contact info
earth river expeditions, (800) 643-2784;
www.earthriver.com
length: 10 days
rate: $2,500, departing from puerto montt. this is an all-inclusive
price, virtually everything you'll need - transportation, meals,
lodging, wetsuits - is provided. any exceptions (clothing, certain
types of gear) will be clearly outlined by earth river.
visiting puerto montt
if you've got some free time in puerto montt, here are some
suggestions on what to do and where to stay.
what to do
feria artensanal: walk along this marketplace and discover some of
the finest handcrafted merchandise in
chile. choose from chilean
wool sweaters or handcrafted leather, but make sure you bargain.
chilean merchants are sometimes insulted if you pay full price.
angelmo market: follow the feria artensanal and you wind up
in the place to find the tastiest (and stran-gest) seafood in south
america. fishmongers in
wellington boots hawk fresh chilean machas
(razor clams), cholito (huge mussels), and locos (giant abalone)
piled in among the prawns and spiny sea urchins. each merchant also
offers his or her own brand of caldillo, a thick, steaming seafood
stew, made of boiled potatoes, sausage, and whatever the day's
catch might be.
centro de buceo: care to see the catch of the day before
it's caught? just head over to puerto montt's premier dive shop
(011-56-65-263939); e-mail
jeolivos@telsur.el). jorge olivos, a marine biologist and former
diver for the chilean navy, is the region's top dive guide and will
show you the abundant aquatic life in southern chile.
where to stay
the bright yellow viento sur (011-56-65-258700), part imposing
fortress, part quaint victorian home, sits on a hill above the city
and offers majestic views of the harbor. this small but comfortable
inn boasts a fine restaurant complete with oak-paneled bar, and
sauna. if you get homesick, just walk down the hill to cybercafe
mundosur (011-56-65-295415) and enjoy a fresh cup of coffee while
surfing your favorite web sites and e-mailing friends. -