Chiloe

Chilóe, located in the south of Chile, comprises the second largest island in South America and an archipelago of 40 smaller islands, of which 35 are inhabited. A practically virgin nature prevails, where the mountains, lakes, and rivers constitute the scenery of towns that are known for their traditions, legends, folk festivals, and culinary traditions. Traditional foods include Chilóe stew, chicken stew, shellfish, fish, beef, pork, and lamb roasted on a stick, and the famous curanto (a typical dish of shellfish, meat, and potatoes). The tourist activity is developed around rural tourism, with the opportunity for visitors to share the traditional wood shingled houses with families of the island.
Their traditional houses with wood shingles, balconies, and bay windows are simple and original. The religiosity of the people of Chilóe is reflected in the churches that date back to the 18th and 19th century and are built of wood such as alerce (a Chilean conifer) and cypress. Sixteen of the churches have been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO for their architectural value.
The large island of Chilóe has three important urban centers: Ancud, Castro, and Quellón. Within these, we find the majority of services for tourists. However, we recommend that you visit the smaller communities as well, where you can better appreciate the traditional customs of the island. Recognized for its humid climate, Chilóe balances wild natural beauty with the warmth of its people and culture

Local Flavors
One of the fundamental elements of the diet of the people of Chilóe is the potato, which together with meat and products from the sea is an alimentation inherited from their ancestors. Within the most common foods of the Chilotes are: barbeques, ribs, shellfish dishes, and the famous curanto, the Chilote stew with lamb and pork grease, and the chapaleles (balls of wheat dough that commonly accompany the curanto). Each year in February there is a Festival of Traditions of Chilóe, a popular celebration that revives the customs and folklore of the island. During the festival, you can observe daily traditions and handiwork typical of Chiló

The Island of the Churches and the Palafitos
One of the most outstanding characteristics of Chilóe is its architecture, which is developed traditionally on the interior coast and beaches, sometimes reaching the surrounding hills. Every once in a while, Mediterranean towns emerge or solitary wooden structures appear on the summits of the small islands of the archipelago. The most characteristic are the churches (150 in total), the forts, bridges, windmills, and the peculiar palafitos, houses made of shingles of alerce (a now threatened conifer) built on wooden supports at the ocean shore.

Chilóe Nacional Park
For those of you who like the outdoors, Chilóe will surprise you with its great variety of possibilities. One of them is the Chilóe National Park, which has the largest variety of species and is situated on the western side of the Island, along the dismembered mountain range of the coast. The climate, humid and temperate, has allowed the existence of an Evergreen forest, made up primarily of wool grass, coigué, luma, myrtle, tepu, and alerce. The alerce (a threatened conifer) alone grows to be over 600 meters high. The fauna includes: the Chilote fox, the Chilean shrew oppossum, and the pudú (a minature deer). Some of these species, given the insular character of Chilóe, are endemic to the island.