Chile | Fascinating | , Chiloé

Destinations: , Ancud & Chiloé

Length: 2 Days / 1 Night

The island of Chiloé, unlike the mains island has sprouted its own history and culture, unique to the islands, and is worthy of a visit for its striking regional flavor. Forged by harsh rainy weather and the seafaring life, the differences are evident. On the surface you will see changes in architecture and cuisine such as: the famous Chilote palafitos (houses mounted on stilts along the water’s edge); more than 150 iconic wooden churches (16 of which are Unesco World Heritage sites); the renowned meat, potato and seafood stew, ; and a abundance of fish and shellfish dishes. Easily accessed by a short ferry ride, the island is lush with rolling hills quilted in farm patterns to the north, and blanketed in dense forest to the south.

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1

Puerto Varas – Ancud

This tour begins with a private transfer (at 08:30) from the airport or your hotel in or Puerto Varas for the two-hour journey (including a 30 minute ferry ride) to the emerald island of Chiloé Grande. Our first stop is Caulín, a beautiful bay for birdwatching and observing local life. We will then travel to the picturesque bayside city of Ancud. This area is steeped in history and was where the Spaniards made their second to last stand in all of the Americas when the colonies were liberated. After having lunch in a local restaurant during which you will have a historical discussion with your guide, we will depart into the Chilote countryside towards the rugged Pacific Coast of the island. An area of deserted beaches, quiet farmlands and coastal forest, the rarely visited West coast is a hidden jewel of natural beauty

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and wildlife. Our destination will be the unique penguin colony of Puñihuíl, the only place in the world where Humbolt and Magallanic penguins nest side-by-side. We will tour the small island colonies by boat, a trip that often encounters many other types of marine life. We will spend the afternoon exploring the rugged beauty of the hidden beaches and countryside of the West coast. Activities are to be determined by your interests (from sight-seeing to something active).

Overnight Ancud overlooking the waters of the bay (Local country home for groups up to 4 an d Hosteria Ancud for larger groups.

Day 2

Ancud – Puerto Varas

East Coast Chiloé- After breakfast, you and your guide will drive south on the paved highway to the picturesque fishing village of with its multicolored boats at anchor. We’ll then say goodbye to paved roads and enter the Chilote countryside, an area of rolling hills, remote farms and pastoral views. We’ll visit small villages nestled along the coast with UNESCO World Heritage Site wooden churches, memorials to the island’s Missionary past. These small villages and “off-the-beaten-track” roads are where the essence of Chiloe resides, where people plow fields by oxen and wooden boats are hand-crafted centuries-old tradition. We’ll have a relaxing lunch at a local home along the coast before arriving at the bustling town of and on to the provincial capital of Castro. Famous for its stunning wooden church (another one of the 16 UNESCO World Heritage Sites on the island), crafts market and palafitos (traditional houses on stilts), the city is also the bustling economic center of the island. There is also a small regional museum with many fine photographs of the busy harbor in the early 20th century as well as of the devastating earthquake of 1960. In the early evening, we’ll arrive back to continental Chile for drop off in your hotel in Puerto Varas or Puerto Montt. (private transport, guide, breakfast, lunch and activities)

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