2024 - On the Island of Chiloé with Justine Andrés

The Island of Chiloé is the main island of an archipelago of about thirty islets, located about 1000 km from Santiago de Chile, in the Pacific Ocean.

“I went to Puerto Varas by bus, then I took a ferry from the town of Pargua which is the only way to enter the island. I went to spend a few days in the town of Ancud from which I joined the tip of Puñihuil. It is a listed monument nnatural, where the reproduction of Humboldt and Magellanic penguins, as well as birds such as cormorants and gulls, are protected”confides Justine Andrés.

A legend says that the island of Chiloé was once attached to the mainland and that following a quarrel between Cai Cai Vilú, the god of the oceans, and Ten Ten, the god of the earth, the archipelago of Chiloé was created. (INGRID POHU / RADIO FRANCE) — A legend tells that the island of Chiloé was once attached to the mainland and that following a quarrel between Cai Cai Vilú, the god of the oceans, and Ten Ten, the god of the earth, the archipelago of Chiloé s ‘is created. (INGRID POHU / RADIO FRANCE)

“After that, I went by bus to Castro, to visit the town with the very typical yellow church”, she continues.

In Castro as well as in the cities of Quinchao, Chonchi and Achao we discover small colorful wooden churches dating from the end of the 19th century on the island of Chiloé. (JUSTINE ANDRES)

“I then returned to the mainland to go to Puerto Varas. From there I hitchhiked for the first time in my life to Petrohue Falls in front of Osorno Volcano. These falls are located in the oldest Chilean park created in 1926: Vicente Perez Rosales National Park.

And to conclude: “It’s a trip that means a lot to me because it was my first time alone, so far. I think it was this trip that gave me confidence in myself.”

Find Justine Andrès travel photos on her Instagram account andrès.justine