In southern Chile, you’ll find magical places like Caleta Tortel, where residents travel solely by walkways.
If you’re traveling the Carretera Austral, known as one of the most beautiful and incredible scenic routes in the world, you should visit the iconic Caleta Tortel, a town located next to the mouth of the Baker River, famous for not having a single street or motorized vehicles circulating.
What you will find is a complex and beautiful network of walkways made of Guaitecas cypress, which recalls the timber origin of Caleta Tortel, built 70 years ago.
Its more than 6 kilometers of elevated walkways serve to interconnect the piers with the houses, all made of woods such as cypress, raulí or pine. Explore these structures as you delve into its rocky outcrops and untamed vegetation!
In 2001, the area consisting of the 80-meter strip of the cove, the docks, the walkways, the houses and the vegetation of the hill, including the latter as a peninsula next to the Baker River delta, was declared a Typical Zone.
What to see and do in Caleta Tortel?
In Tortel, the star plan is to walk! From the parking lots to the beach, where the walkways end, the journey takes about 30 minutes.
You will surely take much longer, because every corner and construction invites you to take pictures or record videos to show the beauty of Caleta Tortel on social networks. We also recommend you enjoy the local gastronomy, full of fresh flavors and products such as seafood, fish and even lamb on a stick.
But it is not the only activity, we also recommend visiting the Island of the Dead, located at the mouth of the Baker River, where the tragic and enigmatic history of the first inhabitants of the town is told.
Another must is the walk to the viewpoint of the hill, which will provide you with an extraordinary view of the town, its cove and the Baker River with the mouth. Don’t miss the sunset! Simply beautiful.
