Tierra Chiloe

Tierra Chiloé Hotel & Spa is a hotel designed and built to be one more element of the natural landscape while evoking the island’s vibrant and ancient culture… Its simple, natural, first-class architecture is a harmonious combination of traditional Chiloé craftsmanship and modern design, employing fine woods with a cutting-edge vision that simply astonishes visitors.

Backyard Pullao. Duration: Half day. Difficulty: Easy
This activity is ideal as an introduction to the area around the hotel, and the Pullao wetlands which make up part of the “Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network”- WHSRN. Depending on the time of year, it is possible to spot scientifically important migratory bird species such as godwits, Chilean flamingos, cormorants, ducks and gulls. There are salmon farms, mussel farms and seaweed collectors who’s paths we may cross on our journey. This excursion can also be done by kayak.

Rilan Peninsula. Duration: Half Day. Difficulty: Easy
Discover the cultural wealth and rural life of the peninsula in this tour which takes us past watermills, fish pens, the patrimonial church and boat builders at work. We will visit the recently restored Santa Maria de Rilán church, inspired by the neo-gothic style with a shingled exterior typical of the area. We will also learn about the Water Mill Project that has restored 4 (of the 48 on the island) traditional mills introduced by the Spanish. Depending on the season, we will see honey producers, large-ship builders or farmers. Rilán is one of Chiloe’s 3 pilot sites participating in a UNESCO project that seeks to recognize and promote the conservation of areas whose agricultural and cultural characteristics are unique. It is known as GIAHS or Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems. Following a visit to the village of Rilán, with its beaches, we return to the hotel via a scenic route over looking the Castro fjord.

Historic Castro. Duration: Half Day. Difficulty: Easy
This tour follows the tides and invites you to discover the island’s capital with its traditional houses on stilts. We will visit the picturesque Mercado Yumbel where typical regional products such as Chilote potatoes, elephant garlic, basketry, woven goods and a wide variety of seafood are sold. We will see the inspiration for Chiloé’s classic postcard: the colorful stilt homes and charming main street with small craft shops and wood-shingled stores. We continue on our way to San Francisco church, the capital’s main Catholic church, declared a National Monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will also visit the shipyard where our boat “Williche” was built, and see others being built. An optional trip to nearby Nercon church is available, which lends valuable testimony to the Chiloe Wooden Architecture School. The interior, built by local carpenters, reveals the island’s imagery and the devotion of the Chilote sailors.

Bosquepiedra – Chonchi. Duration: Full Day. Difficulty: Easy
We leave the hotel heading southwest to Huillinco Lake, where we visit the Bosquepiedra private park which is a 12 hectare plot of land, with evergreen native forest, including canelos, coigues, avellanod and mañio trees. There is also a wide variety of ferns and a lichen garden, where we can view the minature “forests” through a magnifying glass. There is also a geological fault line, which has left the rock strata exposed and where the water has sculpted rounded forms and deep pools. We then head towards Chonchi, a traditional fishing town, one of the most important on the Island. We visit the historic church whose vaulted roof is painted blue, sprinkled with white stars. We walk along the coast road, declared a National Monument for its traditional large wooden houses, which reflect a period of wealth resulting from the growth of forestry. We can visit the local museum of “Chonchina Tradition” which was founded by the villagers to preserve their own history and show how their ancestors lived. We can also discover the traditional accordeon music of the island, in a museum founded by Sergio Colivoro, an avid collector of the instrument and well loved folklorist. Following the coast road we pass by the craft fair where as well as artisan wares, local doughnuts are sold, together with the traditional “golden liquor” of the islands.

Mulle de las Almas. Duration: Full Day. Difficulty: Medium
Driving across the island, along the shore of Huillinco Lake with its lush vegetation dominated by large ferns and native trees, we come to the open sea, and wild Pacific coast of the island. Here we hike through low forests, stunted by the wind, until we reach the clis at the edge of the island. Here, a local sculptor has paid homage to the legend of the boatman Tempilcahue and his “Pier of Souls” with a special wooden sculpture.
From the highest point on the cliffs, you can see a colony of sea lions below, as well as a wide variety of ocean birds. On the way back to the hotel in the van, we will stop along the way to visit a Chilote woman, Morelia who is renowned for her fresh empanadas.

