Excursions
The hotel offers a range of half-day and full-day excursions. Day trips are scheduled and designed to allow our guests to discover the magic, culture and nature of the archipelago through a different angle each day, by alternating a variety of outings such as cultural trips, boating, trekking, horseback riding, outdoor sport activities and nature observation providing our guests the opportunity to visit unique sites to comprehend and appreciate this wonderful archipelago called Chiloé.
In Chiloé, the mixture of indigenous traditions, extensive processes of evangelization and stunning landscapes, give rise to traditions and unique jobs. The tours seek to rescue this cultural heritage, through visits to patrimonial sites, ancient Chiloe villages and the interaction with local people.
We want our travellers to know the cultural and natural wealth that revolves around the sea in Chiloé. For that, we offer navigations to different sectors to observe marine fauna (birds and mammals) and tours of the fjords to get to know the seaside culture that exists in the archipelago.
Horseback rides invite you to know the native landscapes of the island, travel ancestral paths and enjoy a natural and calm environment. All tours include safety elements like helmet and leggings for passengers, in addition to the supervision of an experienced guide throughout the journey. There are also trained horses for children.
For those who love nature and outdoor activities, we pray some options to get to know more about the natural side of the Chiloé archipelago. The hotel offers hiking activities, bicycle, kayak and fly fishing, which are developed in different areas of the island and in the surroundings of the hotel.
The hotel also offers packages that mix activities and walks in the vicinity of the hotel and other locations on the island, with purpose of our guests to take better advantage of their time.
Every afternoon, the team schedules the available activities for the next day and help our guests to choose the best options according to their interests and abilities. These excursions are made with at least one guide (English & Spanish speaker) and a maximum of 6 passengers, to offer the most personalized and intimate experience.
Below you will find some of the available excursions. Please contact us for a full list of excursions.
Aucar Island & Tenaún
We travel to the east coast of Chiloé and start the day visiting the town of Quemchi, known as "the commune of the thousand landscapes." Then we continue to the island of Aucar, more known as the Isle of Souls navigators, the name that the writer Quemchino, Don Francisco Coloane gave to this island. Since, it was a place of buried dead, hoping to sail one day.
We also get to know the town of Quicaví, famous for its myths and legends of sorcerers who would have lived in a cave in the past. You will visit Don Sergio Vidal Melian in Puchauran, he is a famous accordionist of the area and a Chilote Historian.
Rilan Peninsula Excursion
We will begin our tour of the Rilán Peninsula, where we visit Dagoberto to taste its rich ulmo honey. Then we will continue our trip to visit Mrs. Amanda, who will show us her greenhouses where she produces vegetables, flowers, potatoes and beans, which she delivers at the Feria de Castro on Saturdays.
We will continue towards a viewpoint where we will see the Lemuy Island and Rilán before ending our magical journey visiting the little town of Rilán, which enchants with its wonderful Church of World Heritage called Santa Maria de Rilan.
City Tour of Castro
We will leave from the hotel towards the city of Castro and visit the palafitos of Pedro Montt before we visit the craft fair and market of Lillo, where we can test the products that the Matriarchs Chilotas carry every day to market directly from their fields.
We will pass to taste a rich ceviche of salmón or corvina and then continue to the San Francisco de Castro Church, one of the 16 heritage churches. Then we will continue our tour to the viewpoint of Millantuy followed by travelling along the narrow streets where we will find some examples of the typical architecture of Chilotas houses until arriving at the Plazuela Enrique (old Gamboa) natural viewpoint towards the palafitos of the neighborhood Gamboa, from this small square can descend to the Mirador Palafitos Barrio Gamboa to finish our tour of the palafitos of Gamboa.
Castro Fjord Sailing
This navigation contemplates realising the old commercial route that existed between the Peninsula of Rilán and the city of Castro. The people of the peninsula used to use this route to take their products to handicrafts, basketry, vegetables and potatoes to sell to the city of Castro.
We will pass by the wetland of Putemún, where we can observe the extensive local fauna, from the month of July you can even see flamingos. Then we will sail through the Palafitos of Pedro Montt, many of them today restored and used as hotels and cafes. History notes that the ancient Chilotes were "taken" these lands by the sea, owned by no one. Here they could fish or shellfish when the tide went down and, at the same time, have a bit of land to cultivate.
Puñihuil Penguins and Ancud
We will go to the north of the island before we embark on a boat that will take us to the islets where we will be able to appreciate two penguin species that are with us until the month of March. After this navigation, we will have lunch in the Bay of Puñihuil and we will be able to taste the exquisite local gastronomy. We will also visit the museum of the friends of the Churches of Chiloé, where we can see models of the 16 UNESCO heritage churches.
*Please note: Between March and September, when there are no penguins, you will visit the Lacuy peninsula, its forts and beaches.
Dalcahue
In Dalcahue, one of the main ports of the island, we will visit the market and craft fair. Here we can appreciate the typical woodwork, basketry and weaving of natural wool of sheep and also try some local products. Then we will visit the church of our Lady of Sorrows of Dalcahue, UNESCO Heritage Church and its particular cemetery. We will also visit the renovated coastal promenade that connects with the fair and the Dalcahue.
Hotel Historic Trekking
We walk through the trails of the hotel, to get to know the construction story of the project and to appreciate the native wildlife present in the surroundings. We continue to the beach area nearby the hotel, in this place we can appreciate the view of Castro city and observe some species of seabirds and wetlands. Enjoy snacks and preparations of our Matriarch restaurant.
Huenuco Beach
We will visit Playa Huenuco and walk to the beach until we arrive at the Palafito of Edward Rojas, National Prize of Architecture. Depending on the cycles of the moon and the tides we will have the opportunity to fish in our pier, as well as we will be able to fish in our boat Chilote. Then we will proceed to wash the seafood as this will be part of an exquisite preparation for our chef.
Dalcahue & Quinchao Island
This tour contemplates the visit of various patrimonial churches and craftmans´ markets from the areas surrounding Dalcahue.
We start from the hotel to the patrimonial church of Rilán. Then we start heading towards the town of Dalcahue, where we visit the market, one of the most authentic of all the island, and its patrimonial church. We will cross by ferry to Quinchao Island, where we visit the towns of Achao; which has one of the oldest churches of Chile, and Quinchao; which houses the largest patrimonial church in the archipelago. We finally return to the town of Dalcahue to eat in its typical “cocinerias”, place where we can taste traditional chilotian meals like milcao, empanadas, curanto en olla (Pulmay) and various preparations of fish and local seafood.
National Park & Chonchi
You will be heading to Cucao in the south-west area of the island. We will pass by Huillinco to visit the cemetery. Bordering the lakes Huillinco and Cucao we will arrive at the imposing beach of Rahue. Then we will go to Chiloé National Park where we will visit the attractive visitor center and we will make a 1-hour walk along the El Tepual trail. Then we will have lunch in the restaurant de la Morelia. On the way back we will stop in Chonchi to see its patrimonial church, its beautiful coast and the museum of the city.
San Pedro - Aquilda: Horseback Riding
Travel 30 minutes in a van from the hotel to the town of San Pedro, where we will meet with the guide in charge of the ride, in this place we will receive a technical talk and the safety equipment. We will ride for 2 hours to the Aquildá suspended bridge, where we will enjoy a lunch with local preparations at the shores of the San Pedro River. Then, we will leave the horses to continue in a calm descent in kayak in the San Pedro river. This journey, of 1.5h of duration, can have 2 destination which are the San Pedro bridge or ”Cude” sector, depending of the conditions and time of year. In both cases we can appreciate the native forest from the water and do bird watching.
