South America - part 15 Puerto Montt

Wednesday 28 January - Puerto Montt

 

We woke to a beautiful morning thankfully as we have our last private tour today! After a cabin breakfast at 7.10 my friend went to check on the outside temperature while I swallowed an arsenal of pills (for knees, hip and cough!). We all met in the Mix Bar as usual and waited half an hour till our tender was called.

 

It was a short ride to a floating pontoon and then all our bags were inspected  again. I declared my cough sweets but they were deemed OK. All unprocessed food is banned ashore.  This time Patricia from Denis Purtov Excursions was waiting for us and we split into three groups; we headed to a Mercedes minivan.

 

Our first stop for photos was in Puerto Montt itself. As a man accosted one of our group he was very quickly intercepted and marched off by police.

 

We then drove out of the city to a viewpoint over Punta Arenas. Next came a lama (and toilet) stop, another for a volcano, and then to the national park. A short walk through woodland (one of our party saw a Magellanic Woodpecker but I missed it) and we came to the beautiful Petrohue Falls. The scenery of lava, pounding turquoise water and a snow-capped volcano was truly amazing and the clear blue sky only added to the majesty.  

 

I bought a locally made copper ring set with polished river stone and lapis lazuli - all mined in the area. Next came a drive to the Green Lagoon and Emerald Lake. Here we again had a short walk down to the water. On our left was a wall made from pumice and other volcanic rocks and in a gap we could just see a baby bird squawking from its nest.

 

On our return we had a 20 minute stop for an empanada and coke, then to Puerto Varas to browse the craft markets before returning to ship with 40 minutes to spare until the last tender.

I returned for drink and change as it had been unexpectedly hot and I had too much on even without my jacket.

Went to trivia but only four of us there. I thought I woud ltry the national drink of Chile - a pisco sour, which was delicious. Then out on deck as we sailed, for views of yet more volcanos.

 

 

There was a great Chilean deck barbeque that evening so we ate dinner in the sun out on deck.

That evening HAL provided a complimentary cocktail (or two!) in the show to round off our Antarctic Voyage. We have a sea day tomorrow, then Valparaiso where we disembark.