Duhatao. Duration: Full Day. Difficulty: High
This trail, which goes from Duhatao to Chepu, is part of the “Sendero de Chile” a trail which when finished will run the length of the country. We start our hike at sea level in the Bay of Duhatao, climbing up to natural lookout points to view the surrounds and the ocean. When we reach the woods, the sound of the sea retreats and birdsong takes its place, including that of chucaos, hued-hued, fio-fio, rayaditos, cometocinos, and hummingbirds. We lunch at a viewpoint where we can see the mouth of the Chepu river in the distance. We follow the track through the forest until we start the descent, heading down to sea level again, to the islet of Aulen, with its distinctive form. We walk along the beach for about an hour, until we reach the mouth of the river where we take a boat upstream to meet the van which will take us back to the hotel.

Guabil Beach. Duration: Full Day. Difficulty: Easy
We travel by van until we reach Chepu, where we sail down the river until it meets the sea. Here we walk to the south of the river, through native forests and low lying trees blown by the wind until we reach Guabil beach, with its green rolling hills, characteristic of the Pacific coast of the island which fall suddenly into the sea. There is an ancient boat here, stuck in the sand. We return by the same path, sailing up the river through submerged woods. Following lunch, we return to the hotel by van.

Isla Quinchao. Duration: Full Day. Difficulty: Easy
We will drive to Dalcahue, “place of canoes” in the indigenous Williche language. Every week, artisans travel from far away islands to sell woven items, basketry and carved wood at this not-to-be-missed, century-old craft market. We will catch the ferry to Quinchao Island to meet a Chilote farmer, who grows native potatoes and elephant garlic. We will stop at a clearing in the woods to try some farm products. Next, we travel to Curaco de Velez with its colorful, wooden-shingled homes built about 100 years ago. We will lunch in the area before heading to Achao, capital of this island and meeting point for the inhabitants of the smaller surrounding islands. This is home to the oldest church in the archipelago, a World Heritage Site, built entirely of wood. Depending on the season, we may meet some local artisans. We may also continue toward the end of the island to Quinchao, a tranquil village that once a year receives hundreds of tourists for one of the archipelago’s most important religious festivals. For this reason, its church, built in the midst of the countryside, is Chiloe’s largest (nearly 11,000 square feet). We return to the hotel by van.

Biking, Horse Riding or Kayaking.
Our guests can discover the nearby areas of Pullao, San José and Quilquico by bike, on horseback or in a kayak. Depending on the experience and interests of our guests, the activities can take between 2 and 5 hours, whilst taking in the countryside and daily life of the island.

On many of Tierra Chiloé’s excursions, weather permitting, guests will be able to sail the waters of the numerous channels separating the islands of Chiloé where the main attractions are unbeatable views and a vantage point that is entirely different from what one enjoys while traveling overland.

Our vessel “Williche” was tailor-made entirely out of wood for the hotel by local boat builders who employed ancient techniques traditionally used by island craftsman.

Mechuque. Duration: Full Day. Difficulty: Easy
We will travel north by land along the coast between Dalcahue and Quemchi, towards Tenaún, the town of the “three hills” where we can visit the church which is decorated with stars and has three towers, like its namesake. Time permitting, we may also stop at the Tocoihue Waterfall which is considered a ceremonial place in Chilote mythology.

We will then take our boat, the Williche, towards the Chauques Islands, considered the most beautiful chain of islands in Chiloe, which conserve the essence of the archipelago. We arrive at the charming town of Mechuque, which takes us back to another time, with its traditional houses on stilts, a church, an ancient bridge and a maze of passageways that will take us to a private collection of historic maritime, agricultural and ranching artefacts, which reflect typical Chilote family life. Following lunch there is a choice of activities for the afternoon – kayak through the canals, like the indigenous people did in their dugout canoes, or you might opt to hike up to the Mechuque viewpoint (an easy 1.5 hours) where you can see all the splendor of the Chauques Islands. We will return to the hotel aboard the Williche.

Chelin – Quehui: Full Day. Difficulty: Easy
We will board our boat the “Williche” and sail towards the southwest, moving away from the Rilán Peninsula to the island of Chelin. Here, we will stroll through rustic streets past traditional homes until we reach the World Heritage Site church that is currently being restored. Here, we can see with our own eyes the work of artisans and architects who seek to preserve the history of this area with its neoclassical style and imitation marble paintings. Next, we will discover the Chilote cemetery that still has niches imitating the traditional wood-shingled homes of the village – a miniature town of the dead, lost in time. After visiting a lookout we walk through a small wood and take the boat over to the island of Quehui. This area’s unique geography allows us to sail to the heart of the island by way of the Pindo Estuary’s calm waters. Here, we can try our hand at kayaking, sail the shoreline in our Zodiac or bicycle on nearby trails to clis with gorgeous views. We can also walk in the picturesque streets of Quehui, which every year received many visitors for the “Ocean Festival”. This traditional gathering maintains the cuisine, folklore and customs of the archipelago alive. Lunch is taken on board.