Outings and excursions · Castro
Chiloé National Park: forest, dunes and the Pacific at Cucao
Photos: Natalia Reyes Escobar / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
On the island's west coast, short trails through rainforest to beaches open to the ocean. And nearby, the Pier of Souls.
On the other side of Chiloé's main island, facing the Pacific, Chiloé National Park protects rainforest, dunes and wild beaches. The Cucao sector, in the commune of Chonchi, is the gateway and easy to reach from Castro.
Trails
- El Tepual: a short loop (under 1 km) on boardwalks through the park's most typical rainforest.
- Dunas de Cucao: about 1.4 km from the visitor centre, through the forest, to a lookout and the beach.
These are easy trails, ideal for families.
The Pier of Souls
South of Cucao, outside the park, is the Muelle de las Almas (Pier of Souls), a work by artist Marcelo Orellana Rivera inspired by a Chilote legend: the souls of the dead depart from a pier for the afterlife. It is reached on a walk with ocean views.
Tips
- Bring rain gear: the weather changes quickly.
- Access to the Pier of Souls crosses private land and may have a fee.
