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Historic church and craft market · Castro, Los Lagos
Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de Dalcahue
Wooden church with a porch of nine arches in the plaza of Dalcahue, a UNESCO World Heritage site, next to the craft market on the canal's edge, 20 km from Castro.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de Dalcahue
Dalcahue is a fishing village and boatbuilding center on the east coast of the Isla Grande, 20 km from Castro. The church of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores sits on the Plaza de Armas, facing the channel that separates the main island from Isla Quinchao.
The current temple was built between 1893 and 1902 on the site of an older Jesuit mission chapel. The façade's porch has nine arches, six of them ogival and a central semicircular one, and the exterior is clad with alerce shingles, the wooden tiles typical of Chiloé. Inside, the three naves are made of cypress and ulmo.
A few steps from the church, on the waterfront, is the Dalcahue craft market. There you can find sheep-wool knits, baskets of plant fibers, hats, blankets and wooden items. The market is busiest on Sundays, when producers from several islands come to sell.
Next to the market are the cocinerías, small home-style kitchens where you can try curanto cooked in a pot, milcaos and chapaleles — potato dumplings with flour. The ferry to Isla Quinchao leaves from the same pier, on the route to Curaco de Vélez and Achao.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Two to three hours for the church, the market and a lunch at the cocinerías.
Best time
Sunday morning, when the market has more stalls.
How to get there
From Castro, follow Ruta 5 north and take the Llau-Llao turnoff; it's about 20 km. There are frequent buses from Castro's municipal terminal. Mocopulli airfield is about 6 km from the village.
Tip
Bring cash for the market and the cocinerías. If you are continuing to Achao, the ferry to Quinchao departs from the same pier and the crossing takes about ten minutes.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de Dalcahue
What day is the Dalcahue fair?
The handicraft market runs throughout the week but is busier on Sunday mornings. Check before you go, especially outside summer.
What to eat in Dalcahue?
The small restaurants next to the market serve curanto cooked in a pot, milcaos and chapaleles, as well as fish and shellfish from the channel.
Can you go from Dalcahue to Achao?
Yes. A ferry crosses to Isla Quinchao in about ten minutes; from there it's about 27 km by road to Achao, passing through Curaco de Vélez.