Written by David Garcia, Keith Roberts, Maria Gaulto
06/08/2025
Cplandco, Wikimedia Commons
The primary transport hubs for accessing Chiloé Island are Puerto Montt on the mainland, and Mocopulli Airport (MHC) in Castro, located on Chiloé Island itself. Major towns on the island like Ancud and Castro serve as key bus stations for local and long-distance travel.
By Air (Flights):
Direct flights are available from Santiago (SCL) to Mocopulli Airport (MHC) in Castro, Chiloé. These flights typically take around 2 hours. This option is primarily available during the Chilean summer months (January, February, March), with LATAM and Sky Airlines offering services.
Alternatively, one can fly from Santiago (SCL) to El Tepual Airport (PMC) in Puerto Montt, a journey of approximately 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours. From Puerto Montt, onward travel to Chiloé involves a combination of bus and ferry.
Flights from Puerto Montt to Castro take less than 30 minutes.
By Bus:
Direct bus services connect Santiago to Chiloé Island, arriving in towns like Ancud or Castro. The trip from Santiago to Ancud typically lasts about 13 hours 25 minutes and costs between $25 and $55 USD. The journey to Castro is approximately 15.5 hours.
From Puerto Montt, frequent bus services run directly to Chiloé Island (Ancud or Castro). These buses board the ferry, with the ferry fare often included in the bus ticket. Travel time from Puerto Montt to Chiloé (Degañ) ranges from 2 hours 40 minutes to 3 hours 26 minutes, with costs from $4 to $23 USD.
Once on the island, public buses, including services by ETM and Queilén, connect major towns like Ancud and Castro, with departures almost hourly. Minibuses also serve smaller towns.
By Ferry:
The most common ferry route connects Pargua on the mainland to Chacao on Chiloé Island, taking approximately 35-45 minutes. Pedestrians can cross for free.
If traveling with a vehicle, the ferry cost for cars typically ranges from $16 USD (approximately $6,900 CLP for small cars to $13,700 CLP for large cars/vans) one-way. Ferries run frequently, about every 20-40 minutes during the day.
Another ferry option connects the Carretera Austral (from Puerto Chacabuco, Chaitén, or Puerto Cisnes) to Quellón in the southern part of Chiloé Island.
By Car Rental:
Renting a car in Puerto Montt allows for greater flexibility to explore the island, as vehicles can be taken across on the ferry.
Car rental services are also available on Chiloé Island, including at Mocopulli Airport in Castro. Daily rental costs can vary, with economy cars starting from around $34 to $45 USD.
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