Chaitén

Chaitén is in Los Lagos region in the south of Chile. The town has an important transportation hub on the Carretera Austral with major ferry services to Chiloé and Puerto Montt.

Understand
The city was flooded in 2008 during the eruption of the Chaitén volcano. The flood destroyed a large part of the city, and still today some houses are abandoned. The volcano has now two new calderas.

Get in
By plane

There are two daily connections from and to Puerto Montt. They are not too expensive, so they may be an option to shorten your trip if you are on a tight timeline.

By ferry

Daily connection from and to Puerto Montt (10 hrs). A few days per week there is also a ferry to Castro on Chilloe Island.

By bus

Buses run Monday and Friday from La Junta. A small bus runs the morning to and from Caleta Gonzalo except Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. There is daily bus to Puerto Montt. (Kemelbus 11:00 am, 10hrs, 20,000 CLP)

To Coyhaique twice a week (in April 2024 Wednesdays and Sundays, Buses Becker)

There is also a daily bus connection to Futaleufu.

Get around
Local blue buses run through the Carretera Austrat to the ferry traverse of Caleta Gonzalo. They can be hired on Bernardo O'Higgins street, and are useful to visit the Pumalín park, since they can stop wherever you want on the road.

Buy
There is limited option to buy food in the city. The best option is Supermercado Anita on Padre Juan Todesco street; it's not a supermarket, but a convenience store. Anyway, you could find enough food for trekking.

Eat
Chaiten is near the sea, and thus is a good location to try seafood in restaurants like:

Go next

 * Go to the Corcovado National Park to admire the iconic volcano Corcovado.
 * By ferry to the main island of Chiloé to Quellón.
 * Go to Futaleufú for rafting.