Excursions
With Tierra Chiloé’s all-encompassing portfolio of excursions, you can hike, bike, kayak or sail your way through the charming landscapes of Chiloé.
Biking
Our self-guided biking excursions are the perfect way to get out, stretch your legs and familiarize yourself with the lands that lie around the hotel. Depending on your particular interests, physical ability and local weather conditions, our guides can offer tailor-made recommendations for your biking adventures in Chiloé. There are many different trails to choose from, everything from easy cycles to challenging off-road routes. Rides begin from the hotel and generally head towards the village of San Jose. Here, you can explore local life and stop for a well-earned break, having traversed the woodland, open fields and coastal paths along the way, relishing the mountain and sea views as you go.
Hiking
With lush green hills and Pacific Ocean blues all around, hiking the Island of Chiloé is at once breathtaking, fun, and nourishing for the soul. Whether you’re one for challenging treks or prefer a slower pace walk, we have an assortment of wonderful routes to choose from throughout this far-flung Chilean archipelago.
Horse Riding
At Tierra Chiloé, our horses live on property and are often seen grazing on our green fields throughout the day. Saddling up here means exploring our seashores, picturesque farmlands and rolling hills.
Scenic Voyages
Bosque Piedra
Discover the natural and cultural riches of Chiloé on this visit to the pristine Bosquepiedra Private Park. We begin our tour by heading southwest to Huillinco Lake. The park, sprawls for 12 hectares and is thick with dense, evergreen forest made up of canelos, coigues, avellano and mañio trees which are native to the region. Bosquepiedra has an impressive array of plantlife, including ferns, and a lichen garden whose miniature “forests” can be seen through magnifying glasses. The park lies on a geological fault line, and you can see exposed rock strata and deep pools sculpted out of the ground as well.
Castro
The beating heart of Chiloé lies in the traditional stilt houses, grand churches and authentic craft markets of Castro. This city, a 16th century former stronghold of Chilean governance, was used as an entry point to capture the island as an extension of the mainland. The history and cultural influences surrounding Castro make for an adventure of discovery. It begins with a visit to the colourful Mercado Yumbel. This vibrant market is awash with local produce, freshly caught fish and rustically woven wares, a place for islanders as well as visitors.
Mechuque
Chiloé’s surrounding, smaller islands are a treasure trove of wildlife and cultural heritage waiting to be discovered. Mechuque in the Chauques Isles, is one of the loveliest. Begin with a short tour of Tenaún, a quaint port town of few residents which has a striking central church. Boarding the boat in Tenaún, a windswept 45-minute voyage will take you to the Chauques archipelago, a beautiful maze of interconnecting waterways and landmasses. Mechuque is our first stop. Your afternoon can then be spent kayaking the serene canals of Chauques in traditionally dugout canoes or taking the relatively easy hike up the Mechuque viewpoint, the perfect place for enchanting panoramic views of this picturesque island network.
Special Interests
Backyard Pullao
The Humedales Orientales de Chiloé, or ‘Eastern Wetlands of Chiloé,’ are a vital ecosystem and welcome resting place for thousands of migrating shorebirds each year. Expanding across a total area of 30,000 km², these marshy plains are an important conservational site of significant proportions, highlighting some of Chile’s rich biodiversity and changeable geography. During this excursion into some of the more accessible sections of wetland, our local guide will be on hand to point out wildlife and explain more about the local seaweed collectors, who you may see at low tide. You can also enjoy a similar experience on the water itself by kayak, or visit nearby Salmon and Mussel farms, depending on your interests and preferences.
Duahatao-Chepu
The Sendero de Chile is a project designed to connect the entire length of Chile through scenic and naturally versatile walking trails. This enchanting trek will take in a small section of the wider trail, beginning at the beautiful Bay of Duhatao. From here, you will walk the twisting coastal cliffs as they merge into lush forest, taking time to appreciate privileged vantage points before heading deep into the woods. Birdlife abounds among ancient trees, where Hummingbirds dash between foliage amid the call of Chucao, Rayaditos and other native songbirds. The hiking will be steady, with any strenuous effort or uphill climbs being rewarded with invigorating views of the surrounding woodland, and out to the Chepu River in the distance. The trail descends gradually to the islet of Aulen, where you will have a relaxing stroll along the beach towards our awaiting vessel, which will take you for an exhilarating and well-earned boat ride upstream. Towards the end of this voyage, we will be rewarded with views of the Sunken Forest (“Bosque Hundido”), from the boat itself.
Quinchao Island
We head toward Achao, the island capital, and walk along its bay until arriving at the church. Depending on the time of year, we will see the work of local artisans. Here we will board the ferry to Quinchao Island, a quiet village that once a year transforms, receiving hundreds of tourists for one of the archipelago’s most important religious festivals. We will then visit a local organic farm and learn about the work of Chilote farmers and their famous crops of native potato and giant garlic. We will lunch in the area and then head to Curaco de Vélez, with its more than 100-year-old houses whose colorful shingles continue to delight. We will then travel by land to Dalcahue, to which artisans travel every weekend from the farthest islands to sell their weavings, baskets and woodwork at the age-old traditional market.
Ancestral Experience
When the tide (dependent on the moon cycle) is low, this beach offers the experience of collecting many types of seafood, especially clams. This activity is alive and fundamental to this day for the Chilote family. It will connect us vividly to the experience of ocean life.
Water Activities
Pullao Marsh
Located in our backyard, Pullao Marsh is one of the island’s most important marshes. There we will watch migratory birds such as the long-billed curlew, cormorants and flamingos. With the help of binoculars, we can watch them fly and, if lucky, we will row alongside dolphins. The tour will finish with one of the island’s longest standing traditions: clam harvesting, a very important activity for Chiloe.
Chen & Quehui
Set sail on our very own boat, the Williche, journeying southwest to the islands of Chelin and Quehui on this exciting full-day expedition. We’ll dock first at Chelin, a beautiful island laden with original houses tucked along old-fashioned streets, where we’ll stumble upon the neoclassical World Heritage Site church which has been painstakingly preserved with the help of local artisans and architects. We’ll continue to the cemetery, a fascinating sight to behold with tombstones imitating the village’s very own wooden shingled homes, making it appear like a miniature town of the dead, lost in time. Next up is Quehui Island, where tranquil waterways and opportunities for adventure await. Our boat will glide gently along the Pindo Estuary, taking us right to the heart of the island while admiring the spectacular scenery around us along the way. Don’t miss the chance to try your hand at kayaking through this ethereal land, or let our zodiacs take the strain and travel along the shoreline with ease. For those who’d prefer to stay on tierra firme, hop of one of the bicycles and make your way along the clifftop trails, rewarding yourself with spellbinding views of the island and beyond. Alternatively, opt for a gentle stroll through the streets of Quehui, absorbing its special aura, traditional cuisine and folklore, all of which are celebrated during the annual Ocean Festival here on the island.
Chepu
We will travel by land to Chepu and sail downstream to the mouth of the river. Here we will begin our walk toward the south of the river, passing through native and coastal forests that have been beat down by the wind. Arriving at Guabil Beach, we will take in a landscape characteristic of the western coast of Chiloe with green cliffs that fall abruptly into the sea. A little farther along, we will come across an old, grounded ship. Returning to the mouth of the river, we will continue sailing to the “Pier of Light” (Muelle de la Luz). Legend has it that from this place at night, it is common to see lights in the sky, on the horizon and on the ocean; sometimes the lights of a wizard, sometimes those of a Caleuche and other times light from other planets. We will return to our ferry and start our return trip upriver among gorgeous submerged forests.
