Tours and Activities:
Flying over the Pacific
a giant planisphere, sea and land merge, expanding before our eyes, while the serenity of the experienced pilots makes us forget for a moment how far we are from the ground.
It is well known that the Pacific Ocean, at the height of the Los Lagos Region in southern Chile, has a unique geography, marked by archipelagos, channels, and dozens of islands of different sizes. Observing the movement of the sea, the rock formations, and the magnitude of the territory from the air is a dazzling experience.
We took off from La Paloma airfield in Puerto Montt with pilot Santiago Vidal, who set a course for the northwest. Little by little, Lake Llanquihue, Osorno Volcano, and the bays of the regional capital were left behind. We left the urban landscape behind and entered the immensity of the ocean. Then, as we turned south, the imposing silhouette of Chiloé Island began to reveal itself. Small islets with fishing communities and others inhabited only by marine fauna appeared before our eyes. Further on, we could make out Ancud and Castro, where our flight would end.
During the journey, Santiago shared some of the area's aviation history. In the recent past, the island had no roads and was connected to the mainland by sea. In the event of healthweather emergencies, civil aviation became indispensable for connecting the island to the mainland. This led to the creation of local flying clubs, which trained pilots out of necessity and community commitment. Today, although Chiloé has the Mocopulli Airport, operational since 2012 and with daily commercial flights, the legacy of those clubs remains alive, and their pilots continue to carry out training and support flights.
As we flew over the commune of Ancud, at the northern tip of the island, we spotted the enormous green lung of Chiloé National Park. The plane experienced a slight turbulence, as if to keep us alert to so much beauty: evergreen forests, intact huemal trees, and a coastline that retains its remote character. We continued skirting the coastline southward, crossing inland lakes and channels, until we reached the Quellón area, the last large town in the archipelago.
The conversation in the air led us to discover details we didn't know. From above, we could clearly see the salmon farms, support barges, and processing plants. This industry, one of the most important in southern Chile, has incorporated new environmental regulations and monitoring systems in recent years that seek to reduce its impact on marine ecosystems.
From the southern tip of the island, we turned the map around and headed up towards Castro, admiring each of Chiloé's important landmarks. During the descent, the colorful stilt houses of the Gamboa neighborhood began to appear, along with the inland roads and the historic center, with its plaza and famous church, a World Heritage Site, as the main attractions. If it was charming from the air, it was even more so as we approached the mainland.
The two-hour journey over the intense, changing, and deep Pacific ended at the historic Castro flying club, active since 1946 and a fundamental part of regional aviation development. There, we thanked Santiago for the experience and for allowing us to live something as extraordinary as seeing Chiloé from a perspective that few have the opportunity to experience.
Contact
Sur Marino
Tel: +56 65-2431660
Cel: +56 994970272
Club Aéreo de Castro
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