Lakes & Volcanoes District

The Lakes and Volcanoes Region of southern Chile is the expression of nature in its inimitable beauty and surprising exuberance. Among volcanic cataclysms, iceberg sculptures, rain and snow, torrential rivers, natural hot springs, temperate rain forests and crystal clear lakes, we find a landscape in movement, one that is constantly modeled and changing before our eyes.

This is the mother land of the Mapuche Indians, one of South America’s most important indigenous cultures. There are national and private parks in the south that protect the last araucaria; an age- old pine native to the region up to 4000 years and older and is today a National Monument in Chile. The Alerce forest (larch), a tree, sometimes referred to as the South –American redwood. Some hard-to-find specimens are 3500 years old and more.

 
The cities of Temuco and Pucón, build in the heart of Mapuche country, and are Ecotours natural gateways to the wide range of attractions that the region offers; hiking, biking, trekking, fishing and many other activities in the beautiful National Parks and National Reserves.

TO SEE A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THE REGION CLICK HERE

 TO SEE A GALLERY OF IMAGES CLICK HERE

Click on PDF to see an example of a tour:

RIVERS, LAKES & VOLCANOES IN THE SOUTH 5D-4N / PDF

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE LAKES & VOLCANOES DISTRICT 6D-5N / PDF

 
NOTE: AS THIS A VERY EXTENDED REGION, ALMOST 350 KM, AND WITH A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES TO OFFER, WE HAVE DIVIDED IT IN 7 AREAS FROM NORTH TO SOUTH


FULL DAY AND HALF DAY EXCURSIONS IN THE LAKES AND VOLCANOES DISTRICT
You may combine all these programs and make your own trip on regular or private basis. Also tailor made tours for groups and or individuals.  Lodging and transportation can also be provided by us.
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FD = Full day trip    HD = Half day trip

Departing from Pucón or Temuco, we’ll drive about 2 ½ hours passing through old-fashioned little towns like Cunco and Melipeuco until we’ll get to the Conguillío National Park, one of the most attractive and outstanding parks of the Lakes & Volcanoes District. This well-conserved territory lies from 900 to 3.125 meters high (2.953 to 10.253 feet) covering an area of 60.832 hectares (150.320 acres).  
While we visit the park you will witness how the Llaima volcano has permanently shaped the landscape of the area with its eruptions and you’ll have the fantastic opportunity to walk on the lava flows that once came from the heart of the earth.
We'll also visit the Truful-Truful Falls and the pristine Arco Iris (Rainbow) Lagoon with its clear waters that reflect stunning colors. Then we’ll have a box-lunch at Playa Linda located at the shores of Conguillío Lake (nice beach); followed by hiking along the Sierra Nevada trail (2 ½ hours round trip) surrounded by native trees, including ancient monkey-puzzle tree or araucarias (Araucaria araucana), raulí (Nothofagus alpina) and coigüe (Nothofagus dombeyi). Normally, it takes about 1 ½ hours to get to the second look-out point which is overlooking the majestic lake Conguillío and the Sierra Nevada Range. We'll also be able to spot endemic birds such as the Magellan woodpecker (Campephilus magellanicus), which we will see searching the tree trunks for insects, as well as we hear and possibly watch the Chucao tapaculo (Selorchilis rubecula) and the noisy Slender-billed parakeet (Enicognatus leptorhynchus). After spending some time taking pictures and enjoying the amazing view, we'll hike back to the bottom of the trail and then get in the minibuses to drive to the Park Information Center, where we'll learn about the different fauna, trees, and other interesting aspects of the sector. After that visit we’ll commence our return to the urban areas, driving 2 ½ hours approximately. 

