I have just had the privilege of travelling to Chile and can highly recommend visits to the beautiful island of Chiloe and the rugged beauty of Patagonia to anyone exploring the wild southern regions of South America.
Chiloé Island is a large, lush island located off the southern coast of Chile. The waters of the Pacific Ocean in this region are rich in marine life, including sea otters, dolphins and whales, drawing wildlife enthusiasts from all over the world.
Back on land, one of the most iconic features of Chiloé is its traditional architecture, particularly the wooden churches. There are over 150 of these wooden churches scattered across the island, many of which were built in the 18th and 19th centuries by Spanish missionaries. These churches are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites and are celebrated for their unique wooden construction, often painted in bright colours and topped with distinctive steeples, their construction alone is a true work of art.
These churches are also home to strangely fascinating graveyards which look like small villages with ornate and colourful constructions. As for the living, the local people are exceptionally friendly and happy to talk to visitors about their lives and traditions on this island which is steeped in folklore, myths and legends.
Chiloé is also famous for its gastronomy, particularly its fresh seafood, with dishes like curanto – a traditional stew made with seafood, meats, and vegetables, cooked in a similar way to a Māori hangi – it was delicious! The cuisine, the natural beauty, folklore, and rich cultural traditions of Chiloé make for a distinctly unique experience.
Patagonia is renowned for its stunning natural landscapes, which include snow-capped mountains, glaciers, dense forests, fjords, and windswept plains.
This is a rugged beauty, and a remote location with diverse ecosystems – a veritable heaven nature lovers, adventurers, and wildlife enthusiasts.
This vast and wild region sprawls across the southern tips of Chile and Argentina, but I chose to focus on the Torres del Paine National Park of Chilean Patagonia, and it did not disappoint!
I was completely captivated by the incredible views of the jagged, snowcapped mountains and beautiful lakes. So much so I found myself constantly stopping staring in awe at my surroundings. Taking long, slow deep breaths was partly to enjoy the fresh clean air, but also because I was often out of breath on whatever hike I was doing ( I am not a particularly fit person!).
This is a walker’s paradise with many different hikes of varying difficulty available but whatever you do you will be entranced by the scenery and pristine surroundings. I was privileged to see guanacos and foxes up close as well as a myriad of birds including rheas and condors and although we didn’t find any pumas it is still spectacular looking for them! We also visited Gray Glacier on a short boat trip and the colours and size of it are majestic.
I stayed at Tierra Chiloe and Tierra Patagonia, both of which are stunning hotels in outstanding locations and with amazing architecture absolutely in synch with their landscapes. Both hotels are all-inclusive, with a multitude of options for exploration, whether it’s hiking, horse riding, e-bike riding, meeting locals and hearing their stories or relaxing in the hotel’s spa and beautiful lounge and bar areas with their spectacular views. All of the excursions were accompanied by Tierra guides who are wonderful – knowledgeable, enthusiastic and with excellent English. It was so lovely to return to the cosy welcome of their rooms and lounges after a day of walking and exploring. A luxurious home very far away from home in wilds of southern South America.
For further inspiration...
Tierra Patagonia
Tierra Chiloe
