La Isla Grande de Chiloé (the Great Island of Chiloé) is located 1186 km. from Santiago and 90 km. southeast of Puerto Montt. To reach the island, one travels southeast from Puerto Montt towards Pargua, where one then takes the ferry across the Canal de Chacao. Plane The fastest way to get to Puerto Montt and then...

Buried Treasures Chiloé abounds with stories of buried treasure, and of the fortunes made by people who have seen the flames and followed the trails to find riches buried by the Spaniards, or by rich tradesmen who found no better way of guarding their wealth than by burying it, and then died without revealing their secrets...

Potatoes are one of the most important ingredients in the Chiloé islanders diet, along with meat and sea produce which were all part of their ancestors staple diet.    The islanders consume a wide range of food like; causeos (chopped cold food) and barbeques, ribs, seafood soups and the famous curanto cooked in a pot...

What is known as la minga de tiradura de casas is an old Chiloé island custom which consists of moving houses by floating them along the water from one part of the archipelago to another. They do this by tying them to a boat which pulls them over the water and then use a group of oxen to pull them to their destination.   ...

The Night of San Juan  It was common for families in Chiloe to have one or more members called Juan or Juana. The celebrations which take place on the night of San Juan are dedicated to them.   Relatives and friends gathered around the stove to cook roast pork, drink apple or grape chicha , tell a few jokes, make tropo using...

All of the traditional dishes described below make use of the local products available, from both the sea and the land. The diet of the islanders is made up of these local products. "La Mazamorra" This is made from raw or cooked flour mixed with redcurrants or apples to which a little bit of water and sugar is added. In some...

Amidst the great cultural wealth that we have inherited from our ancestors, we find a series of beliefs founded on supernatural experiences or simply unfamiliar experiences, which lend a mystical, magical touch to our charming island of Chiloé.   Superstitions of good fortune When a rooster crows at midnight, there will...