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The excursion begins in Temuco where we head towards the Pacific coast, driving across the traditional towns of Nueva Imperial and Carahue (located 45kms / 28 miles from Temuco). In the latter town we’ll stop a few minutes to photograph a group of old locomotives that compose the Museum of Steam Engines. Then we’ll continue on our trip until arriving to Puerto Dominguez, a picturesque village that is the gateway of this indigenous land (1 ½ hours drive from Temuco). At this point we’ll discover the beautiful surroundings of Lake Budi, located in the middle of an indigenous development area. The lake is one of the few saltwater lakes in South America, providing an excellent habitat for about 130 species of native and migratory birds, including the graceful Black-necked swan (Cygnus melancoryphus).
We'll visit Mapuche-Lafquenche families who will teach us about their ancient traditions. We'll get to know their art crafts such as their home-made musical instruments, as well as their typical dwellings made of straw and with a fire-place in the interior of the “ruka” or tepee. The ethnic community will perform a presentation with some of their dances and sports. We’ll have lunch at a typical restaurant situated on the Budi Lake and then head to the beaches of Puerto Saavedra.  All of these activities will be conducted with an authentically dressed Mapuche guide who will shed light on the history, traditions, and language of his/hers people. Return to the hotel or meeting point in Temuco. 

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The city tour starts with a visit to the main square of the city, Plaza Aníbal Pinto. Here we find a monument in honor to the Mapuche people and the Spanish conquerors. Then we head off to visit the Pablo Neruda Railroad Museum that houses 14 steam locomotives, followed by visiting the Regional Museum of La Araucanía where we’ll learn about the local history and ethnic groups that populated this area. We continue exploring the main streets of Temuco’s downtown until we arrive to the entry of Cerro Ñielol. This natural monument is the only wild protected area in Chile that is located within a city. We'll visit the Ñielol Hill walking through its trails, discovering the native vegetation, flowers and birds. After 30 minutes we’ll arrive at the top of the hill to enjoy a splendid view of the city of Temuco from a look-out-point. Carrying on our stroll, we pass by the place where both Spanish and Mapuche once signed a peace treaty and today we find four big wooden totems facing the point of sunset.   
We continue on with the tour, visiting the Environmental Interpretation Center where we'll take a look at a model illustrating the entire 9th Region of ¨La Araucanía¨ with its national parks, volcanoes, and lakes. Likewise, there is an interesting display of various native animals (desiccated) as well as some didactic information about the volcanic activity of the area.
The best place to find products and handcrafts of the Mapuche is the Municipal Market, so we’ll visit its shops and have lunch enjoying the specialties of the region.
In the afternoon we’ll conclude the tour visiting a Mapuche farm located only 30 minutes drive from the city, where we’ll learn a bit more about their culture, beliefs and traditions. Return to hotel or to meeting point.

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We leave Temuco at 11 o’clock and head north through the Pan American Highway, traveling 25 kms (15 miles) until we reach the town of Lautaro, where we take a secondary road that goes east toward the Andean area. On our travel, as we get closer to the mountains, the scenery becomes absolutely amazing with views to three volcanoes, Tolhuaca, Llaima and Lonquimay. En route we pass through the town of Curacautín, and in the sector of Manzanar, we’ll have a tasty lunch in a typical southern-chilean restaurant followed by visiting the dazzling Princess Waterfall. Then, we continue on until we arrive to the quaint village of Malalcahuello. This little village is well-known because its proximity to the stunning Lonquimay volcano and also for its fantastic thermal waters. Here we find the Malalcahuello Hot Springs, he most modern thermal resort of the region, where you can relax and enjoy the soothing baths. The resort has a fully equipped large indoor thermal pool, and two small pools at different temperatures (one very cold and one very hot). The Spa offers massages and beauty therapy services for an additional cost.  For those more interested in revelry and merry making, there is a restaurant and bar. In the evening, we return to Temuco. End of services.

