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.
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.
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
We were referred by a satisfied client and the booking of the trip was everything we wanted to do, and they listened to the types of hotels, sightseeing, etc. we wanted to do.
Jan S
4 weeks ago
Rapa Nui was on my bucket list for a long time so I worried that it would not meet my expectations. Our tour could not have been better. Our guide was knowledgeable and professional with an understanding of the island that made it come alive. I would and have recommended this trip to everyone that will listen.
elisa wright
1 month ago
Mary Curry is the BEST! I have worked with her for multiple family trips for over 10 years, and she is responsive, works within your preferences and budget, has great suggestions and has personal travel experience at many of the locations. We prefer active family vacations and Adventure Life and Mary Curry make sure that is what we get!
Heather Spanbauer
1 month ago
My tour operator was helpful. Unfortunately she was unable to get my single-supplement canceled. Not too many tours charge for that anymore and I almost canceled my trip because of that.
Joel
2 months ago
Excellent communication and coordination for our proposed trip. It couldn't have been smoother, and any question we did have was rapidly addressed. It has made the whole process nearly seamless.
