Isla Grande de Chiloe: An Overview

Chiloé is South America's largest island, 112 miles (180km) long and 31 miles (50km) wide. It is a wild and beautiful place but one of Chile's poorest areas with most of the populace scratching a living out of farming or fishing. It has rich folkloric traditions and a wealth of mythology that have contributed to Chilean literature, involving trolls, sea monsters and ghost ships. Another mark of their culture is the distinctive craftwork that is produced, especially those made from wool.

Featuring a characteristic type of architecture, the forested countryside is scattered with more than 150 wooden churches from two centuries ago, the estuaries are lined with quaint stilted houses (palafitos) and the small towns feature wooden shingled buildings. Most of the Chilotes live within sight of the sea and picturesque scenes of colourful wooden boats are commonly visible through the rain and mist.

Renowned for its damp weather, Chiloé balances wild natural beauty with the warmth of its people and their culture. As it is still largely an unknown destination, the adventurous traveller can discover an untouched part of Chile that is special in a different way, especially in the main town Castro, or in the wonderful national park on the pacific coast, Parque Nacional Chiloé.

Attractions

Castro

The main town of Castro is famous for its colourful rows of stilted houses (palafitos) lining the estuaries, excellent seafood and traditional handicrafts. It is a popular summer destination for Chilean and Argentinean tourists and has a laid back holiday feel to it. The town's most incongruous feature is the Iglesia San Francisco, the dazzling exterior of remarkable colours having assaulted the eyes since 1906. The town also provides access to the nearby islands of the Chiloé archipelago and the Parque Nacional Chiloé.

 
 
Parque Nacional Chiloé

Following in the footsteps of Darwin after 150 years, the visitor will find an isolated but wildly beautiful assortment of rolling hills, native forests and pristine coastline. It is home to the Chilote fox, the rare pudú (miniature deer) and over 100 species of birds, including the Magellanic penguin. The park offers a variety of walking trails, through forests and under twisted tepú trees, along miles of unspoilt coastline or along nature trails that lead up onto the hills for superb views of the surrounds. The park is also home to several Huilliche Indian communities. The information centre at the entrance has good displays on the flora, fauna and the traditions and folklore of the Huilliche people.