Welcome to Chiloé
When the early morning fog shrouds misty-eyed and misunderstood Chiloé, it's immediately apparent something different this way comes. Isla Grande de Chiloé is South America's fifth-largest island and is home to a fiercely independent, seafaring people.
Top experiences in Chiloé
Chiloé activities
Chiloé Island Highlights Full-Day Tour from Puerto Montt
This full-day tour will leave from Puerto Montt early in the morning and take the Panamericana Route 5 towards south for about 80 miles to reach the town of Pargua.In Pargua we take a ferry that will allow us to cross the Chacao Canal and reach the Isla Grande de Chiloe.There we go to the town of Chacao, one of the oldest villages of the island founded in 1567 which has a typical square where stands a curious and picturesque building of strong color. Visit the church, which is in addition to the more than 150 churches in Chiloé as well as many National Monuments. Then we will go to the city of Ancud, visit the Plaza de Armas, the Church, the crafts market, the Museum, the Gulf of Quitalmahue, Cerro Huaihuén and Fort San Antonio, historic site located in the uptown built in the late eighteenth century, all in the midst of stories of customs and myths of one of the larger islands of South America. Please note that tickets to the Museum of Ancud are not included. Later we will go to Castro, capital of Chiloé Island, visit the local Church of Castro which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000, handicrafts market and the Mirador del Barrio Gamboa to appreciate the famous "Palafitos" typical constructions made wooden pillars on water.We finish our tour visiting Dalcahue, famous for its craft fair on Sundays where locals bring from the outer islands of the archipelagos the most varied handicrafts for marketing. During the tour we will have time for lunch in a typical restaurant Chiloé Island (own expense).
Chiloé National Park Private Tour from Castro
Our tour begins with the transfer of passengers from the port and then take appropriate heading south towards the sector of the city of Chonchi, to visit the Church of San Carlos de Borromeo (Heritage), whose construction is style Neoclassical. Then we go to the museum of traditions Chonchi, to get a taste of what is the Chiloe culture.After that we will continue our tour through the best farmland of the island, between old houses testify to the dating of the settlement. After 20 minutes we arrive at Huillinco, village who came to the port of 1935 as support of the settlers installed on the coast. Today it is a place with a beach, inn and guest house. Its port function was lost with the opening of the route to Cucao, only in 1983.Our journey continues to the coastline along Lake Huillinco to the village of Cucao, which is an ancient Indian village in 1734 already had chapel. Since the mid-eighteenth century was visited by Jesuit missionaries as a first stop circulating mission. Today there are milestones of significance since the 1960 tsunami devastated its oldest buildings. At the mouth of the lake is a bridge for vehicles to cross the Chanquín sector where we enter the National Park Chiloé, which is located on the western slopes of the Cordillera de la Costa mountain range called Piuchén. Here, consisting of a solid summits with heights between 500 and 800 m.The park is divided into three areas: The Chepu sector (7800 ha), Metalqui Islet (50 hectares) and Anay (35207 Ha) Sector. Since Chanquin begin our tour through a path that crosses the path the Tepual, which lasts for about 1 hour.
Day Trip to Ancud and Chiloe from Puerto Varas
We begin the tour going to Pargua at the south of Puerto Varas city, here we will aboard a ferry to sail the Chacao Channel, this channel separates the continent of Chiloe Island. During the sailing, we might see sea wolves, pelicans and sea birds natives from this area. The ferry berths at Chacao pier, here we see the typical houses that are built of Alerce wood, and the Churches that are National Heritage Site, then continue along the sea side road to visit Caulín and Lacuy beaches, places very famous for the oysters production and a rich marine fauna, until we finally gets to Ancud city. In this city we can see the San Antonio Fort; this historic place is located in the highest part of the city, built at the latest part of XVIII Century and is part of one of the last spanish fortifications in our country, the Local Churches Heritage Foundation, the Main Square, and the Central Market, this one has many gastronomic and crafts options of the island. During the tour we have the chance to stop in a tipycal restaurant. Return to Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas and the respective hotels.
