Discover things to do in Chiloe in 3 days with this recommended itinerary. Visit churches, traditional island architecture and natural parks.
Chiloe Island is made up of several islands and is located south of the town of Puerto Montt. It has a rich tradition reflected in the customs of the fishing villages, the design of the fishermen’s houses that seem to be floating in the sea, churches that are World Heritage Sites and a lot of nature that surrounds it.
In addition, this part of Chile has its own famous gastronomy based on fish, seafood and other delicacies. If you want nature, the island has beaches and forests where you can go hiking.
🔎 Check here the guide to travel to Chiloe.
Table of Contents
Summary – Itinerary for Chiloe in 3 days:
- Day 1: Visit Castro and Dalcahue.
- Day 2: Chiloe National Park and Muelle de las Almas.
- Day 3: Route of the churches in other islands.
🔎 Check here the top 5 things to do in Chiloe Island.
Day 1: Visit Castro and Dalcahue, must-do in Chiloe in 3 days
The 3-day tour of Chiloe begins with the most important city on the big island, Castro. The city is very colourful due to the fishermen’s houses that are built along the canals and lagoons.
The way these houses are built is curious and there is a reason for this: the use of the space on the shore. Thus, as you walk along the waterfront you will see that the houses are partly supported by pillars in the water, called palafitos. It seems as if they were floating on the water.
Also in Castro you should visit the San Francisco church, located next to the Plaza de Armas and built of wood from local trees. It is a real beauty both inside and out.
📷 Take a look at this tour to visit Castro and other places on the island of Chiloe from Puerto Montt with a local agency. Book your place!
🔎 Check here the guide to visit Castro.
A few kilometres from Castro, the village of Dalcahue is famous on the island for its gastronomy. The kitchens maintain the old traditions. Here you’ll eat in open-air kitchens built on the waterfront under the architecture of palafitos (stilt houses).
Among the local delicacies are curanto, beef or poultry casserole, seafood stew or different types of fish. Try several dishes so you can taste different flavours. In Dalcahue you should also visit the church of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores, which is part of the Chiloe church route.
📷 Take a look at this tour of the coastal villages of Dalcahue with a local agency. Book your place!
🔎 Check here the guide to visit Dalcahue’s kitchens.
Day 2: Chiloe National Park and Muelle de las Almas
The second day is dedicated exclusively to explore the nature of the island. The Chiloe National Park is a large protected sector of the big island, located on the west coast of the archipelago.
There are many alternatives for hiking in the area, always through forests of tall trees. If you only plan to do one of the treks, we recommend the one that starts at the entrance to the national park and ends at Cole Cole beach, a large sandy area with dunes and incredible sunsets.
Outside the National Park and close to the town of Cucao, the Souls’ Pier (“Muelle de las Almas”) is a must-do in Chiloe in 3 days. It is worth the 40-minute walk along a path to reach this wooden footbridge that seems to descend directly into the Pacific Ocean. The construction site also hides a story behind it.
📷 Check out this excursion to Muelle de las Almas and Chiloe National Park from Chonchi with a local agency. Book your place!
Near the pier of the Souls, there is another similar structure made of wood but in the shape of a snail, called the pier of Time. To get there, you have to pay for access to Tepuhueico Park.
You can get there by car, you have to walk to the pier from the parking lot for about 30 minutes, or with an excursion that includes Quilán beach and the Tiempo pier.
🔎 Check here the guide to visit Chiloe National Park and Soul’s Pier.
Day 3: Route of the churches in other islands
The route of the churches, made of wood from trees native to the area, are one of the main attractions of Chiloe. Built mostly in the 19th century, their historical importance and beauty is such that they have been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Most of the churches are scattered all over the big island and the small archipelagos near the cities of Castro and Dalcahue. In addition to those already mentioned above in these two localities, the church of San Carlos de Borromeo in Chonchi, Nuestra Señora del Patrocinio in Tenaún and Santa María in Rilán are worth a visit.
To complete your visit to Chiloe in 3 days, it is worthwhile to explore some of the small islands. The island of Quinchao is a five-minute ferry ride from Dalcahue, and here you can visit the church of Santa María de Loreto in Achao and Nuestra Señora de Gracia in Villa Quinchao.
📷 Check out this tour Quinchao Island from Castro (in Spanish) with a local agency and make your reservation.
If you choose to visit the island of Lemuy, the ferry is taken from Chonchi. Here you can visit beautiful churches such as Jesús de Nazareno de Aldachildo or Natividad de María de Ichuac.
📷 Check out this excursion to Lemuy Island from Castro with a local agency. Book your place!
Whether you visit the island of Lemuy or the island of Quinchao, you will find incredible scenery, the hospitality of the locals and a lot of tranquillity.
🔎 Check here the guide to visit the route of the Churches.
Where to stay in Chiloe Island
The island of Chiloé has several cities with accommodation. Our recommendation is to base yourself in Castro or Dalcahue, the two places that have the most hotels.
🏨 Check here where to stay in Chiloe Island and get your ideal accommodation.
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