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We'll visit the scenic town of Pucón, the main adventure destination in the Lakes & Volcanoes District. This town is approximately 75 minutes driving from Temuco and 2½ hours from Valdivia. 
We’ll enjoy the beaches from the shores of Lake Villarrica from where we'll have a great view of the Villarrica Volcano (if the weather conditions are favorable), which has an altitude of 2.847 mts / 9.340 feet above sea level. In town, we'll check out the regional art and crafts, especially the wooden flowers that seem to be stunningly real at first glance. Then, we'll travel southeast on a beautiful country road dominated by the Villarrica Volcano hanging over us, taking in the green country landscape, with cows and horses. After driving 45 minutes, we’ll arrive at Huife Hot Springs, a thermal center located by the Liucura River and surrounded by stunning native forests. The place offers three outdoor thermal pools at different temperatures, a good restaurant and a cafeteria. In addition, the center also includes massage and beauty therapy services for an additional cost. 
We'll have lunch at the restaurant and then enjoy the scenery while relaxing in the therapeutic thermal waters. It is highly recommendable to change pools because varying the body temperature stimulates blood circulation, i.e. from hot to cold water, but if you feel brave enough, we encourage you to go into the cold waters of the river Liucura and then jump back to a hot pool. Return to hotel or meeting place. End of services. 

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On this excursion we’ll take a relaxing walk, visiting four waterfalls, el Palguín, el Leon, el Puma and la China. Traveling towards the east, we have a great view (if the weather conditions are favorable) of the Villarrica Volcano, which has an altitude of 2.847 mts / 9.340 feet. Then, we'll travel southeast on a beautiful country road dominated by green country landscape and some snow-capped peaks. After 1 hour we’ll spot the first of the waterfalls, El Palguín, followed by driving to the entrance of el Leon and el Puma falls. We start walking through a trail surrounded by many kinds of Nothofagus, the predominant tree genre, until we hear the strong sound of the waterfall. After 15 minutes of walking, we will encounter el Leon waterfall and new vegetation formed by ferns, shrubs and plants that need high levels of humidity, i.e. chilcos (Fucsia magellanica) and nalcas (Gunnera chilensis). Then, we walk back to the entrance and take another trail that leads to el Puma waterfall, which can be reached after a 25-minute walk though an uneven terrain. Finally, we continue on foot on a very easy trail to get to La China waterfall, which is only 7 minutes from the entrance. At La China, we’ll have a box lunch in the picnic area and then drive to visit the Huife Hot Springs, a thermal center located by the Liucura River and surrounded by stunning native forests. The place offers three outdoor thermal pools at different temperatures, a good restaurant and a cafeteria. In addition, the center also includes massage and beauty therapy services for an additional cost. In this place you can enjoy the scenery while relaxing in the therapeutic thermal waters. It is highly recommendable to change pools because when varying the body temperature that stimulates blood circulation, i.e. from hot to cold water; but if you feel brave enough, we encourage you to go into the cold waters of the river Liucura and then jump back to a hot pool. Return to hotel or meeting place.
End of services.

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Departing from Temuco, we’ll drive for about 75 minutes until we arrive at the town of Pucón, the main adventure destination in the Lakes & Volcanoes District. When in Pucón, we head southeast in the direction of Huerquehue National Park, located at the foothills of the Andes, 35 km (22 miles) from Pucón.
The park covers 12.500 hectares (30.890 acres) with various lagoons, dense vegetation and gigantic trees that are the habitat of several endemic birds.  
We pass the entrance post and drive another 3 km until the road ends; from this point we are at only 400 m from the trail.
The hike starts easy but after a short distance the trail becomes rougher and sometimes steeper, but is still considered a relatively easy hiking level.
After walking 30 minutes at an easy pace, we’ll get to the Nido de Aguilas (nest of eagles) waterfalls and then we’ll keep hiking on a steeper terrain, surrounded by gigantic coigües (Nothofagus dombeyi) and mañíos (Podocarpus nubigena). We have arrived at the first lookout point where the views of Villarrica Volcano (2.847 m / 9.349 feet) and Tinquilco Lake are absolutely stunning; here you’ll find great photo opportunities as well as chance to reenergize with a snack. As we continue hiking, our guide will point out some wild flora of the area (i.e. mutisias, orchids and alstroemerias), and if luck is on our side, we can spot some birds that live in the forests of Nothofagus, such as Chucao tapaculo (Selorchilis rubecula), black-throated huet-huet (Pteroptochos tarnii) and the Magellan woodpecker (Campephilus magellanicus) among others.
After hiking another 20 minutes, we’ll arrive at the Trufulco Falls where we stop for a short time. At this point the trail gets more demanding, but not so much that everyone won’t be able to reach the second lookout point, where the view gets even better. We’ll enjoy a well deserved box lunch and spend some more time taking pictures or simply resting. This is the end of our ascent, now we can commence the decent by the same trail to the starting point.
We leave the park and drive 40 minutes though a scenic rural road to visit and unwind at Huife Hot Springs, which will be the perfect end to this active day.
The thermal center is located by the Liucura River and is surrounded by stunning native forests. The place offers three outdoor thermal pools at different temperatures, a good restaurant and a cafeteria. In addition, the center also includes massage and beauty therapy services for an additional cost. In this place you can enjoy the scenery while relaxing in the therapeutic thermal waters. Return to hotel or meeting place. End of services.

