Tours and Activities:

Surroundings not so far away

Coastal walks are prized for their natural beauty and offer the chance to observe the many activities that take place by the sea, as well as connecting with routes that lead to other towns and cities.

Upon reaching the coast of Puerto Montt, the presence of the sea makes an immediate impact and opens up the possibility of both water excursions and driving along the entire coastline. Motivated by this setting, we decided to visit some of the islands scattered along this maritime corridor and headed to the Tenglo Channel to take a boat. During the trip, we visited the islands of Tenglo, Huar, Maillén, Puerto Pesquero, and Los Curas, among others, while the boatmen told us about what each of these nearby destinations has to offer.

It is also possible to take a longer trip and reach fishing and farming villages by boat from Angelmó. Cochamó, located among fjords and lakes of enormous beauty, can be reached after six hours of sailing, with the option of returning by the same routeby land via Ralún, Ensenada, Puerto Varas, and Puerto Montt.

In our car, we took one of the essential routes, which runs along the coast to the Anáhuac cove, leaving the market behind. Just two kilometers away, we found this peculiar fishing village, nestled at the foot of a hill facing the channel.

Following that coastal route, we arrived at Chinquihue, a town with shipyards, seafood nurseries, a fishing terminal, and a long beach. Its varied gastronomic offerings make it a highly appreciated culinary hub.

Puerto Varas and Puerto Chico, located on Lake Llanquihue, are established tourist destinations and can be reached from Puerto Montt via an internal road without taking National Route 5. A 20-kilometer drive takes you to Silla del Presidente, linked to Pedro Montt, who promoted colonization and especially the arrival of the railroad.

To reach Lake Chapo, you need to travel 43 kilometers northeast of the city on the road to Pelluco and Chamiza. Before crossing the bridge, take a detour to the left, which, after about 30 kilometers along the river valley and with views of the Calbuco volcano, leads to Correntoso, a small rural village. From there, you can access the lake, which is small but surrounded by mountains, ideal for sport fishing and sailing on the Reloncaví estuary.

From Correntoso, there is also an internal route to the Chamiza River waterfall and the Alerce Andino National Park, which is home to fifty lagoons, including Sargazo. A highlight is the Lenca River valley, surrounded by a dense and beautiful forest.

On another occasion, we decided to leave Puerto Montt and travel east along the coast to Caleta La Arena to enjoy the maritime landscape and the changes brought about by the tide. When the waters recede, fruit and seaweed gatherers appear along the shore, and petrified larch trees buried in the sand become visible.

From La Arena begins the Carretera Austral, a succession of incredible spots in the Lake District. Small towns such as Pelluco, Coihuin, Quillaipe, Metri, Lenca, Chaica, and the Reloncaví Sound revealed to us the colors, history, and impressive daily life of communities that live off the sea and what the land has to offer.

There are surely many more attractions outside the city, places that are still waiting to be explored and that we will discover on future excursions as we continue to explore the coastal life and landscapes that define this region.

See also: Hotels in Puerto Montt and other accommodation venues