Day Trip to Ancud and Chiloe from Puerto Montt
Departing from Puerto Montt and after crossing the Chacao Channel we´ll be arriving at Chacao Village where a typical square is one of the attractions among others.Nice and picturesque constructions stand out in this Village. We will visit the wooden church in addition to the more than 150 churches existing in Chiloè. Most of them are declared National Monuments. We will continue to the City of Ancud where we´ll enjoy a spectacular view from the Huaihuen Hill lookout. Visit to Arena Gruesa (thick sand) beach, San Antonio fortress, which is an old Spanish fortress dating back to 18th century. Visit to the Interactive and handicraft museum of Ancud, Municipal Market, downtown and Costanera avenue (promenade).The myths, customs, traditions and magical tales will be narrated by our guides. The passengers will be immersed into the interesting world of the unknown that surrounds this island called Chiloé. During the tour we have the chance to stop in a typical restaurant. Return to Puerto Montt and the respective hotels.
A day in the farm - Small group tour
Board your comfortable van and relax during a scenic of one-hour and a half with destination to Estero Chacao location, This is a typical rural zone on the traditional country side at the north of the island, where Chiloé farmers live on agriculture and handicrafts. Once we arrive to Red House Handcrafts, we will be received by the local hosts a textile artists and artisan, Maria Paz who will be our hostess throughout the day.She will give us an introduction to Chiloe’s textile traditions and show us different textile creations she has been developing. She feels strongly about preserving cultures and traditions from the past, and it’s his passion to bring old-world techniques to light. After the introduction, we will see the preparation process of the wool for the spinning.Culture is alive and beating in Chiloe, it moves forward, is nurtured and permanently grows, inviting the entire world to become cultural explorers.After the presentation she will show us the process of carding, spinning and twisting the wool to be able to weave a loom. We will see the process of dyeing with natural dyes and the preparation of the warp in the loom and its subsequent weaving process. After the presentation, those who want to, can make their own weaving loom to take it as a souvenir. There will also be crafts and textile creations for sale.Later we will enjoy a delicious appetizer with sopaipillas with pebre and pisco sour and a lunch with traditional Chiloe food made from potatoes grown by the artisan in his garden, you can taste the milcaos, the chapaleles, cheese empanadas, meat and seafood empanadas. For dessert there will be traditional apple empanadas and local raspberries pie. All this of course with Chilean wine and Chiloe muisic.On the way back, we will make a brief stop in the town of Chacao, where the continent’s ferries arrive. We can visit the main square and its iconic traditional church and craft shops around the square and see the Chacao channel. Chacao is the channel that connects the continent to the Chiloe Island, but it also holds a small town of the same name. It has an incredible architecture; churches that were built by the Spanish during the XVI century; all of great historical and cultural value.
Puerto Varas to Chiloe Islands and The Punihuil Penguins Tour
We start our tour taking the Panamericana Route 5 south for about 80 miles to reach the town of Pargua where we get on board of a ferry that will allow us to cross the Chacao Canal and reach the Isla Grande de Chiloe (Island of Chiloe).There we go to the town of Chacao, one of the oldest villages of the island founded in 1567. It has a typical square where you can admire curious and picturesque buildings of strong colors. Visit the main church which is one of the more than 150 churches in Chiloé, Many of them are National Monuments.The city of Ancud Caulín Spa offers a bird sanctuary where we can enjoy watching a lot of seabirds such as cormorants, black-necked swans, flamingos and others. Taste oysters in a typical restaurant in front of the spa. Food service is not included in the tour. In Ancud, visit the Plaza de Armas, the Church, the Crafts Market, the Museum, the Gulf of Quitalmahue, Cerro Huaihuén and Fort San Antonio, historic site located in the upper part of the city built in the late XVIII. All in the midst of stories of customs and myths of one of the larger islands of South America. Tickets to the Museum of Ancud are not included.Following this we will continue our journey to Puñihuil beach, where we board a boat that will take us to some islets where is possible to see the Magellanic Penguin and the Humboldt. This will be a true experience as this is the only place in the world where these two species coexist together. Navigation ticket not included.During the tour we will have lunch in a typical restaurant of Chiloé Island. Food service is not included.