Take a 4-day trip to Chiloé, an island known for its culture, landscapes, and unique traditions. Begin your adventure with a ferry ride offering views of the Andes and coastal villages. Discover northern Chiloé by visiting quaint villages, sampling local oysters, and observing penguins. Hike through temperate rainforests in Tepuhueico Park to reach the “Dock of Souls,” where scenic views of the rocky Pacific Coast await. Look out for unique wildlife like the Pudu and Darwin’s fox. In Castro, explore iconic wooden churches, colorful stilt houses, and a local market, and enjoy a lunch featuring local ingredients. Conclude your trip with a visit to the sunken forest at the Chepu River, where you can relax, watch for wildlife, and dine with local hosts before returning to the mainland.
Highlights
Scenic ferry ride featuring views of the Andes and coastal villages
Visit the islands' villages and sample local oysters in Northern Chiloe
Hike in Tepuhueico Park to the “Dock of Souls” for scenic coastal views
Look out for unique endemic wildlife such as the Pudu and Darwin’s fox
Explore Castro's iconic wooden churches, stilt houses, and a local markets
Visit the sunken forest at the Chepu River, relaxing and dining with local hosts
Moderately active but not overly strenuous. This level includes activities like casual cycling, yoga, or excursions/activities that typically last 3-5 hours total each day.
Today, cross to the island of Chiloe by ferry from Puerto Montt. During the 35-minute ferry ride, enjoy great views of the Andes and the first villages of the island, characterized by their wooden church towers that signify the island's cultural heritage, still alive and thriving today. Explore the northern part of the island, visiting small villages, tasting local oysters, and navigating near a breeding colony of Humboldt and Magellanic penguins, along with other bird species from the Humboldt Current.
Day 2: Muelle de las Almas Hike | Drive to Tepuhueico Park
Today is a day off of the beaten path. Spend the day exploring the western side of the main island. After breakfast, start with a 4.5-kilometer hike to the famous "Dock of Souls" (Muelle de las Almas), which offers stunning views of the rocky coastline and the Pacific Ocean. Next, head southwest to the private Tepuhueico reserve, known for its well-preserved temperate rainforest. Here, hike and spot endemic wildlife such as the Pudu, the smallest deer in the world, and Darwin's fox, along with many species of native birds that inhabit the Nothofagus forest the island is known for. In the afternoon, return to the hotel to relax a bit after a busy day.
Hike Distance: 4.5 kilometers / 2.7 miles
Day 3: Castro Walking Tour | Chiloe Local Lunch | Chonchi Village Visit
This morning, start the day with a walking tour of Castro, visiting the palafitos (houses on stilts), the unique wooden cathedral of San Francis, and the local market, where your guide will help select the best local ingredients to use for lunch. Lunch today is a highlight of the trip, offering a culinary experience at the home of one of Chiloe's best chefs, who uses only organic and locally sourced ingredients along with a selection of Chilean wines to sample.
In the afternoon, visit the terraced village of Chonchi, known as "the town of three floors" for its unique layout, enjoying a walk through the town before returning to the hotel in Castro.
Day 4: Sunken Forest of Chepu River | Back to Mainland
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch
In the morning, head northwest to the Chepu River's sunken forest, where you can spot wildlife. After a scenic walk to the Dock of the Light (Muelle de la Luz) for stunning ocean views, enjoy lunch with a pair of local residents at their 'fogon' (communal kitchen and dining area), overlooking the river and the Pacific Ocean. In the afternoon, transfer back to the mainland to begin your journey home, or to your next location.
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This was our first trip to South America and we were a little nervous. But Adventure Life made things so easy! All our questions were answered before we left, and our guide, Vidal, was amazing! He gave us enough space to explore without rushing us along. He also knew where the best picture taking opportunities were, which was great.
We worked with Franny initially and then once we booked we worked with Phen. Franny was very patient and not pushy as we considered our choices. They both got back to us immediately when we had questions.
Expedition cruises are very weather dependent, we knew we were going to see Glaciers, Marine Life, Landscapes but just didn't know when and where. We had some rain, sleet and snow then followed by absolutely beautiful weather. The captain and expedition team were very conscientious for our safety as well as providing us with a fulfilling and educational experience.
Misti
1 month ago
Adventure Life made the whole trip process smooth and worry free from planning and throughout the entire trip. Communication was excellent and the trip to Chile and Easter Island was amazing. We were able to customize the entire trip and use the experience of other travelers to ensure each day was amazing.
Quinn Johnson
1 month ago
Erin and Juliane have been very helpful. The planning has been smooth and stress-free. My concerns and questions have been answered on a timely manner. I was referred to a booking agent for flights that made it easier to plan international and local flights. There's also a Trip Planner website that provides good information as well as a single location for documents related to this trip.
Noel Mozo
3 months ago
Very prompt replies and very knowledgeable
Christine Guthrie
3 months ago
Adventure Life planned a stunner of a trip for our family ONCE AGAIN! This is our 7th trip with Adventure Life. We chose the Chile North to South adventure with add-ons of Magdalena Island to see the penguins; Las Torres hotel in Patagonia; Calafate, Argentina to see the Perito Moreno glacier and finally, Buenos Aires. We were active every day! Biking in vineyards, trekking at 14,000 ft above sea level and seeing vicuña and vizcacha everywhere after having almost the entire El Tatio geyser park to ourselves, an evening tour viewing the stars and galaxies in the Atacama Desert, River Rafting and hiking between volcanoes and glacial lakes in the mountain lake region of Peurto Varas, hiking the French Valley, Las Torres and riding horses in Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, walking on the glacier and drinking glacial water and hearing those thunderous booms of ice calving at Perito Moreno in Calafate, Argentina and biking 30 miles through Buenos Aires to the suburbs where we kayaked the Tigre River Delta. So much fun!! I even wore my adult children out!!
