Islas desertores form part of the archipelago of Chiloé, in the south of Chile. In 2007 I had the pleasure of travelling there as part of a documentary crew. These are some of my portraits of the people living in Chulín Island. Some of the children come from the neighboring islands, but spend most of the year living on the boarding school in Chulín. With little electricity, no cars or general stores it's a secluded and desolate place with a little more than 100 inhabitants.
The boat ride to Chulín can take up to 8 hours, depending on the conditions.
Many of the children in the rural school in Chulín are from other islands and spend most of the year away from their families, living in the boarding school.
Going home for the weekend.
Homemade chicha de manzana (apple cider) is common in Chiloé and Islas Desertores.
Doña Amelia smoking her own meat.
Preparing the traditional mate drink. A tea/herbal drink popular in many parts of South America, often shared among friends and family and drunk through a special straw with a filter at the bottom. (bombilla).