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To make this adventure hike possible, you’ll have to try on the mountain gear the evening before the day of your excursion. The next morning you will have to be ready at 7 o’clock and if the weather conditions are favorable, we’ll start driving to the Pucón Ski Resort located at the base of the volcano at 1.400 meters / 4.593 feet. Ascending the active Villarrica Volcano is without a doubt a once in a lifetime experience, the climb is not technical, but you need to be in good shape to reach the summit.
Once we arrive at the parking lot we can buy the lift ticket that will take us to the higher part of the ski courses at 1.800 mts / 5.906 feet, saving us almost 2 hours of climbing. From the top of the lift we begin ascending the slopes of the volcano, stopping briefly every 30 minutes, having a longer break to eat our food when we are half way to the crater. If we find hard snow or ice we’ll put on the crampons and use the piolets and after 5 hours we’ll reach the live crater at 2847 meters / 9.349 feet above sea level. The views from the top are absolutely mind-blowing, overlooking five lakes and several volcanoes in the distance such as Llaima and Lanín. The descent is quite fun, especially when we can slide down the snow on our rear ends. In the winter season and only if you are an experienced skier or snowboarder, we can climb the volcano carrying the equipment and make a thrilling descent that takes only 20 minutes. We’ll return to the vehicles around 5 pm and immediately head off to Pucón, where we hand back the gear. End of services.  

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Due to the intensive volcanic activity in this part of Chile, many thermal spa or natural hot springs can be visited in this area, but only a few offers the perfect combination of thermal facilities and natural surroundings. Driving from Temuco, the trip takes 2½ hours (1½ hours coming from Pucón).
Located in the environs of the Villarrica National Park, Termas Geometricas has 16 thermal pools along with waterfalls, native trees and ferns. The pools are strategically placed allowing the visitors to never feel overcrowded. The natural surroundings are exuberant and the facilities are simple but very cozy. Its proximity with the park makes it the perfect place to combine sport activities with relaxation.
On our return to Pucón or Temuco, we’ll have a wonderful view of Calafquén Lake, which is situated on the eastern border of Coñaripe, a town that was totally destroyed by the 1964 eruption of the Villarrica volcano (Rucapillan).  End of services.

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Departing from Temuco or Pucón, we’ll take about 2¾ hours to get to Valdivia, arriving to the “river city” before noon. During the morning we visit the multicolor Feria Fluvial (river market), a produce & seafood street market where you can get familiar with the daily life of the city. Great South American sea lions (Otaria flavescens) co-exist with the local vendors along with pelicans, seagulls and cormorants on the shores of the river.
Then we’ll drive toward the village of Niebla on the Pacific coast, visiting the fishermen’s cove of Los Molinos. Here we’ll enjoy fresh fish and seafood for lunch, the chef’s specialty. In the afternoon we will travel across a beautiful country-side road by the Pacific Ocean, until arriving at Punta Curiñanco, a protected reserve by CODEFF (a Chilean organization for native flora and fauna protection). The protected area covers 80.92 hectares (200 acres) of land and maintains a unique evergreen forest of 250 year-old Olivillo costero trees (Aetoxicum punctatum). The area has been recognized by the World Wildlife Fund and the World Bank as one of the 200 ecosystems with such rich biodiversity in the world.
The hike takes a total of about 3 hours and ranges between easy and medium trails passing through rainforest and beautiful coastal cliffs; the flora is mostly native trees, huge ferns, vines and shrubs with fruits that are ripe and ready to eat during summertime.
In the reserve, the presence of birds like the black vulture (Coragyps atratus), thorn-tailed rayadito (Aphrastura spinicauda), magellan woodpecker (Campephilus magellanicus), and chucao tapaculo (Selorchilis rubecula) are commonly present. By the coast we can see the brown-hooded gull (Larus maculipennis) and some cormorants like the red-legged (Phalacrocorax gaimardi) and the neotropic (Phalacrocorax brasilianus). If we are lucky, we can spot the chungungo (Lontra felina), a marine feline that swims next to rocks covered by cochayuyos (seaweed) in search of its food.
Finally, on the way back to Valdivia, we will visit the Kunstmann brewery to enjoy a cold beer and reflect on our experiences of the day. Return to your hotel or meeting point. End of services.

