Achao, Ahuenco, and more Ancud!

Everything has been great around Chiloe lately! We’ve been having great weather, sunny and warmer days. This island is so magical when the sun is out and you can really see the coastline and the hills. I got to explore some really interesting places around the island and meet some new friends at the hostel. I crossed some items off of my Chiloe bucket list, and did some things that I would have never even known to put on my list to begin with. This island is full of spontaneity and adventure!

I took my first official whole day off from work and went to do some island hopping with my new hostel friend, Hannah. She’s one of many others who I’ve gotten know well because they stay here for several days, when they only intended on passing through. Something about this town and 13 Lunas just feels like home to people and they end up staying for much longer than they originally thought they would. I love that that happens though because I feel the same way. I was actually originally thinking that I would travel Patagonia for my last week or so here, but this place and its people just has something special, and I knew that wouldn’t be enough time here. I can’t believe that I leave Chiloe in a week! I’ve made so many friends and memories here, it’s going to be hard to leave this new home.

Anyway, Hannah and I took a bus down to the biggest city on the island, Castro, and then took another smaller bus to a town called Dalcalhue, known for its handycraft and fish markets. We had a fresh and carb-loaded meal of seafood empanadas and milcao, potato bread stuffed with pieces of smoked pork. It was so cheap and delicious. Then we went over to the market where I bought yet another alpaca sweater (I can’t get enough of this cheap, warm, comfy material). After some shopping, we got on another smaller bus, which then got on a ferry to cross over to a smaller island called Quinchoa. We went to a little town there, called Achoa, to see the oldest of the famous wooden churches on Chiloe Island, built in 1770. Here’s some more info on the church of Chiloe if you’re interested in learning about why they’re so historically significant! http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/971

The market in Dalcalhue where lots of different people set up small kitchens to make fresh, local dishes

The booth we chose! Definitely a good choice

Razor clam empanadas

Iglesia de Achoa

Inside the church, so inviting and beautiful

Our view from lunch

Looking at some other smaller island in the distance

Our view from the ferry ride from island to island, that's our bus in the corner!

View from the bus driving on the island

The next day, the whole staff and a group from the hostel went to a penguin preserve nearby called Ahuenco. The trip involved a 40 minute car ride to Chepu, a 30 minute boat ride across the Chepu River, and a 2 and a half hour hike to Ahuenco the preserve where a penguin colony nests on the beach every summer. It was such an amazing day!! We got to see so many different landscapes and the views were incredible. Going from steep green hills, to desolate (the trees were killed when the land sunk in the 1960 earthquake) riverbanks, to wide open fields, to dense and muddy forests, to vast beaches, to dramatic cliffs that drop in the rocky Pacific, and then of course the penguin colony, it was such a complete day. We saw a little bit of everything that Chiloe has to offer and I loved every minute of it. I may have gotten an ear infection (I haven’t had an ear infection in at least 15 years) from the cold wind on the boat, but it was definitely worth it. It was such a beautiful trip with great people.

In the earthquake in 1960, the whole river bank sank about a meter, sinking and killing the trees

On the Chepu river, that's the open Pacific in the distance!

Abandoned cargo ship. It's basically just a giant playground in the ocean.

Then one day we took the afternoon and went to a nearby beach. What I actually like about this island is the seclusion. Almost everywhere we go, there are so few people and it’s so quiet. You think it’d feel lonely, but instead, it makes you feel really connected to the people that you’re with and the people that you do see when you go somewhere. I’m getting to really like that feeling! 

We brought Dalca with us to the beach. Look at that happy dog playing in the surf!

Driving on this island is one of my favorite things

Around the hostel, we’ve been getting in the Christmas mood and put up the Christmas tree! They’re still not quite ready for Christmas music yet though, so I just listen to it in my room, and sometimes from the main computer when nobody’s paying attention since I control the Spotify music on the computer with my phone J  And this week I worked on some of my Ancud bucket list items, and finally made it to a local pub, Retro’s, for a hamburger with my new hostel friend Morgan. Spontaneous lunches are the best ways to make friends! And to eat an Ancud-famous burger, which was really delicious and giant. But I got 2 meals out of it! And later that week, Morgan, Melanie and I got sushi and piña coladas, because who says you can’t combine those two delicious things?  

So festive!

My cheese, mushroom and olive burger

Also, I’m really excited because my 13 Lunas logo jacket came in! It got delivered a few days ago and I’m so happy. It’s so warm and so official. It even has a Chilean flag embroidered on the sleeve. I love it!!

I'm going to wear this way too much...

A few days ago, my friend Paola finished up her internship for occupational therapy, and we went out to celebrate. I’m so sad to lose my friend and yoga/zumba/Retro’s partner, but I’m so happy that she’s done!! Melanie and Paola and I went to Retro’s for a last night out to celebrate, and had so much fun. It was the perfect night away. I’m going to miss nights like these! 

Oooops, did we order another drink?

Even though we've had some sunny days in the past week, the weather changes crazily here. Every day we never know what it’s going to be like. This whole week was sunny and clear, and then yesterday it rained and a fog set in all day. Here’s sunset pictures from the past 3 days…  

This week has been a whirlwind of sightseeing and taking advantage of my last few weeks on Chiloe! I can't believe I leave here next week! I know the next week is going to fly by. I've still got a lot to see and do and people to spend time with before I leave, so stay tuned for more adventures :) 

Besos xox