Puerto Montt
Many trips to Chile's Lake District and Patagonia pass through Puerto Montt, a port city with fish markets, volcano views and ferries south.
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Puerto Montt is a port city in the Los Lagos Region of southern Chile, on the shore of Reloncaví Sound. On clear days you can see Osorno volcano to the east. German settlers who arrived in the 1850s shaped its early growth, and German-style bakeries are still part of the food scene. The city works as a base for Lake Llanquihue, Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park and the roads and ferries south toward Chiloé and Chilean Patagonia.
Puerto Montt suits a trip built around the outdoors. Plan at least one night for the Angelmó fish market and the waterfront, and two to four nights if you are heading into the national park or to Chiloé. The best season is summer, roughly December to March, when days are longest. Rain is common year-round, so pack layers and a rain shell.
Puerto Montt in five
- Set up data before the first busBus routes, maps and ferry schedules are easier to check with a data plan from the airport. The phones and eSIM guide compares options.Phones and eSIM
- Book the Navimag ferry earlyThe Navimag ferry sails from Puerto Montt through the fjords to Puerto Natales. Cabins are limited, so book as soon as your dates are fixed.
- Check the Hornopirén ferry before you planCarretera Austral trips depend on ferry crossings such as Hornopirén to Caleta Gonzalo. Weather can change sailings, so check the day before you travel.
- Pack a rain shell and warm layersPuerto Montt is wet for much of the year, and lake and fjord trips are colder than the city. A waterproof shell is more useful here than an umbrella.Clothing
- Keep Chilean pesos for small stopsMarket stalls at Angelmó and small shops outside the centre may not take cards. Carry pesos (CLP) for those stops.
Need to know
- Currency
- Chilean peso (CLP)
- Entry
- Visa-free short stays for many passports; check yours before flying
- Emergency
- 133 police, 131 ambulance, 132 fire
- Tipping
- About 10% in restaurants, often added to the bill
- Time
- UTC-4 to UTC-3; clocks change seasonally
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh19°Low11°Cold, wetJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, wet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh19°Low11°Long days, warmFebruaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 66 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days, warm
- MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh17°Low10°Warm, drier spellsMarchPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 130 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, drier spells
- AprilRain15 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Mild, drierAprilRain
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 185 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, drier
- MayRain17 rainy daysHigh12°Low7°Rain returnsMayRain
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 212 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain returns
- JuneRain20 rainy daysHigh10°Low5°Cold, wetJuneRain
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 273 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, wet
- JulyRain18 rainy daysHigh9°Low5°Winter rainJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 221 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Winter rain
- AugustRain20 rainy daysHigh10°Low5°Coldest, wetAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 244 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Coldest, wet
- SeptemberRain18 rainy daysHigh12°Low5°Cold, wetSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 175 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, wet
- OctoberRain17 rainy daysHigh13°Low6°Spring showersOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 146 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring showers
- NovemberRain15 rainy daysHigh16°Low8°Greening, coolNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 130 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Greening, cool
- DecemberRain13 rainy daysHigh17°Low10°Long days, drierDecemberRain
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 100 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days, drier
Average daily high and low in Puerto Montt, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Puerto Montt
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
16
- Feels like
- 12°
- Humidity
- 44%
- Wind
- 10 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 8%
Puerto Montt
05:43 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today17°6°8%Monday: Fog. High 17°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Tue15°8°98%Tuesday: Rain. High 15°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Wed16°9°66%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 16°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 66%.
- Thu14°9°100%Thursday: Rain. High 14°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Fri15°8°25%Friday: Drizzle. High 15°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 25%.
- Sat14°11°2%Saturday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sun16°11°0%Sunday: Clear. High 16°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 02:57 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 990.8 CLP
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Every year
- Jan–FebFrutillar Musical WeeksPuerto Varas, a day trip
Day trips by train
- FrutillarAbout 1 hour by roadLakeside town with German-style architecture and a concert hall on the lake.
- Puerto VarasAbout 25 min by roadLake town with views of the Osorno volcano across the water.
- ChiloéHalf a day by road and ferryWooden churches and stilt houses on the island, reached by the Chacao ferry from Pargua.
- HornopirénAbout 2 hours by roadStart of a ferry crossing on the Carretera Austral into the fjord country.
Before you go to Puerto Montt
Rules for Puerto Montt, checked
- Fresh fruit, plants and meat are restricted at Chile's border. Declare food on arrival and check the SAG biosecurity rules first.Source
- Chile's customs service (Aduanas) can inspect bags on arrival, and fines apply to undeclared goods. Check aduana.cl before you fly.Source
- National parks around Lake Llanquihue are run by CONAF, which sets entry rules and fees. Check conaf.cl before your visit.Source
- Chile's drink-driving limits are strict, so do not drive after any alcohol.
Plan around Puerto Montt
Cities, regions, entry rules and money for the whole country
Read the guideMoney and costsPaying in pesos and what a day typically costs
Read the guideGetting aroundBuses to the lakes, ferries and road trips south
Read the guideVisas and entryWho needs a visa and what to check before flying
Read the guideWhere to stayBases in the city, on the lake and near the ferries
Read the guidePhones and eSIMData plans for maps, bus apps and offline use
Read the guidePuerto Montt FAQ
Is Puerto Montt worth visiting?
Yes, as a base for Lake Llanquihue, Chiloé and the Carretera Austral. The city is a working port with a fish market at Angelmó, so do not expect a long list of sights.
How many days do you need in Puerto Montt?
Two nights cover the city and Angelmó. Add two or three days for Puerto Varas and Frutillar, or for Chiloé by road and ferry.
How do you get from Puerto Montt to Chiloé?
Drive or take a bus south to Pargua, then cross on the Chacao ferry to the island.
Do I need a car for the lakes?
Not strictly. Buses run to Puerto Varas and Frutillar, but a car lets you reach trailheads and lakeshore stops on your own schedule.
Is the Navimag ferry worth it?
For fjord scenery without a long bus ride, yes. Expect a slow crossing on fixed sailings, and book cabins early because weather can delay departures.