Isla de Chiloe Destination Guide

The Isla de Chiloé or simply the Chiloé Island, located in the Northern Patagonian region of Chile, is listed among the largest islands in South America. Almost 111 miles long and 31 miles wide, this region is characterised by a diverse topography and culture. The Chacao channel cuts through the continent, dividing the island from the rest of Chile. Steeped in mystery and indigenous faiths, this region is renowned for its seafood, handicrafts and other activities such as biking, walking, birding, fishing and paddling. The people of Chiloé Island are known for their warm-heartedness and friendly disposition. Much of Chiloé Island's population inhabit the two larger towns of Ancud and Castro.

Every village and town resounds with the language of the Huilliches and seems to have a story to it steeped in tradition and folklore. And of course the charming palafittes are just picture perfect.

Our Isla de Chiloé destination guide below tells you the major highlights when visiting this beautiful archipelago. You can also book an interesting Isla de Chiloé tours directly with us, or take a look at some useful information for your travels in Chile.

Things to See and Do in Isla de Chiloé

Towards the east are a number of smaller islands which are a part of the Chilean archipelago. These islands are protected from the Pacific storms and are therefore an agricultural hub. Much of the locals in this area follow the conventional practice of subsistence farming and fishing. The east is also home to traditional handicrafts and local produce. The stark difference in geography is very evident in Isla de Chiloé, and the west in comparison is dominated by endless stretches of beaches, sand dunes, temperate rainforests and dense wilderness. Much of the west is a part of the many national parks found in Chile. The Piuchén Mountains skirt the western edge of the Chiloé Islands and are defined by the Quaternary glaciers which are found in the 2,690 feet high Captain Maldonado hills. Captain Maldonado hills has no glaciers, it has deposits made by glaciers as they passed through Chiloé (moraines).

There is no end to the places you can see in Isla de Chiloé. An infinite number of little islands and coves can be endlessly explored by boat. The friendly native folk are laidback and easy to be with, and you can enjoy some curanto, a dish made of shell fish, smoked meat and pork that is steamed over stones embedded into the ground. As an accompaniment don't miss the 'golden liquor'.

Follow the links to the right or scroll further down the page for details on some of the many interesting tourist attractions in Isla de Chiloé:

The Viewpoint or Mirador in Aldachildo offers a fantastic panorama of the whole Chiloé archipelago. The town itself is one of the oldest in this region and is dotted with idyllic country villas built along the beach front. Amidst these beautiful houses is the large Chapel or Capilla, which authorities claim was built in the year 1910. The Capilla has been declared a ‘National Monument' and a ‘Cultural Legacy of the Humanity'. This structure is made of cypress and coigüe (Nothofagus dombeyi), and is covered with alerce (Fitzroya cupressoides).The latter two are also types of wood. The imposing sight and the seven arched porticoes are reminiscent of the Dalcahue church.

Ancud is famous for its maritime inheritance, its museums and seafood. Located in the north-western tip of Chiloé, a must see in Ancud is the Blue Museum of the Island of Chiloé or the Museo Azul de las Islas de Chiloé. This museum accurately reflects the ethnic history of the archipelago. The artefacts are displayed in beautifully appointed rooms and two open patios, and depict a number of ethnographic details. There are even interactive displays that offer a great way to learn about the local culture and folklore which one notices is intrinsically connected with religion, art and craft. There are two markets which you can visit and the first one is an enjoyable walk downtown to the Mercado Municipal with its startling array of fresh produce, fish and Chilote handicrafts. The Ancud market or the Mercado de Ancud is known for its fresh sea products and cancagua chimneys. There are local bus services which will deliver your chimneys to Santiago too. Other attractions in Ancud are the cathedrals and the San Francisco churches.

Founded in 1567, Castro is the second largest town in the Chiloé Island after Ancud. A coastal town facing the continent, Castro is famous for its mouth-watering cuisine. Don't forget to try the curanto, which is a dish made from assorted seafood and pork cooked on half-buried and heated stones.

The key attraction in Chonchi, the capital town in this area, is the Chiloé National Park. The park is located near the lakeside villages of Huillinco and Cucao, which are known for their quaint cemeteries. A number of wild animals and over 100 species of birds inhabit this national park. One can find the Chilote fox, and the rare pudú, a miniature deer here. One of the star attractions is the Magellanic penguin. Apart from wildlife, Chonchi in the recent years has also become the hub for a mushrooming aquaculture industry. Los Petanes, Notué and Quiao have taken the initiative to portray the intense relationship the locals share with the sea through 'aqua tourism'. Another recent development is sport fishing which is becoming ever popular with tourists in this region.

Apart from being a staging post and a commercial hub for the islands around it, Dalcahue also holds a fair every Sunday where local artisans and other people come from all around to buy and sell their products. You can book a tour of Dalcahue directly with us seeing the impressive architecture of three of the archipelagos World Heritage churches and mingle with the locals in the rural towns of Dalcahue, Curaco de Velez and Achao.

One should not miss the colourful façade of the Iglesia San Francisco de Castro, a wooden church located on the Plaza de Armas. This church has a mixture of wooden architecture and neo-gothic architecture which makes it different from the rest of the churches in Chiloé. The distinct architecture of Castro’s church is due to the fact that the original structure was destroyed in a fire in 1902, being rebuilt in 1912 by the Italian architect Eduardo Provasoli.

Kayaking and boating tours are a great way to see the Chiloé Island, its fauna, bird life and marine diversity. An unequalled and stupefying experience is kayaking in the Dead Tree Valley. Seeing is believing and the landscape with its dead trees, wetlands and endemic birds seem surrealistic. Each of the four rivers presents a different scene and feel, which in itself is astounding. The water here is calm but be safe and wear life jackets and always maintain communication with the base camp.

This large museum is also called the Regional Museum or the Museo Chilote. On display are a fine collection of ethnographic items, a range of historical artefacts, information on folklore and a good collection of photographs. Of special interest are the scale models of the various churches. The museum also houses a number of maps and interesting artwork. The Museo Regional de Aurelio Bórquez Canobra also has a gift shop attached to it where tourists can buy pottery, carvings and woollen items.

This museum houses a variety of artefacts ranging from farm equipment, Huilliche relics and even items from modern times.

An integral part of the island's architecture, the palafitos which are coastal houses built on stilts, can be found dotting the waterfronts and mudflats.

With a population of about 8000, Quellón lies 57 miles south of Castro. A town which grew out of an economic enterprise in 1906, Quellón is home to the Distillery Company of Quellón. They pioneered the production of acetone, methyl alcohol and charcoal.

The picturesque town of Quemchi is where the National Prize winning author Francisco Coloane was born. A visit to the family mausoleum is a nice way to pay tribute to this Chilean writer. The artisans here are famous for their miniature boat-making skills and a drive along the Oceanside road or the Costanera will also take you to the Municipal Woven Fabrics Factory or the Fábrica de Tejidos Municipal. The prettiest aspect of this small town is its streets. Geographically, Quemchi is in the north of the Chiloé Island and is 89.4 miles from the town of Puerto Montt. It is 725 miles from Santiago to Quemchi.