Visiting the National Park on Chiloe Island
A Great Excursion From the Town of Castro in Chile
Feb 18, 2009
One of the highlights of the island of Chiloe in Chile is the Parque Nacional Chiloe. Visitors of all levels of hiking experience will enjoy the National Park. It has day hikes, longer hikes and camping. People can hike in the mountains and forest or find themselves on long stretches of deserted beaches.
The park was founded in 1982 and is about 43,000 hectares. The annual temperature is 10 degrees Celsius. The climate is typically marine; rainy and humid with coastal winds. But no need to worry, there is plenty of sun as well, especially in the summer months of January and February.
The park fee of 1,000 Chilean pesos (under $2 U.S.) includes a map of the park. There are well-marked trails for the family and more adventurous ones for experienced hikers.
Getting to the Parque Nacional on Chiloe
The best way to reach the park is by taking a bus to the city Cucao. Most cities on the island of Chiloe will have this bus service. The driver drops passengers off right in front of the gate to the park. That is where maps and entrance tickets are sold.
A good base from which to visit the park is from the city of Castro. There is plenty to do and many hostels to stay in. There are several buses every day to and from the park departing from the main bus terminal in Castro. The earliest bus depart at 6:00AM with the latest returning bus at 6PM. The bus takes about two hours and the price is around 3,000 Chilean pesos (under $6 U.S.).
Activities in the National Park on Chiloe
Visitors can hike on their own or choose a guided hike. Many people go to Parque Nacional Chiloe simply to enjoy the beaches. The beaches tend to be empty and beautiful. One can also go fishing, horseback riding or boating.
People can bring their own tents or stay in refugios. Refugios are cabins with hot water, bathrooms and most amenities one could want. Spaces are limited so it is a good idea to reserve ahead for both refugios and tented spaces.
Hiking Options in Parque Nacional Chiloe
Hikes vary in length from an estimated 40 minutes up to eight hours. Below are some of the main hikes.
· Rio Lar: 11 kilometers in distance, estimated time it takes to hike is 5 hours. It is in the Chepu area of the park which is the Northern-most sector. There is a river crossing on the hike.
· Cole Cole: This 16 kilometer hike takes trekkers along deserted beaches. It is estimated to take 5 hours and also offers stunning views of lake Huelde. Cole-Cole beach is a great place to rest weary feet.
· Rio Cole Cole-Rio Anay: The trail winds along the river Cole Cole and through the forest. It is five kilometers and estimated to take 1 hour 30 minutes. There is good bird watching on this hike.
One-Day Suggested Itinerary to Visit the National Park on Chiloe
If camping is not an option and one wants to combine exercise with a bit of relaxation, El Tepual is a great hike. It is only 750 meters, all on a well-marked trail. The estimated time for this walk is 40 minutes. It is mostly flat and great for any fitness level.
The majority of the walk is through a beautiful forest full of Tepu trees with their trunks warped by water. Hikers walk on raised boards so mud is not a problem. The walk is well maintained and full of informative plaques telling visitors what they are seeing.
The indigenous people had many traditions in the Tepual forest. A plant that grows there called Palo Mayor was used by medicine men in a magic potion used to cure fear. Look for the Chucao bird. If it is on the right side of the trail it means good luck, but if it shows itself on the left side it is associated with bad omens.
After the walk around the beautiful Tepual forest, one can go back to administration and make the walk to the beach. The beach is comparatively empty. Water is cold, but the large sand dunes behind the beach make for an enjoyable place to watch the rest of the day go by with a view.
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