel - Frutillar, Chile

Puerto Montt, Patagonia, Chile (2/1/2010) - Puerto Montt describes itself as the gateway to Patagonia. 

First settled by German immigrants, in the mid-19th century, Patagonia is known for its powerful beauty. This scenic South America lake and mountain district includes Bavarian-style hamlets, dazzling snow-capped volcanoes reflected in dozens of clear icy lakes, fragrant eucalyptus and pine forests, and dynamic climate with the Andes Mountains towering above it all.

Located at the end of Pan American Highway (that continuously extends 16,000 miles to Alaska, USA), Puerto Montt, with a population of 176,000, is the fastest-growing city in southern Chile, mainly because of the explosive growth of its salmon farming industry. Chile is the second largest producer of salmon in the world.

Puerto Montt, Chile

Puerto Montt was founded in 1853, after government-sponsored immigration from Germany populated the region. Few older buildings exist because in 1960 Puerto Montt experienced an enormous 9.5 earthquake followed by many aftershocks of 7+. The earthquake was felt all the way to Japan.

We also visited the nearby picturesque lakefront resort villages of Puerto Varas and Frutillar where wealthy Chileans have vacation homes.

The popular summer retreat town of Puerto Varas, known as “the city of roses” (see photos), overlooks Logo (Lake) Llanquihue, Chile’s second largest lake, where the reflection of snow covered Osorno Volcano, towering 8,500 feet above sea level, is mirrored in the clear waters. Puerto Varas looks as thought it has been transported straight from Bavaria or Switzerland.

Frutillar is known as “little Switzerland” with its German heritage and beautiful lakeside gardens and quaint hotels (see photos).

Before returning to our cruise ship we shopped at the mile-long Feria handicraft market in the fishing port of Angelmo (pretty much the same things repeated every 5 or so small booths for a mile – who buys all this stuff?).

Please also enjoy our 7 other blog posts for beautiful Chile:

Chile Pucon Lake District

Chile Punta Arenas Strait of Magellan

Chile Santa Cruz Colchagua Valley Wine Country

Chile Santiago (Capital)

Chile Strait of Magellan Cape Horn Chilean Fjords Darwin 
Beagel Channels

Chile Valparaiso

Chile Vina del Mar

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Write by: AN - Monday, February 15, 2010