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Capital of the Guaitecas municipality, Melinka is a town in the Guaitecas Archipelago, which is made up of more than 40 islands. Melinka is located on Ascensión Island and is one of the two oldest towns in the region, a title it shares with Raúl Marín Balmaceda.
The Chono people rowed along its coasts in ancestral times. More recently, its history has been tied to logging of Ciprés de las Guaitecas (Pilgerodendron), which brought the Russian Felipe Westhoff to the area in the middle of the 19th century. He named the town Melinka––»beloved»––in honor of his sister. Today, Melinka is known for its beautiful natural surroundings, its rich diversity of marine animals, and its preservation of traditional trades, like shingle-crafting and woodworking.
There is lodging and food available in Melinka, in addition to various activities for visitors. Find out more at:
Naviera Austral ferries run to Melinka three times a week on its Jacaf and Queulat boats, which transport both vehicles and passengers traveling by foot. The voyage from Quellón to Melinka takes around 5 hours, and the trip from Puerto Cisnes takes between 8 and 14 hours, depending on the day. Finally, the trip from Puerto Chacabuco to Melinka lasts around 28 hours.
A dream place, this remote park suits lovers of pure wilderness. Among its great natural attractions is whale watching.
A pristine ecosystem that is difficult to access, this park consists of evergreen forest, fjords, bays, rivers, deep valleys and dozens of hidden lakes.
Located south of Puerto Montt, Pumalín Park is home to millenary alerce (Fitzroya) trees and offers more than a dozen trails for exploring landscapes ranging from temperate rainforest to glaciers.
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Celebración de San Pedro
From June 20–29 each year, the community hosts a celebration of Saint Peter.
Aniversario de Melinka
Locals celebrate Melinka’s anniversary during the second week of January.
Fiestas costumbristas de Repollal Bajo, Alto y Rucas de don Genaro.
The first two weeks of February, Repollar Bajo, Alto, and Rucas de Don Genaro hold their traditional festivals.
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