Chaitén

A small Chilean town on the Gulf of Corcovado that serves as a gateway to the Carretera Austral and a hub for ferry services to Chiloé and Puerto Montt, Chaitén sits at the edge of lake, river, and native forest country protected by Corcovado and Pumalín national parks. The town was evacuated and largely destroyed when the Chaitén volcano erupted in May 2008, and tourism has driven its recovery since — with a café and restaurant scene that is unusually rich for its size.

• Population3,347
• Nearest water from center0.3 km
• Nearest mountain from center3.7 km