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Only a few miles from the picturesque villages of Neltume and Choshuenco lays the Huilo Huilo Nature Reserve; a private ecological initiative located in the heart of the ancient temperate rainforest at the tip of South America. Its wide variety of native trees (mainly of Nothofagus genre) covers 90% of its sixty thousand hectares.
The Reserve boasts of nearly 250 kilometers of roads and trails that allow you to discover pristine beaches, streams, waterfalls and lakes. We can truly say that Huilo-Huilo is one of those places that “has everything you need". The Mocho and Choshuenco volcanoes with their glaciers that allow for the practice of skiing and snowboarding (it has the only Summer Snowboard Park of South America), spectacular water falls, native forest, rivers and a wide array of activities ranging from canopy, horse-back riding, 4x4 overland and hiking trails for all levels. The reserve also has within it the exceptional Montaña Magica (magic mountain) Lodge and Huilo Huilo Cabins, where several days worth of sports activities can be carried out. To get to this wonderful reserve we can start from Temuco, Valdivia or Pucón, the only difference is the traveling time, which ranges from one to three hours, depending on the city of departure.

Within the park we find four hiking trails, the Magnetic Stones trail (3-hour hike, medium), the Truful Route (3½-hour hike, medium), the Truful River (6-hour hike, difficult) and Quinchamalí Lookout-point (3-hour hike, easy). Some of the highlights include a botanical forest, scenic clear-water lagoons, mighty waterfalls and amazing views of snow-capped volcanoes.      
For those people keen to learn about the Reserve’s natural value, there are scientific walks that focus on the botanic, bird watching, geology and history of the place, as well as flora & fauna interpretation.
Finally, a terrific way to experience the nature here is with the canopy tour; a group of platforms between 15 and 25 m high (50 to 80 feet) are linked to each other by hanging bridges and suspended steal-wires. You’ll literally feel like you are flying over the rainforest, rivers and canyons, as you glide across the cables, following a route that extends for 3 km /2 miles.

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To visit the Mocho-Choshuenco National Reserve we can start from Temuco, Valdivia or Pucón, the only difference is the traveling time, which can range from one to three hours depending on the city of departure.
Only a few miles from the picturesque villages of Neltume and Choshuenco lays the Huilo Huilo Nature Reserve; a private ecological initiative located in the heart of the ancient temperate rainforest at the tip of South America. Its wide variety of native trees (mainly of Nothofagus genre) covers 90% of its sixty thousand hectares.
The Reserve boasts of nearly 250 kilometers of roads and trails that allow you to discover untouched beaches, streams, water falls and lakes. In this privileged natural environment you’ll be stunned with the exuberance of the spring, the flowering temperate summer, the golden colored forest in autumn and the tranquil beauty of the snow covered forest in the winter.
The Unimog is a 4x4 refurbished military truck that can reach almost anyplace in Huilo Huilo, and today we’ll have the opportunity to get on it and go off-road through the park on a 2½-hour safari. While driving across the forest we’ll reach the upper part of this natural area and enter the National Reserve Mocho-Choshuenco, where we find the Mocho (2.422 meters / 7.946 feet) and Choshuenco (2.415 meters / 7.923 feet) volcanoes. The landscape from the top is absolutely breathtaking, overlooking massive volcanoes such as Lanín (3.710 meters / 12.172 feet) and Villarrica (2.847 meters / 9.340 feet).

