South America - Christmas Eve in Chile

A cultural question, our plan was to motor up on a bus from Puerto Montt to Valdivia on 24th Dec to spend a few days there and we were invited for Christmas dinner on the evening of the 24th.

Just found out that the person that invited us for Christmas dinner has decided to go to Santiago instead.

Not a specifically Valdivia question, but are bars and restaurants open Christmas Eve in Chile? Or will the whole place close down at 7pm? Although we will have accomodation in Valdivia, I am a bit concerned that even the supermarkets will be closed. Or is it a riot and all the bars will go crazy bonkers and restaurants will offer Christmas dinners?

Anyone any experience? Have I just landed myself a dull and hungry Christmas? Would we be better sticking in Puerto Montt for a couple of days instead?

Christmas Eve is when Christmas is celebrated in Chile. Everything except for the 5 star hotel restaurants will close down as all residents will be visiting family into the wee hours of the morning.

Stick to international five star hotels and reserve their restaurants for dinner.

Local restaurants and bars will slowly return to life late on Christmas Day.

Ah, yes, memories of one of my international etiquette major phucqueuppes.

I had no idea that dinner was automatically "eve" (as opposed to saying specifically "xmas eve" dinner in the US). When I called my amigo and said "nos vemos mañana" and he thought I'd be there in a few hours and I said I couldn't :o ... things you can laugh about years later. We did end up having a nice dinner the next evening.

Coool thanks

Looking at this http://cabanasdellago.cl/ofertas-hotel/464-navidad-en-cabana-del-lago

Arrive in PMC and go straight to Puerto Varas for 2 nights incl Christmas dinner in their restuarante overlooking the lake.

I'll see how this pans out

Coool thanks

Looking at this http://cabanasdellago.cl/ofertas-hotel/464-navidad-en-cabana-del-lago

Arrive in PMC and go straight to Puerto Varas for 2 nights incl Christmas dinner in their restuarante overlooking the lake.

I'll see how this pans out

I'm sure you'll have a car - if not, you should consider getting one. (You'll need some $ for toll on the highway from PMC.) Drive out to Petrohué if you haven't been out there - it is beautiful, and a short drive from PMC. (Just make sure you can get past the entrance gate on Christmas - I'm sure your lodge knows.)

I'm sure you'll have a car - if not, you should consider getting one. (You'll need some $ for toll on the highway from PMC.) Drive out to Petrohué if you haven't been out there - it is beautiful, and a short drive from PMC. (Just make sure you can get past the entrance gate on Christmas - I'm sure your lodge knows.)

I dont know if we will have a car actually, need less to say most of the independent car rental companies have broken websites and I am getting bored (and a bit stressed) phoning them to find out they also don't have telephones. Probably we will cab it from PMC to the bus terminal and go to Puerto Varas in a bus, then when we are ready to leave we will rent one, take it up to Valdivia for a couple of days then bring it back and head back to PMC again on a bus.

Last time I went to Puerto Varas there were some reasonable little rental agencies.

Petrohué looks nice, either I cannot work google maps or google maps cannot tell me how to get there. How far is it roughly? looks to be about 50ms

I dont know if we will have a car actually, need less to say most of the independent car rental companies have broken websites and I am getting bored (and a bit stressed) phoning them to find out they also don't have telephones. Probably we will cab it from PMC to the bus terminal and go to Puerto Varas in a bus, then when we are ready to leave we will rent one, take it up to Valdivia for a couple of days then bring it back and head back to PMC again on a bus.

Last time I went to Puerto Varas there were some reasonable little rental agencies.

Petrohué looks nice, either I cannot work google maps or google maps cannot tell me how to get there. How far is it roughly? looks to be about 50ms

If Econorent's booking engine is not functioning, email reservas at econorent.cl - they should reply within the day.

I wouldn't waste the time taking a taxi from PMC to the bus terminal, then a bus to the lake. There are taxi services right from PMC to Pto. Varas, and going into the city is the opposite direction. I believe the same booths have the taxis to both (with the prices for both posted). You'll take a 20 minute drive and make it into an hour-plus.

To Petrohué, you just take the road along the lake all the way, past Volcan Osorno. It is paved until the last few KMs. A scenic and quick drive.

I do not recommend the road on the back side of the lake, unless there have been some major improvements in the past few years (the road that will take you up to near Pto. Octay. It was mostly gravel, and in horrible condition, and a slow slow drive. I'm amazed the car wasn't damaged.

I have now found a hotel that offers airport pickup for the same price as the bus so scratch the bus idea, I haven't been to PMC before and havent been to the city either for about 8 years so it is all a distant mist to me.

I think I know where you mean to petrohue. Last time I rented a little Corsa by the Plaza, went on that very same road then drove it up to the top of the volcano. So we turn right this time and ignore the sign saying "Volcán" and drive around it.

Sounds just fine, the hotel also offers informal car hire so we could take it out on 25th December to Petrohue. Then pick up another car for the following 3 days.

Hotel Patagónico offers cena navideña too, so it looks like we pretty much have the plan stitched up, thanks for the ideas.

I do not recommend the road on the back side of the lake, unless there have been some major improvements in the past few years (the road that will take you up to near Pto. Octay. It was mostly gravel, and in horrible condition, and a slow slow drive. I'm amazed the car wasn't damaged.

Gravel update.

Volcán Osorno is now paved all the way to the top, that surprised me.
The road from Puerto Varas to Volcán Osorno is mostly paved but they are undertaking some improvements so a few stretches of gravel with managed one way traffic systems.
The road from Volvá Osorno to Petrohué is completely paved
The road from Volcán Osorno to Pueto Octay is nearly completely paved, likewise where it is not paved they are doing some pretty major civil engineering and my guess is it will all be paved within 6 months. Really it is just one small corner of it remains unpaved.

Thanks for the Petrohué tip

Gravel update.

Volcán Osorno is now paved all the way to the top, that surprised me.
The road from Puerto Varas to Volcán Osorno is mostly paved but they are undertaking some improvements so a few stretches of gravel with managed one way traffic systems.
The road from Volvá Osorno to Petrohué is completely paved
The road from Volcán Osorno to Pueto Octay is nearly completely paved, likewise where it is not paved they are doing some pretty major civil engineering and my guess is it will all be paved within 6 months. Really it is just one small corner of it remains unpaved.

Thanks for the Petrohué tip

De nada. Other than the road updates, how was your trip?
Sincerely,
Eastbay1K in the Salon VIP Neruda, tomando su tragos pre-departure

De nada. Other than the road updates, how was your trip?
Sincerely,
Eastbay1K in the Salon VIP Neruda, tomando su tragos pre-departure

Trip was great, pretty intense but amazing. We were in Bellavista and the Four Points this weekend, perhaps we saw you in Pio Nono.

Missed PMC to SCL and surprisingly LAN just put us on another flight without any penalties..

Can you smoke in Neruda?

Can you smoke in Neruda?

Neruda has a smoking room, but since you don't smoke, it isn't an issue :p