Written by: Arnaud Frennet

According to the legend, millions of years ago Chiloe was attached to the continent. That was until the “Spirit of the Waters” appeared in the body of a snake named Cai-Cai Vilu. This one ordered the rise of the sea level to flood the land and drown its habitants. But then appeared the “Spirit of the Land”, also as a snake, named Ten-Ten Vilu. That’s when a true war begun between both of them, while Cai-Cai Vilu was rising the level of the sea, Ten-Ten Vilu was elevating the lands, both trying to protect whatever existed in their respective domains.

Finally the snake Ten-Ten managed to overcome his opponent, but it was just a partial victory as the land did not recover its original limits. The old valleys had become bays and channels, and only the hills and mountains maintained themselves out of the waters, conforming what is known today as the archipelago of Chiloé.

This legend gives a clear image of what Chiloé is: a unique and magic place where Sea and Land meet with strength and majesty. An extraordinary environment inhabited by mystic people, an archipelago blessed by agricultural and maritime resources, and preserved like very few places on our planet.

With all its attribute, Chiloe is a must-go destination for everyone in love with nature, but for some reason I had never made the trip to know the Archipelago, despite living a mere 1000 kilometers further north… My only excuse being the lack of good wave conditions known on the Island, leaving it therefore out of the maps of Surfers.

But Stand Up Paddle literally changed my maps, and Chiloé became then part of my must-go list. When the time for a family holiday came up, I did not hesitate to propose it. Travelling together with my parents, wife and daughters, I had no right to mistake: it had to satisfy the needs of each one of us, including the most complex: mi own need of adrenalin!

And Chiloé resulted to be a perfect familiar destination. While its people, gastronomy, inspiring landscapes and legends were fascinating to all of us, its waters were inviting me every day to a new adventure: SUP Downwind from Cucao to Hullinco, crossings to unknown islands, exploration paddling with my daughter Danahe, racing the ferries in the channels,…and of course the unavoidable search for waves on the western Pacific beaches. The limits were set by my own imagination.

Spending so much time cruising on my SUP, the “Chilotes” thought I had been seduced by the “Pincoya” and, crazily in love could not stop looking for her.

The “Pincoya”, of an extraordinary beauty as the legend describes her, is the symbol of the generosity of Chiloe’s coasts. Unfortunately she never crossed my path, but clearly the water of Chiloe made me feel her charms.