Tours and Activities:

Puñihuil Isles

Fishing and boat trips that reveal the secrets of the nearby islets are more than enough reason to let yourself be carried out to sea.

Lacuy peninsula, a few kilometers from Ancud city, facing the waters of the Pacific, makes an impressive mark on visitors due to its open beaches and islets populated by marine fauna and birds.

A side road led us to Quetalmahue, a small fishing town whose inhabitants gather seaweed, especially the one they call sea string. Restaurants offer typical dishes, made with the fresh catch of a seaside location. Its beaches and camp sites, ideal for bathing, ensure a different holiday.

Intrigued by the possibility of sailing toward the islets inhabited by marine wildlife, we followed the coastal route south and arrived at Mar Brava. The name honors its enormous waves, which break in the distance, forming a wall of white foam visible from afar. There, we discovered the Piedra del Run, a rocky promontory that emits a deafening sound when the sea winds strike its crevices.

Excited by all the beautiful places we had discovered was still to come the long-awaited boat trip. A bit further south, in Puñihuil, an impressive bay was waiting for us. It lies in front of three islets that are part of a Natural Monument protected by CONAF. Today, access is regulated, and navigation is only allowed with authorized local guides who depart directly from the dark-sand beach.

We boarded their wooden boat and set off toward this natural treasure. Our guide explained a curious phenomenon we had not noticed before: where the currents of the Pacific Ocean meet those of the bay, the sea seems to rise suddenly in a constant sway that amazed all visitors.

The three Puñihuil islets are famous for being among the few places in the world where two penguin species, the Humboldt and the Magellanic, live together. Between December and March, they arrive from different latitudes to nest and raise their chicks, sharing this space in perfect harmony.

We walked around the beach of a small bay, getting really close to the penguins. However, as soon as we came too near, they would dive into the sea. We took lots of photos and noticed how elegant they were in the water and how clumsy they seemed when walking on the gravel.

We stepped back onto the boat to visit the realm of the sea lions. We circled the islet and saw hundreds of them basking on the rocks. This noisy colony seemed to communicate by means of raucous grunts and barks. We certainly did not expect them to be curious about us. When the boatman turned off the motor, several of them swam towards the boat as if to tell us we were the strangers. A large number of seagulls nested on the rocks as well.

We wished we could have stayed longer, but the tide insisted that we leave. During the return trip, our guide shared more details about the lives of these marine colonies, first protected by the Otway German Foundation and later by the National Forest Corporation.

The sunset on the horizon, accompanied by the Pacific wind on our faces, was the perfect farewell to this unforgettable experience, an excursion that combines adventure, nature, and conservation, making Puñihuil a must-visit stop for any traveler in Chiloé. 

See also: Hotels in Ancud and other accommodation venues