The island of Chiloé
Chiloé – the largest island in Chile and a little paradise for nature lovers. Even before we planned our trip, we were determined not to miss this natural wonder. What awaited us there? Breathtaking landscapes, surprising adventures and, unfortunately, a technical problem that kept us on our toes. But let’s start from the beginning.
Our first ferry trip with Mambo
Even the journey to Chiloé was a small highlight. A half-hour ferry ride took us from the mainland to the island – incidentally our very first ferry ride with our trusty Unimog „Mambo“. The excitement was great, but the crossing went smoothly. As soon as we arrived, however, the island greeted us with gray skies and bad weather.
The first pitch we found was a bit of a disaster: noisy, littered and anything but idyllic. But we didn’t let it spoil our mood. The next day, the sun shone brightly and Chiloé showed us its true beauty.
A pitch right by the sea - and an unexpected tide
We drove a little further and found the perfect spot: right on the beach with a view of a small offshore island. It seemed as if we could stay here for a while and enjoy the peace and quiet. But nature had other plans.
While we were relaxing, the tide surprised us. We had assumed that a wooden barrier marked the high tide line – a fallacy. Before we knew it, Mambo was 10 cm deep in the sea water. Fortunately, it was only a minor scare and the adventure continued the next day.
A trip to the moor at Segundo
One of the best moments of our time on Chiloé was a trip to the moor. Thanks to a great tip from Judith, we met Segundo, a local who gave us a warm welcome and guided us through his moor. He passionately explained the special features of this fascinating landscape and prepared a simple but incredibly tasty meal for us. Encounters like this make traveling special – we are infinitely grateful to Judith for this tip.
Technical problems and a workshop odyssey
Unfortunately, our Mambo on Chiloé had a small „blemish“. A technical problem forced us to spend a few days at a service station. After an initial diagnosis at the local garage, it was clear: „Not good at all – you have to go back to the mainland.“
This meant removing the drive shaft, gritting our teeth and covering the 300 kilometers to the next workshop at a maximum speed of 40 km/h. An unparalleled test of patience, but everything worked out in the end. It’s adventures like this that show us time and again how important composure and a good plan B are when traveling.