Are there car rentals by the port where cruise ships arrive? If so, is renting a car better than getting a taxi driver. We are fluent in Spanish so that is a plus.

I think most of the cruise ships use tenders to transport passengers - when we were there the tenders disembarked at Puerto Angelmo - the fishing village and not to be missed market and restaurant area - pics on our blog below.

We rented from Avis which is a short cab ride, bus ride or 30 minute walk from Puerto Angelmo.

http://lizandrichardsa.typepad.com/l..._south_/chile/

4holdings:

This is off topic but related so I will post.

Several years ago my wife and I were in Purto Montt off the ferry from Puerto Natales.

Our travel agent, Mercedes at Argentina Escapes recommended that we stop and stay in Puerto Varas about 20 km from P Montt rather than my original request for P Montt.

She was right on. The difference was like night and day.

I suggest that if you had planned to stay in P Montt to visit Chiloe, reconsider.

I hope this is of use to you even though it is off topic.

Woodie

<is renting a car better than getting a taxi driver.>

It may depend on how much time you have and what you want to do and see.

Considering the time getting and returning a taxi, and that you are not familiar with the area, it seems to me that a taxi would be most reasonable.

Also, I agree that staying in Puerto Varas is preferable to PM.

4holdings
My wife and I will be in Puerto Montt on November 26 with our Royal Caribbean ship. I too am hoping to be able to find another couple, for one, to be able to share a cab with and go up to the lakes. I can't find out any information about that either so I am just hoping to wing it once off the ship. If not, we'll just walk around the harbor. I understand that the wares for sale there are great bargains. There and Montevideo are supposedly our two best shopping stops. Leather, bags, silver, jewelry. It's what I'm being told anyway.