In this article we show you five things to do in Chiloe Island that you can’t miss, from nature in its purest state to typical constructions of the area.
The island of Chiloe is one of the attractions of Chilean Patagonia. Although a bridge is being built to connect the island with the mainland, today it is only accessible by a short ferry ride from Pargua, near Puerto Montt.
The archipelago attracts with its culture, the architecture of the wooden churches and the houses built in stilt houses, the cliffs overlooking the sea, forests and marine wildlife watching.
Based on our experience, here are the five must-sees in Chiloe. You can click on each destination for more information and tips.
🔎 Check here the quide to travel to Chiloe Island.
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Things to do in Chiloe Island: what you can’t miss
There are several things to do and see in Chiloe Island, these are the main ones:
1. Route of the churches
This island is very famous for the churches built with wood from trees native to the area. They were built by Jesuit missionaries during the 17th and 18th centuries and are characterised by their colourful exterior.
Scattered all over the Isla Grande de Chiloé, and in some smaller ones nearby, there are more than 50 churches, of which some 16 are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Some of these 16 churches are located in the villages of Colo, Dalcahue, San Juan, Tenaún, Rilán, Castro, Chonchi, Nercón and Vilupulli.
2. Chiloé National Park
Another thing to do in Chiloé is visit the island’s most renowned national park. Ideal for nature lovers, you can go trekking in the area, walking through the forests and spotting the native flora and fauna.
One of the main places within the Chiloé National Park to visit is Cole Cole beach, with a huge extension and surrounded by small dunes. It is an oasis of tranquillity with the sound of the sea in the background.
If you want to have one of the best photos of Chiloé Park, then you have to go to the Souls Pier, a wooden structure on the cliff with the sea in the background.
Another attraction that competes with the Pier of the Souls is the Pier of Time, similar to the previous one but in the shape of a snail.
3. The stilt houses of Castro
Without a doubt, visiting the palafitos of Castro are one of the things to do in Chiloe Island. The palafitos are wooden stilts over the water where the traditional colourful houses of the island are supported. These constructions were built to take advantage of the spaces by the sea at the time of the great industrial and fishing expansion of the island.
Not only can you see the palafittes in various places in Castro, but you can also stay in one of them, as many houses have been converted into hotels.
It is worth seeing the constructions both at high tide and low tide, as the picture changes a lot.
4. Dalcahue’s kitchens
The island of Chiloe is very famous for its gastronomy, you can eat traditional local dishes such as empanadas, seafood, milcao, curanto and potatoes.
In the village of Dalcahue, you can visit and eat in the “cocinerías”. The kitchens are located on stilt houses and have the external structure of a kind of boat with circular windows. Inside, you eat on large bars that surround the kitchen and the perimeter of the place. Great thing is that you can see first-hand how the meals are prepared, as the kitchen is open.
It is a fantastic experience to do and see in Chiloe Island.
5. Puñihuil Penguin Colony
If you go during the summer season, one of the places you have to see in Chiloé is the penguin colony of Puñihuil. For this, the two ways to get there are by car via Ancud or by means of an excursion.
Puñihuil is a protected area of rocky islets off the west coast of Chiloé. This place is visited in the summer season by Humboldt penguins to breed and raise their young.
🔎 Visit Puñihuil Penguin Colony
Other things to do in Chiloe Island
🔎 Check here other activities to do in Chiloe Island
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