Experiences and local guides in Chiloé

Nature

Chiloé's Isla Grande is a world of its own: green hills, fjords, alerce forests, peat bogs and the wild Pacific coast in Chiloé National Park. Humboldt and Magellanic penguins nest together at Puñihuil; dolphins and blue whales pass through the Gulf of Corcovado.

Activities

• Kayaking among Castro's stilt houses and along the Castro fjord
• The wooden churches route, a UNESCO World Heritage site
• Trekking in Chiloé National Park and to the Muelle de las Almas at Cucao
• Boat trip to the Puñihuil penguins, whale watching
• Curanto, Chilote mythology, markets and craft fairs

When to go

December to March for the best weather and traditional festivals; October to April for penguins; the rest of the year is rainy and green, ideal for culture and food.

How to get there

From Puerto Montt, direct buses to Castro (3 h 30) cross the Chacao channel by ferry; the nearest airport is Puerto Montt (PMC), with some flights to Castro (MHC) from Santiago. On the island, rural buses and rental cars reach Cucao, Puñihuil and the churches.