Puerto Montt, Chile - Frutillar part 1

Puerto Montt, Chile

In Chile’s Alerce Costero National Park, the behemoth tree, covered in moss and lichens, is a 5484 year old Patagonian cypress known as the Alerce Milenario. It rises 196 feet through layers of mist and thick, humid air and has a 13-foot-wide trunk, marked with striations of green, gray, and reddish-brown.

Puerto Montt (named after Manuel Montt President of Chile 1851-61) is another port city and commune in Southern Chile with a population of about 250,000. It was founded between 1848-1853 by German settlers and grew due to its popular and strategic location as a gateway to Patagonia and in the 1990-2000’s had become the second largest salmon producer in the World (not anymore). The local economy invests heavily in culture with a theater and music program all year. Frutillar has a beautiful view of Volcán Calbuco (an active volcano) as we enjoyed the promenade of Lake Llanquihue lined with artwork.Read more