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We invite you to join us in this amazing scenic excursion to Antillanca Ski Resort located in the Puyehue National Park, which was founded in 1941 and is situated in an extraordinarily beautiful zone in the middle of the Andes foothills. Its surface area covers 100 thousand hectares (220,000 acres), with its unique geography resulting from intense glaciations and volcanic action.
The volcanic activity manifests itself in the Antillanca area, where we find the dormant Casablanca Volcano, rising to an altitude of 1,990 m (6,527 feet above sea level). The Humid Evergreen forest, originated due to the high rainfall in the zone, is the predominant forest in the park. Of the species found here, the most common ones include ulmo (Eucryphia cordifolia) and coigüe (Nothofagus dombeyi), which are most abundant in the lower levels of the park.

We’ll start driving from Lake Puyehue, ascending by a paved road until we get to the entrance of the park. Then we continue on and take a dirt road that finally will take us to the ski center (45-60 minute drive). While traveling, we can see beautiful waterfalls and tranquil small lakes such as Toro, Encanto and Paraiso. Upon arriving at the mountain center we’ll take a mountain road that leads us to the Rayhuén crater (place with flowers) of 1,350 m altitude (4,429 ft) at the foothill of the Casablanca Volcano. Here at the extinct crater we take a little break while enjoying the view of Lake Puyehue and then resume driving along the dirt road until we get to Cerro Mirador at 1,360 m (4,462 ft). If the day is clear we can see three amazing snow-capped mountains, Mount Tronador (3,491 m / 11,453 ft), Puntiagudo Volcano (2,498 m / 8,196 ft) and Osorno Volcano with its perfect cone (2652 m / 8,700 ft). We can walk for a while, overlooking the breathtaking landscape of the Andes; and later on we’ll head off to Antillanca Hotel where we’ll have lunch and then drive back to your hotel.

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When in Puerto Varas or Puerto Montt, it is always worth while a visit to Frutillar, a quaint little city with a strong German heritage, situated by the Llanquihue Lake, overlooking the Osorno Volcano. You’ll be charmed by the German-style houses, the beautifully maintained gardens and the scenery of the Lakes & Volcanoes District.
If we depart from Puerto Montt the drive will take 35 minutes, and if leaving from Puerto Varas, we’ll drive for 20 minutes until getting to the city. We will visit the German Museum, which is managed by the Austral University and will give you the chance to learn about how this vast area was colonized by German families during the nineteenth century, and how their traditions continue to influence and persist in the current way of life. The museum includes a water mill, a blacksmith house, a barn with old tools and farm machines and a fully furnished family house.
After this cultural activity, we’ll walk to the German Club where we’ll enjoy a tasty and filling German-style meal (lunch or dinner). Return to your hotel or meeting point.

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When in Puerto Varas or Puerto Montt, it’s worth while to visit the Vicente Perez Rosales National Park, the very first wild protected area in Chile. The park covers a territory of nearly 627 thousand acres with extraordinary landscapes that include native forests, mountains and volcanoes with snow-capped peaks. 

On the way out from Puerto Varas, we’ll travel alongside the Llanquihue Lake toward the village of Ensenada, where we head southeast and arrive at the entrance of the park (1½-hour drive). Here we head off by foot on a trail that after only 10 minutes will take us to the powerful Petrohue Falls with their turquoise waters; there are three beautiful waterfalls that make their way through solid basaltic rocks that once came from the depths of the earth. If the weather permits, we will have a magnificent view of the Osorno Volcano (2652 m / 8,700 ft) with its rounded top; the volcano seems to be so close that it becomes the perfect backdrop for such an idyllic landscape.
After a few minutes of wandering around the picture-perfect surroundings and taking photos, we’ll walk for 20 minutes through an easy and even trail called Los Enamorados (the lovers), passing by the shores of the river Petrohué and the pristine native forest. If we are lucky, we can spot the ringed kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata stellata) that can be seen perched on a branch looking for fish in the clear-water ponds. Then we go back to the vehicles and head to the amazingly gorgeous Todos Los Santos Lake (all the saints) where we spend some more time enjoying the scenery.
Return to your hotel. End of services.

