Chile Forum

I would not want to further aggravate the economic situation by discouraging travelers to Quellon, on the southern end of Isla Chiloe, a common port for departing south, or across to Chaiten by ferry. However travelers might want to consider the current problems there. Unemployment reported at an unbelievable 50%, red tide to compound the small, independent fishermen's plight as well as other economic and social problems should be considered if you plan to visit, or pass through. Residents recently shut down the main highway into town and a slightly angry protest and confrontation with police took place.

A quote from the article linked below, ""Quellon is a time bomb ready to go off at any time. The situation is quite chaotic, people are desperate because all their finite resources, benefits and insurance have already run out. Salmon companies are taking advantage of the need of the people, and abusing the workers' rights even more," Cortes said."

http://fis.com/fis/worldnews/worldnews. ... ndb=1&df=0

I liked Quellon, have visited twice. First time in 2006, and even then the little town had an end-of-the-world, pirate feel to is. Now with the economic crunch, salmon industry melt-down, and harsh winter coming, I'd consider those factors....

Quellon was not exactly the hottest employment market even in good times. Most people that could leave would leave. The Salmon industry pulled out to move to uncontaminated waters. This is not so much the economic pull back (sure that has something to do with it), but the disaster in the Salmon industry that struck last year.

The people in Quellon (and across southern Chile) where very much opposed to international environmentalist getting involved when people like Tompkins and others tried to get the Salmon industry regulated. They would go on and on about how wonderful the Salmon industry was telling the environmentalist to stay out and leave them alone for years. Now the environmental disaster they where warned about has caused the fisheries to collapse and the local economy with it. Of course now they are all against the Salmon industry because they have nothing else to do for lack of employment.

Ah I remember my years in Quellon, my old town in the early 70s
Like almost any economic boom the fishing companies surely atracted lot of people, money goes out and people stay there. Here in Arica happened the same some 25 years ago and in the long term has not been too bad, I hope that situation become stable again soon, locals are adapted to live in hard times, probably those who inmigrate will suffer most

Isn't that where Pinera has his "nature park"?

No, piñera owns parque Tantauco, a virgin territory who surround the town of Quellon, it is quite near but nothing to do with the town reality

I don't recall exactly, but he owns fairly good percentage of the southern part of the Island.