Puerto Montt - the Southern Gateway to the Chilean Lake District

Today was a catch-your-breath day giving us a pause from the hectic schedule of sightseeing. Instead our day would be spent travelling to Puerto Montt, 600 miles further North at the entrance to the Chilean Lake District. It did not matter to us therefore that it rained incessantly from dawn to dusk.

Many people continue their journey from Puerto Natales by taking the Navimag Ferry to Puerto Montt. Navimag is a working vessel, regularly plying the coastal waters between the two ports on a journey that takes 3 days. The vessel is crammed with lorries and cargo as well as fare paying passengers as it is the only surface route joining the Magallanes to the rest of Chile. Whilst the romantiscism of this journey along spectacular fjords initially appealed to me, the attraction soon diminished as I read accounts of spartan facilities onboard and hours confined to bunks during rough seas. In one report I even read of the advisability of taking your own life jacket!

Bus Fernandez to Punta Arenas

We preferred the alternative of an overland coach journey to Punta Arenas, the most southerly city in the world, and then an onwards flight to Puerto Montt. This took up most of the day. When we landed at Puerto Montt it was still raining and my first experience of driving in a big city was one of driving through floods.

Once settled in our hotel room, I checked the weather forecast. It seems a major depression has moved in from the Pacific and we can expect much more rain over the next two days. Oh well, I suppose there is one compensation. At least we will not be confined to bunks on high seas during that time.