Achao

Achao
Villa de Santa María de Achao
Panoramic view of Achao from Alto La Paloma lookout in 2011.
Panoramic view of Achao from Alto La Paloma lookout in 2011.
CountryChile
RegionLos Lagos
ProvinceChiloé
Founded asVilla de Santa María de Achao
Founded1753
Population
 (2005)
 • Total3,452
DemonymAchaino/a
Time zoneUTC−4 (CLT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−3 (CLST)

Achao is a town on the Chiloé Archipelago, in the south of Chile. The town is the capital of Quinchao commune on the island of the same name.

Lying on level ground, Achao has a shallow sandy beach and is surrounded by hills. Opposite the town are the islands of Llingua and Linlín. The surrounding hills have a number of lookouts, such as the Alto de la Paloma lookout.

Achao is the main Chiloé town off the main island of Chiloé and is therefore frequented by inhabitants of the smaller islands making up the archipelago, who go to Achao for school or commercial activities.

In the summer, Achao is host to the Chiloé folklore festival (Encuentro de las Islas del Archipiélago), celebrating traditional culture on the Chiloé archipelago with customs, music and food.[1]

The architecture in Achao is known for the wide variety of larch tiling used on the roofs of its houses.

  1. ^ Mas de 20 mil personas espera la 24 Muestra y Festival Costumbrista. ElPinguino.com. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2013.