Family Travel to Puerto Montt & Chiloé, Chile
Recommendations for Traveling with Kids in Chile’s Xth Region
May 8, 2009
Puerto Montt is the capital city of Chile’s Lake District (called Region X de Los Lagos) and is the best place to begin exploring the southern end of this region as well as the charming nearby island of Chiloé. The weather is often cloudy and rainy, but the warmest, driest months are November through March. For families with children, having a rental car is a must.
Where to Stay in Puerto Montt
Downtown Puerto Montt has plenty of reasonably-priced hotels. A good bet for families is the Hotel Don Luis, which offers a two-room suite, and is located close to the waterfront park. Also within short walking distance is a large assortment of restaurants, stores, and a shopping mall.
Take a walk along the waterfront park, which borders the Reloncaví Sound, and see the nearby main square, the Plaza de Armas.
Sights to See Around Puerto Montt
Just a couple of miles south of Puerto Montt is its fishing port, Angelmó. Kids will enjoy seeing the fishing boats and ferries and perhaps getting a look at the huge variety of fresh catch in the fish market. There is a good crafts market with woolen goods and handmade toys.
The resort town of Puerto Varas, 12 miles/20 kilometers north of Puerto Montt offers beautiful views of Lake Llanquihue and Volcán Osorno from its nice waterfront walk along Avenida Costanera. It is a good place to have lunch and enjoy a sailboat ride on the lake. You can also rent bikes here for a tour around part of the lake.
How to Get to the Island of Chiloé
Chiloé is reached via ferryboat from Pargua, a small port 35 miles/56 kms south of Puerto Montt. You can drive your car onto the ferry and stay in it during the crossing or stretch your legs for a nice view of the Gulf of Ancud. The ferry ride to Ancud, Chiloé, takes less than 30 minutes.
What to Do in Ancud, Chiloé
Head to the northern end of town and take the footpath down the hill to Fuerte San Antonio, the remains of a 19th century Spanish fort, with cannons still in place. It’s a good spot for kids to play.
The Regional Museum (known locally as the Museo Chilote) contains an eclectic but very interesting collection of old photos, historical artifacts (such as a boat, farming equipment and Chiloé’s first fire engine), and scaled models of traditional Chilote villages.
Sightseeing in Castro, Chiloé
Visit the main square, the Plaza de Armas, to see one of the many Jesuit wooden churches on the island and continue several blocks to see the Locomotora Ancud-Castro, an original train that ran between Ancud and Castro until the massive earthquake of 1960.
Just a few blocks from the Hosteria Castro along the waterfront is an artisan’s market (feria artesanal), which features an excellent collection of woolen clothing, toys and other souvenirs. While on the waterfront, sample some local seafood dishes in one of the numerous restaurants.
It's fun to take a drive around the outskirts of Castro to see palafitos, the unique wooden houses built precariously on stilts in estuaries along the waterfront.
Visiting the Parque Nacional Chiloé
Spending some time in the Parque Nacional Chiloé is a must. The 43,000-hectare park includes evergreen forests and pristine, windswept beaches. A few simple hostels and cabañas are located in the park, but it is not a far drive from Castro (35 miles/56 kms). There are several nice, short hikes starting from the Conaf Visitors Center in Chanquín, and the nicest one takes you to sand dunes and a completely unspoiled beach.
See general tips on traveling in Chile with kids. View other articles on popular destinations for families in Chile, such as The Lake District and Santiago.
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