January 24, 2017 Cruise Puerto Montt, Chile - 2017 Cruise to South American & Cape Horn

January 24, 2017 - Arrived in Puerto Montt, Chile.

We took a shore excursion from Puerto Montt to Vincente Perez National Park located in Chile’s Lake District. The park as two large lakes that was one lake until a large volcanic eruption in 1855. Lava filled in the middle of the lake and the result was a river which contains a series of rapids. The water flows forcefully from what is now the upper lake into the lower lake.       

Arrival at Vincente Perez National Park              

From the National Park, the bus began a steep ascent up the mountainside toward the Osorno Volcano. We got to a ski area on a mountain adjacent to the Volcano which afforded a good view of the Volcano itself although a little intermittently since there was a lot of cloud cover. We were well above the tree line with clouds below us. From time to time the clouds would clear and we finally get a view of the top of the Volcano. Since it last erupted in 1855, that was recent enough for us.

From the Volcano, we traveled to Puerto Varas for lunch and were able to spend some time in the city center. Puerto Varas was actually founded by a German immigrant community. Germans escaping the destruction of Europe after World War II arrived in the area in 1952 and established the community. The town still has a distinct European feel. . 

In the evening, the ship departed the fishing town of Puerto Montt and sailed south through some islands

COCKTAIL PARTY FOR ROAD RUNNERS GROUP Next stop is Punta Arenas, Chile after sailing for two days through the fjords of Southern Chile.