Pelluhue Voyage Tips and guide

Pelluhue and Curanipe are popular coastal resort towns in Central Chile.

Pelluhue evolved from a humble fishermen's cove to a crowded summer resort in less than 50 years. The town's population swells to over several thousand in the summer week-ends when vacationers from the hinterland (Cauquenes, Linares, Talca, Parral) visit the seaside.

Curanipe has been a well-known and secluded coastal resort for the Cauquenes elite since the mid-19th century.

The name Pelluhue comes from the Mapudungun words pellu " mussel " and -we "place" and means "place of mussels". [

The commune was one of the areas most affected by the earthquake and tsunami of February 27, 2010. The wave significantly impacted the main towns, and partially destroyed villages such as Mariscadero. where almost 70% of the buildings disappeared.

The town's coastline is packed during the summer, particularly in February. The area between Pelluhue and Curanipe, bordering the coastal highway that runs alongside attractive beaches and rocky outcrops, has benefited most from this boom, resulting in numerous new constructions.

Places such as Quilicura (south of Curanipe), Mariscadero (north of Pelluhue) and the northern and eastern sectors (upper sector) of the town of Pelluhue have also experienced visible growth.

35°48′54″S 72°34′37″W

Map of Pelluhue

• -35.845491-72.6357271 Curanipe. A growing fishing village, where in the morning at the Playa San Pedro locals mix with tourists for the fish coming in from the sea for the best prices, and surfers and fisher boats fight (literally) for the best best space between the waves.  (updated Mar 2018)
• -35.815-72.5772 Pelluhue. A popular surfers' town along the coast south of Santiago.  (updated Mar 2018)
• In the southernmost corner of the municipality, which borders the Bío Bío Region, lies the semi-isolated beach of Tregualemu, next to which there are two old, large rural houses of Chilean colonial style.

• Pelluhue boasts a long beach and numerous smaller beaches with fine gray sand and pristine waters: La Chacaica, Piedra Rota, Los Botes, Piedra Amarilla, and Piedra Negra, all flanked by beautiful rocky outcrops of flagstone.
• Rock fishing is possible throughout the area, especially for sole and croaker, particularly on calm days when other fish such as vieja (parrotfish) weighing up to 12 kg, rollizos, cabinzas, and jerguilla are also available.
• -35.8331-72.50081 Los Ruiles National Reserve (north of the Cauquenes-Chanco Highway, at KM 29 of this fully paved road). Home to unique native trees and shrubs. An information booth is located there, open only during the summer months. Hiking trails are available; the internal trail is 1 km long and takes approximately one hour to complete.  
• At the end of January and beginning of February each year, the traditional festival of Trilla a yegua suelta (the Loose Mare Threshing) takes place in Pelluhue, with traditional peasant gatherings, performances by folk groups , popular singers and Chilean-style races.

• -35.8145-72.5771 Hotel Blanca Reyes, Arturo Prat # 615 (in front of the plaza), ☏ +569 9624 793 4. Ocean views, restaurant.  (updated Apr 2026)
• -35.885365-72.6798662 Ecolodge Ekilibre, Cardonal, ☏ +56 984 064 596, [email protected]. Inexpensive hostel with a friendly Chilean-French couple that offers tours, regional advice and lodging. Surf in summer, and ski in winter. Dorm: 6,000-8,000 pesos.  (updated Mar 2018)