Main characteristics
Chiloe belongs to the province of the same name, located in the Region of Los Lagos. The administrative capital is Castro and it is split into 10 comunas: Ancud, Dalcahue, Castro, Curaco de Velez, Quinchao, Puqueldon, Chonchi, Queilen, Quellon and Quemchi. The archipelago consists of the Greater Island of Chiloe and, in front of its shores, another 40 islands and islets. The most important path of communication with the mainland is through the Chacao channel, where a ferry service runs from Pargua to the northeast part of the Greater Island of Chiloe.
The islands
From north to south, first, we have Caucahue island, in front of Quemchi; next come the Chauques islands (Cola, Buta, Chauques, Voigue, Tauculon, Mechuque, Añihue and a series of smaller islands). They are separated from Quicavi by the Quicavi channel. Further south and across from Dalcahue is the famous Quinchao island, as well as Lilin, Llingua, Teuquelin, Meulin, Tac, Quenac and Caguach. Around the Chonchi area, we also find the islands of Lemuy, Chelin, Quehui, Chaulinec, Alao and Apiao.
If you head farther south, there are two groups of islands: the first group is near Queilen (Tranqui, Acuy and Chaullin) and the second group is near Quellon (Cailin, Laitec and Coldita).
Finally, far southeast we have San Pedro island. Along with all of these islands, we have to add Chulin, Talcan, Chuit, Imerguiña, Auteni and Nayahue, which make up the Grupo Desertores (Deserters Group, administratively, they belong to the province of Palena).
In Chiloe, there are 23 islands of certain importance considering their surface area and population. In addition, there are a number of islets (almost all of which are inhabited), which are twice as many as the islands.
