Getting There
By Boat -- Naviera Austral, at Corcovado 266 in Chaitén (tel. 65/731272) and Angelmó 2187 in Puerto Montt (tel. 65/270000; www.navieraustral.cl), has four weekly trips from Puerto Montt (10 hr., one-way tickets from $24/£12) and three weekly trips from Castro, Chiloé (7 hr.; $22/£11). From Quellón, south of Castro, ferries cross to Chaitén twice a week; Naviera Austral's offices in Quellón are at Pedro Montt 457 (tel. 65/682207).
By Plane -- Travelers who can afford it and who are without a vehicle are better off flying from Puerto Montt to Chaitén (if weather permits) for the short, 35-minute journey and the sweeping views. Try Aerotaxis del Sur, Carrera Pinto and Almirante Riveros (tel. 65/252523; www.aerotaxisdelsur.cl), with one daily flight; or try Aeropuelche at Corcovado 212 in Chaitén (tel./fax 65/731800), or in Puerto Montt at Av. Presidente Ibañez 216 (tel. 65/253219). The cost is around $61 (£31) per person one-way.
By Bus -- Bus schedules in this region are always subject to change, and both Chaitur, O'Higgins 67 (tel./fax 65/731429; nchaitur@hotmail.com), and B&V Tours, Libertad 432 (tel. 65/731390), have information about service to destinations such as Caleta Gonzalo, Futaleufú, Puyuhuapi, and Coyhaique. Buses to all destinations leave daily from December to March; from April to November, buses to Futaleufú leave six times weekly, as do buses to Caleta Gonzalo, and four times weekly to Coyhaique, with a stop at Puyuhuapi.
Visitor Information & Tour Operators
Sernatur has an office at Av. Bernardo O'Higgins 254 (tel. 65/731082; www.sernatur.cl), open Monday through Friday 9am to 6pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm. There is a municipal visitor information kiosk on the Costanera (the road along the waterfront) during the summer. Another good source of information is the Pumalín Park office in Chaitén at O'Higgins 62 (tel. 65/731341). For tours, Chaitur, O'Higgins 67 (tel. 65/731429; nchaitur@hotmail.com), is the only serious agency in town, and they offer trips to Yelcho Glacier and Pumalín Park, horseback riding, rock climbing, kayaking, and even mountain biking to destinations as far away as Coyhaique.
