Getting to and Away

Bus

All buses leave from the Terminal de Buses (Avenida Diego Portales s/n, Tel.: 34-9011). Services at the depot include phone, money exchange, bathrooms, baggage keep, restaurant and shops. On the second floor is an office that dispenses information about buses and their destinations.

To Hornopirén: Buses Hornopirén (2:45 p.m., $7), TransAustral (7:50 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m., $7).

To Ancud, Chiloé: Transchiloé (8:15 p.m., $7).

To Castro, Chiloé: Cruz del Sur (half-hourly 7 a.m.-9 p.m., $10.60), Transchiloé (1:45 p.m., 6:50 p.m., $10). Buses also stop in Ancud.

To Quellón, Chiloé: Cruz del Sur (hourly 7 a.m.-5 p.m., $13), Transchiloé (11:20, 3:15

p.m., 4:45 p.m., $12). Buses also stop at Ancud, Castro and Conchi ($10.40-11).

Also Queilen services Chiloé Island.

To Punta Arenas: All services go by way of Argentina, 30 hours — Pullmann Bus

(Wednesday and Saturday 10:45, $50-60, semi-cama service), Queillon (Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10:30 a.m., $35, normal clásico service). Also Turibus (Cruz del Sur). In January and February book tickets well in advance.

To Osorno: $2.40-4,1.5 hours — Bus Norte (9:45 a.m.), Pullmann (half-hourly 5:30-9:30 p.m.), Línea Azul (8:30 p.m.). Also TurBus, Buses Pirehueico, Fierro, Jac. Some Santiago-bound buses (e.g. TurBus) also stop in Osorno.

To Valdivia: $8-8.60, 3.5 hours — TurBus (7:15 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 8:25 p.m.), Bus Norte (6:45 a.m.), Pullmann (8:25 p.m.), Línea Azul (7:45 p.m.).

To Villarrica / Pucón: Jac (9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 5 p.m., $12.40 / $13.20, 5 / 6 hours).

To Panguipulli: Bus Pirehueico (6:30 a.m., 10:50 a.m., 12:40 p.m., 1:45 p.m., 4 p.m., $10, 6-7 hours).

To Temuco: 411.40-12, 5 hours — Pullmann (7:50 a.m., 5:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m.). Also TurBus, Vía Tur, Jac.

To Concepción: TurBus (7 buses 7:15 a.m.-10:10 p.m., $21-30, 10 hours). Also Pullmann. Some buses continue to Los Ángeles.

To Santiago: 13-14 hours — TurBus (12 buses 8 a.m.-10:45 p.m., $30-46), Pullman

(hourly 7:30-9:30 p.m., $26), Línea Azul (7:45 p.m., 8:30 p.m., $26-30). Also Bus Norte, Cóndor, Vía, NarBus.

To Valparaíso / Viña del Mar $33-52, 15-16 hours — TurBus (8:30 p.m.), Bus Norte (7:30 p.m.), Pullmann (9:45 a.m.), Línea Azul (8:30 p.m.). Also Cóndor.

To Bariloche, Argentina: $24-30, 6 hours — Andesmar (8:15 a.m., 1 p.m.), Vía Bariloche (3 p.m.), Buses Norte Nacionales (8:30 a.m.). In January and February book tickets well in advance.

Micros to villages around Lago Llanquihue leave from Andenes 1-15 of the bus terminal every 5-15 minutes.

To Puerto Varas: $1.20, 20 minutes.

To Llanquihue: $1.40, 30 minutes.

To Futillar: $1.60, 40 minutes.

For Puerto Octay: go by way of Frutillar; for Ensenada, transfer in Puerto Varas; for las Cascadas, change in Puerto Octay.

Buses for Correntoso, Lago Chapo, Charcas, Arena, Parque Nacional Alerce Andino and other destinations southeast of Puerto Montt depart of the West end of the bus terminal.

