Travel Tips

A few of the other teaching volunteers asked about Chiloe, so here are some random tips;

• On the way south Puerto Varas is a lot prettier for a mid way overnight than Puerto Montt. We find the folks at Compass del Sur hostel to be very nice. http://www.compassdelsur.cl/spanish/
• Ancud: We keep passing through and meaning to stop but we haven't yet. The guidebooks can tell you all about the penguins better than I. When you walk around consider that Ancud was once the major port between the south and the rest of Chile, bigger than Puerto Montt. Ancud was nearly wiped out by the 9.5 Richer terremoto of 1960 and the ensuing maremoto. I found this video http://www.myvido1.com/QYxIEcVZlQEVlanRXYWVVP_ancud-terremoto-y-maremoto-1960.
• The ferry across to the island; when the wind, tide and waves get going, the ocean will splash up and wash the windshield of the bus. While you watch the currents battle in the straightconsider two plans. there is a possibility that a bridge will be built across the straight, second alternative energy folks talk about building turbines under water to capture the tidal energy between CHiloe and the mainland.
• If you want to sound Chilote, call the rest of Chile the continent.
• at the time of the 1960 terremoto, the two main means of transport were boat and a single rail line between Castro and Ancud.
• The careterra did not get paved until 1973.
  
• Castro can be strolled and seen in about 2 hours, max.
• Castro is best used as a base for day trips to Achao, Queilin, Cucao.
• From Cucao you can hike along the Pacific coast and into the rain forest.
• From Queilin and Achao you get great views to the Andes.
  
• If you are not going too far, take the #2 micro from Castro to Nercon (10 minutes) and hike up the road past the Nercon church. The road forks, take either fork and afer 30 minutes you will get a great view East to the Andes over the Chilote archipelago.
  
• If you have a hangering for curanto, go to the Feria del Campo. At the end by the fish market there are often folks selling curanto to go. You can also go to one of the stalls for a meal. Curanto is often served as take out in a plastic grocery store bag.
• As for restaurants, we usually cook ourselves or go out for a nice meal on Saturdays. (dinner for 2 w/ wine = 25 luca or $50) We like Mary's on Los Carrera ~300 which is a local favorite. Sacho on Thompson has a dynamite view overlooking the harbor but is mentioned in the guidebooks and priced accordingly.
  
• For fish go down the hill to the harbor. Sierra and congrio are really tasty. Merluza is just like cod for you east coasters.
• Local buses are pretty good. The local bus station is on San Martin, across the street and down a block or two from the Cruz del Sur.
• A beer and a sandwich can be found on the two bars on the south side of the plaza de armas.
  
• The hipsters listen to live music at a 2nd floor club on Ohiggins just north of the Plaza, next to Queilin bar resto. I don't think the place has a name, there is a kunstman sign above the door.
• For you northern folks, Kunstman is really good been from Valdivia. We like the Torobayo.
• If you are wanting a salad, at lunch the Cuerpo de Brujula restaraunt on the south west corner of the plaza offers lunch specials with unlimited salad and bread bar.
  
• There will be rain at some time during your visit. Be prepared. Most days the sun will come out in half an hour.
• If you are caught chilled on a Saturday buy some hand knit socks or a hat for a luca at the Feria del Campo.