Tenglo Island

Information

Tenglo Island is located in the Los Lagos region in southern Chile. It sits at the northwestern edge of the Reloncaví Sound, directly across from the city of Puerto Montt from which it is separated by the Tenglo Channel. It's the landmass clearly visible when walking along the city's waterfront, especially from the southern sector. In fact, there's a point on the island that lies just about 150 meters from Puerto Montt's shoreline.

Tenglo is mainly inhabited by fishermen. It's possible to visit the island, which undoubtedly makes it an excellent option for a different and accessible outing. To get there, boats depart from Puerto Montt's waterfront every day at various times.

Upon arriving at the island the first thing you'll notice is a beach of volcanic gray sand, where numerous boats belonging to local residents are usually docked. In this setting, it's common to spot a wide variety of coastal birds such as the brown-hooded gull (Chroicocephalus maculipennis), South American tern (Sterna hirundinacea), imperial shag (Leucocarbo atriceps), whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) and several others. Sometimes, if you look up at the sky, you might catch sight of a petrel or shearwater flying by, species that are less commonly seen in other places.

There's also the possibility of taking a walk, as there's a marked trail with a few uphill sections that leads to the top of the island. Up there, you'll find a flat area with a giant white cross, which serves as an excellent viewpoint. From that spot you get a privileged view of the island, the Reloncaví Sound and the urban area of Puerto Montt. It's definitely a must-see location to capture some great photos and take home a visual memory of the experience.