Chiloe Island

Famed for its colourful stilt houses, wooden churches and unique fishing culture, Chiloé makes for a rewarding day trip.

Chiloe is reached via a short 30 minute ferry crossing, with sightings of sea lions and sometimes dolphins possible on the way. Among the highlights which you might choose to visit here are the fishing village of Dalcahue, with its rustic homes, traditional fishing boats and friendly people and the capital Castro, where we find the palafitos (houses built on stilts along the shore), a majestic wooden church and a crafts market featuring wood and woollen products from the region.

At the far north of the island is the Bay of Ancud, where we can explore the community, the local craft and fish market and the famous San Antonio fortress, learning also about the myths and history of Chiloe. Further round towards the Pacific West Coast is the small cove of Puñihuil and three small islands where Humboldt and Magellan penguins breed together. Here we can enjoy a short walk on the beautiful white sandy beach and then board a zodiac boat for an up-close look at the penguins, looking out also for sea lions, pelicans, cormorants and other wildlife.