Los Vilos
A fishing and resort town on the Panamericana, with a penguin island offshore and empanadas at the exit.
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Los Vilos sits on route 5 roughly halfway between Santiago and La Serena, which has made it the standard stopping point on that drive - the roadside empanada stands here are an institution in their own right. The town is a fishing port with beaches either side and a caleta selling shellfish. Offshore lies the Isla de los Huevos and, further out, the Isla de los Lobos, with sea lions and seabirds, visited by boat from the harbour. The Pichidangui and Quilimari beaches south of the town and the Puquen sanctuary at Los Molles are the other stops on this stretch of coast.
What you actually see
- The halfway stop on route 5 - and its roadside empanada stands.
- A working fishing port - with a caleta selling shellfish.
- Islands offshore - sea lions and seabirds, reached by boat.
- Beaches either side - with more south towards Pichidangui.
When to go
December to March. Half a day.
Honest expectations
It is a highway town first and a resort second, and the road is a constant presence. Boat trips depend on swell. Beaches are cold and windy. It fills in January and February.
Nearby
Los Molles and Puquen are south; Pichidangui is between them.
What to pack for Los Vilos
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.