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The Alerce Andino National Park is a mountainous zone that covers 39.225 hectares (96.927 acres), situated east of Puerto Montt City, between the Gulf and the Estuary of Reloncaví and south of Chapo Lake. It boasts of over 20.000 hectares of Larch trees forest (Fitzroya cupressoides) and around 50 small lakes scattered throughout this uneven geography. It is an ideal place for trekking, mountain climbing, hiking and nature watching.

Traveling from Puerto Montt, the park is 40 km away (25 miles), taking around a 1½ hours by van. The road is considered the starting point of the world famous Austral Road (Carretera Austral), passing by beautiful evergreen forests, farm fields and amazing mountain peaks.  We’ll walk through the native forest on an even trail that is covered by a dozen of different kinds of ferns and moss. The trail leads to a nice-looking cascade and takes only 20 minutes to complete.

Then we continue walking on the main road of the park, catching views of larch trees in the distance as we pass a stream and get ready to start our next 2½ -hour hike (round trip). This trail is more uneven but not excessively steep and leads to the tranquil Sargazo Lake. Return to the vehicles and transfer to the city. End of services.

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The island of Chiloé along with its rich mythology and wild nature (terrestrial and marine) is practically a country within a country. Its enchanting scenery with beautiful landscapes and turbulent ocean together with its traditional customs, values and culture make this little piece of paradise an inspiration for poets and writers. The excellent gastronomy with its fresh seafood and the nationally-famous summer festivals are some of the things that allure both Chilean and foreign visitors.
 
The Isla Grande de Chiloé (Great Island of Chiloé) honors its name as it is the second biggest island in South America and the largest in Chile; it covers almost 9,000 km2 (5,592 miles2) and the neighboring islands add another 1,000 km2 (621 miles2) , forming the Archipelago of Chiloé. The Chacao Channel lies on the northern side of the island, between the island and the mainland. On the eastern side, the sea is closed in by the Reloncaví Bay and the Ancud and Reloncaví Gulfs blocking the wind and calming the waters, which enables the development of smaller islands and settlements on its shores. The Pacific Ocean is on the west, where we find the wild protected areas.
   
Chiloé is also recognized by its remarkable wooden architecture (public buildings and houses) and today we will focus on some of the most outstanding architectural miracles, The Churches of the Archipelago. Encouraged by their fervent Catholic faith, the local community managed to build over 150 churches with their available resources, which was mainly native wood. Sixteen of these have been declared World Heritage sites by UNESCO due to them being one of the few examples in the world of XVIII century wooden architecture.

We’ll begin our tour traveling to the town of Dalcahue, where we visit its church and handicraft market, and then we cross by ferryboat to the Quinchao Island. The first place that we visit in this island is the picturesque village of Curaco de Velez, where we can learn about the most distinctive way of housing construction in Chiloé by the use of wooden tiles; walking only two blocks we’ll observe over ten different types of tiles. Then we continue driving until arrive at Achao, the main town of this island, where we visit one of the most beautiful churches in the archipelago, the Church of Achao. The moment you enter the temple you’ll immediately feel the exquisite aroma of cypress while you come to understand some of the techniques people used to build this piece of art.
We return to the main island and drive to Castro, the Island’s capital city, where we stop by a group of bright colored Palafitos (houses on stilts) to take the classic photo of Chiloé. This type of house is commonly seen near the main cities and they are always built on the waterfront. Then we visit the church of San Francisco de Castro with its stunning interior all carved in wood; the priest is always very welcoming and can tell us some of the interesting details of the church. Finally we’ll enjoy a traditional Curanto, a local dish of seafood and different kinds of meat (lunch or dinner). Return to your hotel, end of services.