To Correntoso: Buses JB (Monday-Saturday 7:40 a.m., 4:15 p.m., 5:15 p.m.; daily12:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m., $2, 45 minutes). Continues to Lago Chapo.

To Chaicas / Caleta la Arena: Fierro, Expresos Austral (every 30 minutes 7:45 a.m.-7 p.m. $3 / $4, 1.5 hours / 2 hours).

Train

Presently passenger service to Osorno and Temuco is suspended, but is projected to begin in the near future. Check the national rail website for up-dated schedules (Cuarta Terraza s/n, Valle Volcanes, Tel.: 23-2210, URL: www.efe.cl).

Boat

All types of ships — from cruise liners to private yachts — dock in Puerto Montt. The main port office is Empresa Portuaria Puerto Montt (Avenida Angelmó 1673, Tel.. 25-2247, URL: www.empormontt.cl). There are two sets of wharves, about a half-kilometer apart. The one closer to Angelmó is where the car and passenger ferries depart (Avenida Angelmó 2187). Several of the shipping companies have their offices here. The major boat agencies are:

Skorpios (Avenida Angelmó 1660, Tel.: 27-5646, E-mail: natusk@telsur.cl, URL: www.skorpios.cl) — Skorpio II has special cruises from Puerto Montt to San Rafael and the northern glacial field. See its websites for further information.

Naviera Austral (Avenida Angelmó 2187, Tel.: 27-0430, URL: www.navieraustral.cl) — Operates ferries Alejandrina, Mailén, Don Baldo and Pincoya down the Carretera Austral (Puerto Montt-Chaitén; in summer only, Hornopirén-Ayacara-Chaitén), between Chaitén and the various Chiloé ports and Quellón, Chiloé-Puerto Chacabuco. Note: The Chaitén-Castro ferry is still suspended due to Volcán Chaitén activity.

Naviera Magallanes / Navimag (Avenida Angelmó 2187, Tel.: 43-2300, URL: www.navimag.cl) — Sails Ferry Evangelistas and Puerto Edén to Puerto Natales, Laguna San Rafael and Puerto Chacabuco. Gives discounts to students and seniors.

Prices quoted are high season (January-February; November-March for Puerto Natales). Check websites for complete fare information.

To Chaitén: Naviera Austral (Monday midnight, Thursday 7 p.m., Saturday 1 a.m., adult $32-58.

To Chacabuco: Navimag ( Thursday 8 p.m.; berth $76-82, cabins $216-286, lower rates

for doubles to quadruples; 24 hours).

To San Rafael: Navimag (Saturday 2:30 p.m., berth $1216, cabin $1323-1551 single,

lower rates for doubles to quadruples, prices round-trip; 5 days).

To Puerto Natales: Navimag (Monday 4 p.m.; berth $510, cabin $2100-2470 single, lower rates for doubles to quadruples; 4 days).

For Isla Guar and other small islands in the sound, boats leave from the Caleta Angelmó market area.

To Isla Guar ($4, 2 hours).

Air

Aeropuerto El Tepual is located northwest of the city (El Tepual km 13, Tel.: 48-6200). To arrive at the airport, take Bus ETM from the bus terminal (Monday-Saturday half-hourly 7 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday and holidays hourly 8 a.m.-9 p.m., $3.20, 30 minutes).

Airlines have a tendency to come and go in Puerto Montt. The two major national companies reliably connect the city with Santiago, the deep Patagonia and other destinations.

Lan (Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 3-6:30 p.m., Saturday 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. O’Higgins 167) — Santiago (8-9 flights daily, from $140), Punta Arenas (2-3 daily, from $140), Coyhaique (twice daily, from $140).

Sky Airline (Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Benavente 405, local 4, Tel.: 43-7555, E-mail: ventaspmc@skyairlines.cl) — Santiago (once daily, from $46), Temuco (once daily, from $53), Balmaceda / Coyhaique, from $38).