The beautiful island of Chiloe is known for its rural life style and the folklore legends surrounding it. Enjoy the rich cultural tradition visiting the small island with its markets and pass through the island’s capital Castro with its wooden cathedral declared UNECO heritage site. Furthermore, this short but compact program offers you the possibility to explore the fantastic regional nature like the wild pacific coast at Chiloe Nation Park, the Alerce forest with its 1000 year old trees or the penguin colonies of the island to leave you with unique memories.

Trip features

Type of trip: Overland
Duration: 6 days
Suggested period: October to March
Fitness level: basic
Technical level: none

Highlights of the trip

  • Chiloe National Park
  • Ancud and Castro
  • Penguin colonies

Itinerary

DAY 1: PUERTO MONTT – ANCUD (approx. 100km)

Reception at airport in Puerto Montt. Visit to the Lahuén Ñadi National Park, where we hike through forests filled with larches, an endangered tree species in Chile. Depart for Pargua where we take a ferry to Chiloe Island. During the crossing we can usually observe sea lions swimming alongside the ferry. Arrive at Ancud, one of Chiloe’s larger cities. Lunch included.
Overnight at  Hosteria Ancud (or similar category according to availability).
Info: http://panamericanahoteles.cl/ancud.html

DAY 2: ANCUD – CASTRO (approx. 100km)

Visit to the Humboldt Penguin Reserve and the museum of Ancud. After lunch we continue our journey across the island, through beautiful landscapes filled with pine tree forests, water channels, rivers and typical wooden churches. Arrive at Castro, which is renowned for its colourful houses built on wooden beams at the seashores. Breakfast and lunch included.
Overnight at Hosteria Casto (or similar category according to availability)

DAY 3: CASTRO – CHILOE NATIONAL PARK – CASTRO

Full day excursion to Chiloe National Park, located on the west coast of the island. Transfer back to Castro. Breakfast and lunch included.
Overnight at Hosteria Casto (or similar category according to availability)

DAY 4: CASTRO – LLINGUA ISLAND – MECHUQUE ISLAND – TENAUN – PULELO

From a fisherman’s wharf in Castro we will board a small boat to visit the Quinchao Islet and it´s villages of Achao and Curaco de Velez. From here we travel by boat to another small island called Llingua, where we visit traditional handcraft workshops. One last boat ride for the day, arrive us at the Mechuque island where we can visit the town and after continue boat ride to Tenaun, where we will take a car and transfer to local guesthouse and spend the night. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Overnight at  local family home

DAY  5: PULELO – TENAUN – PUERTO MONTT  (approx. 150 km)

Transfer back to Puerto Montt airport. Breakfast and lunch included.