Castro Chiloe Island

The ships are anchored and will use tenders to the town center.

A steep street brings you to the center of town.

The fabled island of Chiloe has long been one of the least developed areas of Chile, with a natural beauty that now charms visitors. The capital of Castro lies in a fjord on the east coast. Here you will encounter the vivid orange and lavender cathedral in the Plaza de Armas, the waterfront Feria or market stocked with handmade woolens, and distinctive houses known as palafitos perched high above high tide on tall stilts. Chiloe's verdant countryside varies from conifer forests to open meadows and farms. The Parque Nacional Chiloe, on the Pacific coast, is home to sea lions, the Chilot fox, and Pudoe (miniature Chilean deer).

While not the most architecturally charming of towns, Castro’s shores are rather interesting for their rickety homes on stilts, also known as palafitos, and the main church painted as colorfully as an Easter egg.

Taxis are very reasonable. Give a list of places you like to visit and at what time the ship leaves, preferably in Spanish. The places mentioned below can easily be combined in one trip.

Few Chilean towns surpass the entrancing beauty of Dalcahue, Achao, and Curaco de Vélez, the latter two located on the Isla Quinchao. The towns and the countryside separating them are Chiloé highlights, offering lush scenery and a glimpse into the Chilote’s culture and day-to-day life.

The Fería Artesanal, on Lillo at the port, brings together dozens of artisans who offer a superb selection of hand-knitted woolen goods and handicrafts.

Shops are usually open from about 0900-2000 on weekdays, with a one- or two-hour break at lunchtime. Most shops are closed on Sundays, but larger supermarkets and shopping malls are sometimes open.

Credit Card acceptance is considerably reduced in small towns and communities, for which reason when visiting these it is recommended you take with you cash in local currency: the Chilean peso. 1 USD = 712 CLP. This will prevent any unpleasant surprises.

Spanish is Chile's official language

Chile has so-called cyber-cafes, stores offering Internet access. The cost of accessing the world info network varies from town to town. In Santiago, an hour online costs 4 dollars, while in Calama it costs 6 dollars, approximately. On the other hand, the main hotels and lodging places frequently offer Internet access to their guests, in many instances at no extra charge.

Ambulance service: 131 Fire Brigade: 132 Carabineros (Chilean police): 133 Drug Enforcement: 135 Andean Mountain Rescue Squad: 136 Sea Rescue: 137

Business and trade establishments in Chile are generally open to the public from Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with a 60-minute lunch break at 1 p.m. Saturday timetable is 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. In malls, the timetable is Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

A weeklong gastronomic celebration takes place the third week in February, known as the Festival Costumbrista Chilote.