Chill Out in Chiloé

Bite-sized trip

Itinerary:
Isla de Chiloé
Duration:
4 days / 3 nights (flexible)
Price:
from £475 per person (excluding flights)

Located a short ferry ride from mainland Chile, Chiloé offers a whole new kind of experience. Wet, wild and windy at times this island offers penguin spotting, national park hiking and a distinctive mythological culture. The island is dotted with lush forests, remote farms and wooden churches, 16 of which boast UNESCO World Heritage site status. With the freedom of your hire car you can explore the island at your own pace, staying in Ancud in the north and the capital Castro with its colourful stilted buildings along the waterfront. Check out of the mainstream for a few days and explore charming Chiloé.

Day 1 – Puerto Montt – Ancud, Isla de Chiloé

Today you will collect your hire car in Puerto Montt and head south to Paragua, where you will hop on the ferry to the island of Chiloé which takes about 30 mins. You will buy your ferry ticket locally so you can choose which time to head over to the island. We recommend a late morning ferry is ideal to miss the commuters and have enough time to explore.

From the ferry terminal you will drive 30 minutes to your first stop, Ancud, the second largest town on the island, boasting a pretty waterfront. You’ll stay in a cosy wooden-clad hotel overlooking the ocean within walking distance to the beach, markets and central plaza. The nearby museum is a must-see with exhibitions on local history and interesting mythology of the island.

Day 2 – Ancud – Castro

After you’ve explored Ancud you’ll head off to your next destination by hire car, the capital Castro. On your way we would recommend stopping off at Monumento Natural Islotes de Puñihuil, three islets off the coast which are breeding grounds for Magellanic and the near-extinct Humboldt penguins. The best chance of spotting them is between March and September and you can book a boat trip locally.

Afterwards you’ll head on to Castro, the capital city, which is located on a plateau above an estuary lined with palafito houses on stilts. Located right in the middle of the island, Castro combines authentic charm with a sprinkling of modern development. Wander through the cathedral or take a boat trip among the surrounding islets. Here you’ll stay in a wooden boutique palafito hotel on the edge of the waterfront with great views over the estuary.

Days 3-4 – Free time & departure

Today you are free to explore Castro and the surrounding areas at your own pace. If you’d like to get out of the city we recommend visiting Chiloé’s National Park, located about 1.5 hours from Castro boasting beaches, sand dunes and forests. There are many walking trails of varying difficulty and your hotel can provide a packed lunch if you would like to picnic along the way. The following day this trip comes to an end as you head back to the mainland with your hire car.