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HALF DAY TOUR TO CHILOÉ NATIONAL PARK, CHANQUIN AREA, CUCAO

The island of Chiloé along with its rich mythology and wild nature (terrestrial and marine) is practically a country within a country. Its enchanting scenery with beautiful landscapes and turbulent ocean together with its traditional customs, values and culture make this little piece of paradise an inspiration for poets and writers. The excellent gastronomy with its fresh seafood and the nationally-famous summer festivals are some of the things that allure both Chilean and foreign visitors.
 
The Isla Grande de Chiloé (Great Island of Chiloé) honors its name as it is the second biggest island in South America and the largest in Chile; it covers almost 9,000 km2 (5,592 miles2) and the neighboring islands add another 1,000 km2 (621 miles2) , forming the Archipelago of Chiloé. The Chacao Channel lies on the northern side of the island, between the island and the mainland. On the eastern side, the sea is closed in by the Reloncaví Bay and the Ancud and Reloncaví Gulfs blocking the wind and calming the waters, which enables the development of smaller islands and settlements on its shores. The Pacific Ocean is on the west, where we find the wild protected areas.
   
We’ll begin our tour traveling south towards the town of Chonchi where we visit its church, and then we take a gravel road heading west in direction to Cucao, a little village located right next to one of the park entrances in the Chanquin area (59 km / 37 miles away from Castro). The park protects a territory of 43,057 hectares (106,396 acres) that are facing the open sea and where many of the species under protection have a high degree of endemism, such as the deer pudú (Pudu pudu) and some subspecies of Nothofagus.
Our excursion in the park will consist of a 45-minute hike through a trail called El Tepual, where we’ll learn about an interesting type of forest that grows in Chiloé. Its name is “Maraña”, which is a shrubby forest absolutely covered by vines, lichens, moss and ferns, making it so dense that you can barely see more than two meters ahead. Finally, we’ll hike up to a look-out point and enjoy the view of the lakes Cucao and Huelde, and then we’ll return vehicles hiking by the sand dunes of a solitary beach. Transfer to the city and end of services.

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The island of Chiloé along with its rich mythology and wild nature (terrestrial and marine) is practically a country within a country. Its enchanting scenery with beautiful landscapes and turbulent ocean together with its traditional customs, values and culture make this little piece of paradise an inspiration for poets and writers. The excellent gastronomy with its fresh seafood and the nationally-famous summer festivals are some of the things that allure both Chilean and foreign visitors.

The Isla Grande de Chiloé (Great Island of Chiloé) honors its name as it is the second biggest island in South America and the largest in Chile; it covers almost 9,000 km2 (5,592 miles2) and the neighboring islands add another 1,000 km2 (621 miles2) , forming the Archipelago of Chiloé. The Chacao Channel lies on the northern side of the island, between the island and the mainland. On the eastern side, the sea is closed in by the Reloncaví Bay and the Ancud and Reloncaví Gulfs blocking the wind and calming the waters, which enables the development of smaller islands and settlements on its shores. The Pacific Ocean is on the west, where we find the wild protected areas.

Chiloé is also recognized by its remarkable wooden architecture (public buildings and houses) and today we will focus on some of the most outstanding architectural miracles, The Churches of the Archipelago. Encouraged by their fervent Catholic faith, the local community managed to build over 150 churches with their available resources, which was mainly native wood. Sixteen of these have been declared World Heritage sites by UNESCO due to them being one of the few examples in the world of XVIII century wooden architecture.

We’ll begin our day excursion traveling to the town of Dalcahue, where we visit its church and handicraft market, and then we cross by ferryboat to the Quinchao Island. The first place that we visit in this island is the picturesque village of Curaco de Velez, where we can learn about the most distinctive way of housing construction in Chiloé by the use of wooden tiles; walking only two blocks we’ll observe over ten different types of tiles. Then we continue driving until arrive at Achao, the main town of this island, where we visit one of the most beautiful churches in the archipelago, the Church of Achao. The moment you enter the temple you’ll immediately feel the exquisite aroma of cypress while you come to understand some of the techniques people used to build this piece of art.