Explore the island of Chiloé with its abundant wildlife and unique culture on this active Chile Lakes District tour. Bike through villages and along coastlines and kayak through an ancient sunken forest. Hike remote stretches of beach where penguins nest and experience the local hospitality of a people whose indigenous culture and traditions have been well preserved through the centuries.
Day-by-Day Summary
Day 1 : Arrive Puerto Montt - Chiloe Island Day 2 : Puñihuil Penguin Colony Day 3 : Chepu River Valley Day 4 : Dalcahue - Castro Day 5 : Biking Chiloe National Park Day 6 : Whitewater Rafting & Puerto Varas Day 7 : Depart the Lakes District
Highlights
Bike Chiloé National Park alongside picturesque Lake Huillinco and Cucao
Enjoy island hospitality on a local farm in the Chepu countryside
Hike along Chiloe's coastline & visit the Punihuil penguin colony
White water raft the Petrohue river below the Osorno Volcano
Arrive to Puerto Montt. You will be met at the airport by your Adventure Life representative who will accompany you on your ferry ride to Chiloe Island. Keep an eye out for sea lions, penguins and dolphins playing in the strong currents of the strait. Meet your bilingual guide for a visit to Chacao and the bird sanctuary of Caulin, where you will enjoy a beach walk before continuing to historical Ancud.
Overnight in The Tower, surrounded by beauty and tranquility.
Enjoy a full day exploration of Chiloe's rugged Pacific Coast. Visit the Puñihuil penguin colony by boat and hike along the island's stunning coastline and deserted beaches.
Lunch will be served at a local family farm, offering a unique insight into the rural life of the island. Enjoy a “curanto” seafood & meat fiesta dinner at a restaurant in nearby Ancud.
Delve into the wilds of Chiloe--either by trekking or boating on inland rivers. Visit the Chepu River valley, an area that is the watershed of 20% of the island’s rivers and one that dropped 7 feet in the massive 1960 earthquake, creating the “Sunken Forest” of dead trees, some still standing after nearly 60 years. A local fisherman will take you downriver to walk a lovely section of the Coastal “Chile Trail” along deserted beaches accompanied by roaring surf. The full beauty of Chiloe Island will surround you on the hike to the Chepu dunes and coastal trails.
For those not wishing such a long hike or if conditions don’t permit, take a boat ride in the river with the local fishermen, enjoying the birdlife and keeping an eye out for native river otters.
Overnight at on a local farm in the Chepu countryside overlooking the river and enjoy island hospitality.
Breakfast at the agrotourism lodging with your wonderful hosts before taking in a ~1.5 hr old growth forest walk, highlighted by millennial trees and cheeky endemic birds (tapaculos).
Then depart for a 50 minute drive to the East Coast town of Dalcahue, home of one of the 16 UNESCO World Heritage site churches and a thriving maritime culture. Enjoy an early evening visit to the island's capital of Castro with time to visit its stunning church. Overnight in one of the iconic palafito stilt houses. Your guide departs.
Meet your local guide group for a full day adventure of biking to Chiloé National Park alongside picturesque Lake Huillinco and Cucao. A van will accompany the group if you need to rest at any point. Enjoy dinner on your own before your overnight in Castro overlooking the estuary.
Enjoy breakfast near the estuary before transport to the bus station for the 3 hr journey (incuding 30 minute ferry) to Puerto Montt. Transfer to your Puerto Varas hotel for check in and time for a quick lunch before your half day activity of the afternoon, an exciting rafting adventure on the emerald waters of the Petrohue River below the snow-capped cone of the Osorno Volcano. The tour ends around 6:30 PM with your transport back to Puerto Varas. Dine this evening on your own at one of the many options in the city.
Day 7 Depart the Lakes District
1 Breakfast
Enjoy a private transfer to the Puerto Montt airport for your flight to your next destination.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$1,900
Notes
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Included
6 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 3 Dinners
6 Nights Accommodations
3 Nights Hotel
2 Nights Lodge
1 Night Community Stay
5 Days Guide Service
Excluded
Both International Arrival and Departure Transfers are excluded.
Initial deposit is $400, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card. Alternatively, you can register online here.
Final payment is due 70 days (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge.
The trip might have been the absolute best of our lifetime (thus far). We particularly want to commend our guide Peter in the Guilin area-he was so incredibly attentive, energetic, enthusiastic-and absolutely dedicated to ensuring that our meals were 100% vegetarian.
Jack Charney
When to Go
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Good to ideal period to travel, and many people choose to visit at this time.
Chance for unpredictable weather but with fewer visitors.
Typically not offered during this period because of weather conditions.
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