Luxury Chiloé Tours made for you

Marooned between misted channels and deep fjords in the Pacific, Chiloé Island feels a world away from Chile’s mainland. Stilted palafitos rise along the waterfront in Castro, the island’s capital city. Fishermen’s boats bob against the port after unloading catches of robalo and pejerrey. And wood-shingled churches – more than a dozen of them UNESCO heritage sites – still stand centuries later, with roofs mirroring the curves of ships’ hulls.

Inland, a Valdivian rainforest protects some of Chiloé’s rarest wildlife. Among its inhabitants are Darwin’s foxes, whistling chucao birds, kodkods (Latin America’s smallest feline) and pudus – the world’s smallest deer. Along the coast, dense wetlands offer a refuge for Hudsonian godwits and whimbrels, while deeper waters out at sea host Peale’s dolphins and sea lions.

In these landscapes so remarkably biodiverse, there are endless ways to connect with nature. Ancient footpaths invite gentle horseback rides to explore the terrain at a slower pace. Guided hikes in Tepuhueico Park take you past giant mañio trees to the Rio Bravo’s spectacular cascade. Between October and March, boat trips offer the rare chance to visit the only place on Earth where Magellanic and Humboldt penguins gather together to nest.  

Chilote culture is deeply rooted in this natural world. Local handicrafts are a tribute to the land. Wool textiles are dyed with extracts from fruits and tree leaves, while baskets are woven from native fibres like quilineja – foraged from the forests. Culinary recipes turn to the sea. Razor clams, mussels and cochayuyo seaweed often become the stars of hearty stews.