Why this ride
It goes by way of Church of Chonchi, Church of Dalcahue, Church of Tenaún and back through Church of Dalcahue. The line favours views over speed.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Church of Chelín and Church of Tenaún
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 206 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 4 h 51
- Journey
- Recorded itinerary
Distance and timing basis
Ordered leg totals agree within rounding. Stop distances are approximate sums of rounded legs. Stops, delays, approach and any separate return travel add time. Basis: producer-declared routed record.
Reading history stays on this device. My road watch requires a separate selection; opening it does not subscribe this ride.
Distance and riding time are measured on the routed road. Check local closures and conditions before you ride.
Scenic road chapters
Chiloe Island Route
Expect company on a summer weekend. Early is better than fast. For about 41 km this is Chiloe Island Route, a road with a name of its own and a reason for it.
Chapter facts
- Length
- 41 km
- Named road
- Chiloe Island Route
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. Church of Chelín
Getting to Chelín is part of the pleasure, because it lies on Lemuy, a small island off Chiloé's east coast reached by a short ferry. From Chonchi the crossing is quick, and the vehicles line up on a ramp, with the sea bright and often choppy. Lemuy is a rolling island of small farms, potato fields, sheep and hedged lanes, with a population that is mostly spread over small settlements. There are no big towns here at all, and fuel is not something to count on, so fill up in Chonchi, about 21 km away by the map, before you cross.
Read the complete Church of Chelín write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Church of Chelín is where the day begins. Next is Church of Chonchi.
2. Church of Chonchi
Chonchi is a small port town on the east coast of Chiloe, built on a steep hillside above the channel, and locals sometimes call it the city of three floors, because its streets climb in terraces from the waterfront to the plaza and the church above. The church of San Carlos de Borromeo, painted in warm yellow and red and crowned with a tall tower, was built in the nineteenth century, in the typical style of the island, and it dominates the square. Inside, it has the characteristic wooden columns and a ceiling like the hull of a ship, and the interior smells of old timber and wax.
Read the complete Church of Chonchi write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Church of Chonchi comes up about 25 km into the recorded legs. Next is Church of Dalcahue.
3. Church of Dalcahue
Chiloé is a damp, green island off the coast of southern Chile, and its wooden churches are its soul. The Church of Dalcahue stands on the waterfront of a small town on the eastern side of the island, facing the inner sea and the islands of the archipelago, with a long arcaded porch along its front and a tall tower rising above. Built entirely of wood, with shingles cut from native trees, it is one of sixteen churches inscribed in 2000 as the Churches of Chiloé.
Read the complete Church of Dalcahue write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 66 km into the recorded legs you reach Church of Dalcahue. Next is Church of Tenaún.
4. Church of Tenaún
Out on the eastern coast of Chiloé, where the island looks across a channel at the smaller islands of the inner sea and, on a clear day, the snowy volcanoes of the mainland, the village of Tenaún gathers around a wooden church that looks almost too bold for its setting. The façade is painted deep blue, scattered with white stars, and topped not with one but with three towers. It is one of the sixteen churches of Chiloé on the World Heritage list, masterpieces of a unique tradition of wooden architecture.
Read the complete Church of Tenaún write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Church of Tenaún, about halfway. Next is back through Church of Dalcahue.
5. back through Church of Dalcahue
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Church of Dalcahue write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Church of Dalcahue sits at 132 km, about halfway. Next is back through Church of Chonchi.
6. back through Church of Chonchi
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Church of Chonchi write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Church of Chonchi comes up about 180 km into the recorded legs. Next is Church of Chelín.
7. Church of Chelín
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Church of Chelín write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Church of Chelín closes the day.
Leg by leg
Church of Chelín to Church of Chonchi
Church of Chelín → Church of Chonchi is 25 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Church of Chonchi to Church of Dalcahue
Church of Chonchi → Church of Dalcahue is 41 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Church of Dalcahue to Church of Tenaún
Church of Dalcahue → Church of Tenaún is 37 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Church of Tenaún to back through Church of Dalcahue
Church of Tenaún → back through Church of Dalcahue is 37 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Church of Dalcahue to back through Church of Chonchi
back through Church of Dalcahue → back through Church of Chonchi is 40 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Church of Chonchi to Church of Chelín
back through Church of Chonchi → Church of Chelín is 25 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.