Puerte Montt Motorhome Rental Drive to Petrohue Waterfalls in Chile
The seaside town of Puerte Montt is towards the southern extremity of Chile some 1,050 kilometres (650 miles) from Santiago. Accordingly, Puerte Montt has a wet oceanic climate with rain throughout the year but a somewhat drier summer. We have a pickup depot for our Puerto Montt Motorhome rental conveniently located for El Tepaul Airport. Both LAN and Sky Airlines visit the airport regularly.
This makes this somewhat remote, but lovely spot a perfect place to visit if in search of something different. The city lacks the long timeline of older South American towns having founded only in 1853. However, the blend of German settler and native Chilote culture make up for this. Especially with delightful spicy lamb dishes you may not find elsewhere.
Puerte Montt Motorhome Rental Drive to Petrohue Waterfalls in Chile
A Relaxing Drive from Puerte Montt to Petrohue
Petrohue is a half-day round trip from our comfortable campsite so there is no rush. We prepare a leisurely breakfast before heading out towards a beguiling snow-capped mountain. First we follow Route 225 across gently undulating landscape. Then we pause in Puerto Varas on the shores of Llanquihue Lake before the perfect cone of the Osorno Volcano.
We find a place to park and stroll around a town renowned for German cuisine and gloriously fresh seafood. This a pleasant place we shall explore again. Because it is set in a natural paradise of mountains, lakes, forests, and national parks. We particularly enjoy the wooden houses and churches the settlers built with tools they brought with them from Germany.
Onward to Petrohue Waterfalls Our Turning Point
We pass through Ensenada renowned for fly-fishing and river rafting, vowing to stop by on our return journey if we have the time. Petrohue Waterfalls beckon and we quicken our pace in anticipation. We stop for a quick sandwich we prepare in our luxury motorhome kitchenette, and once again remark how convenient this form of travel is.
We find a safe parking place to leave our campervan or RV rental. Then we engage a guide to lead us along an easy pathway to the Petrohue Waterfalls. These are a series of chute-like cataracts in the upper reaches of the river. We learn they rest on basaltic lava from the Osorno Volcano not far away.
We Continue on Our Journey This Time to Santiago
The drive back to Puerte Montt is pleasant but uneventful, alas with no time left over for Ensenada. Our campsite welcomed us for a pleasant evening enjoying the present moment we share with other campers. Our journey continues northward in the morning for Santiago, but for now good night and sweet dreams from our comfy Puerte Montt motorhome rental.