Haunted Chiloe Archipelago: Chile

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The Chiloé Archipelago in Chile’s Los Lagos Region is strongly associated with myths and legends, leading many to consider it haunted, though these are not verified accounts. The region is famous for a rich collection of supernatural folklore, including stories about the ghost ship El Caleuche, malevolent sorcerers known as Los Brujos, and other mythical creatures. Let’s take a look at some of these legendary tales.

El Caleuche aka The Ghost Ship:
El Caleuche is a mythical ghost ship that sails through the fog, manned by drowned sailors, and is said to produce sounds of music and merrymaking. Yes, it’s a ghostly party ship! This is according to the magazine called “Culture Trip and Ponant”. Some locals refer the ghost ship as “The Enchanted Ship.” The ghost ship sails the seas around the Chiloé Archipelago, often appearing on foggy nights. A vacationer named Joseph Anthony Soyo says that a few locals have claimed that this ghost ship was seen sailing next to the Flying Dutchman (another ghost ship). This is very interesting, because the Flying Dutchman has been seen sailing at Cape Horn (South America) and Cape Agulhas (South Africa), so it’s possible that these two ghost ships have crossed paths.

There are stories that if you see the El Caleuche, you will receive good luck. Others say that if you see the ghost ship, it’s bad luck. I know, make up your mind. The folklore is multifaceted, with people believing the ghost ship is benevolent while others depict it as malevolent. But, it seems everyone agrees that the El Caleuche is a spectacular sight when it emerges from the mist. The story of this ghost ship gets weirder, as some people believe that the ship is a conscious entity, a living, sentient being. Everyone agrees that if you see the ghost ship, that it is brightly lit and festive. It will appear as a magnificent white sailing ship, full of dazzling lights and echoing with the sounds of music and revelry. When approached by mortal ships, the El Caleuche can vanish instantly or submerge itself underwater. It can even pass right through other vessels, appearing incorporeal. The ship is very elusive.

The crew is composed of the souls of sailors who have drowned at sea, who are taken aboard by mythological figures like the Pincoya and Pincoy. Let me tell you who the Pincova and Pincoy are. Pincoya and Pincoy are figures from Chilote mythology in Chile, representing the fertility and abundance of the sea. Pincoya is a beautiful sea goddess whose ritual dance dictates whether fishing will be plentiful (if she faces the sea) or scarce (if she faces the land). Pincoy is her husband and brother, a merman-like figure who is the son of the sea king, Millalobo. They are also siblings who, along with the mermaid La Sirena Chilota, guide the souls of drowned sailors to the ghostly ship called the El Caleuche. As you can see Pincova and Pincoy are connected to the ghost ship El Caleuche. Once aboard, the souls resume an existence as if they were alive, freed from the sea’s embrace to party eternally. The ship is said to lure people to board, either to join the spectral crew or as part of a curse, and those who fall under its influence may be driven mad and never return. The Chilote sorcerer, or brujo, also visits the ship to attend the parties, sometimes arriving on a mythical sea horse. To avoid being seen or captured, one must cover one’s mouth, as the ship can smell the breath of those who try to observe it. Certain trees, like the maqui berry tree, are said to provide a place of safety from the ship.

Los Brujos:
A coven of male witches who are said to possess powerful sorcery and can transform into animals. The warlocks are part of an occult brotherhood known as La Brujeria, or “the witchcraft,” and are said to live in a cave guarded by the monster Imbunche. The Inbunche is a deformed human with its head twisted backwards, along with having twisted arms, fingers, nose, mouth and ears. The creature walks on one foot or on three feet (actually one leg and two hands) because one of its legs is attached to the back of its neck. The Inbunche can’t talk, and communicates only by guttural, rough and unpleasant sounds. According to legend, becoming a warlock requires a difficult and gruesome initiation, such as bathing in a waterfall for 40 days, killing a loved one, making a purse from their skin for a spellbook, and signing a pact with the devil. Their powers are said to include shapeshifting and casting spells. Their servants, like the Imbunche and the flying demonic woman known as La Voladora, perform tasks such as guarding their caves and carrying messages. While the brujos are known as malevolent warlocks, some folklore mentions benevolent male and female witches known as Machi, who worked as healers and fortune tellers. There were also malevolent witches called Kalku. Belief in the warlocks was so pervasive that in 1880, Chilean authorities put them on trial, suspecting them of secretly ruling the archipelago. Locals now say there is another group of Brujos, that call themselves The Disciples of Dark Magic (Los Discípulos de la Magia Oscura) and yes, they are malevolent.

El Trauco:
A repulsive goblin-like creature that lives in the Chiloe Archipelago forests and is said to enter women’s dreams to trick them into sleeping with him, according to Ponant. The Trauco is a mythical entity that inhabits the woods of Chiloé, an island in the south of Chile. It is a child of the snake god Coi Coi-Vilu. It has a powerful magnetism that attracts young and middle-aged women. According to myth, the Trauco’s wife is the wicked and ugly Fiura. The Trauco carries a small stone-headed hatchet that he uses to strike trees in the forest to symbolize his sexual potency. This is interesting, because the Northern California Bigfoot is known to strike trees for communication with other Bigfoot.

If a woman is chosen by El Trauco, she will be automatically bewitched and helpless against his sexual allure, she will fall at his feet and proceeds to engage in sexual intercourse with him. Some men of Chiloé fear the Trauco, as they believe his gaze can be deadly. When a single woman is pregnant and no one steps forward as the father, people assume that Trauco is the father. Because the creature is irresistible, the woman is considered blameless. The Trauco is sometimes invoked to explain sudden or unwanted pregnancies, especially in unmarried women.

La Pincoya:
A mermaid-like creature whose dances are said to determine the abundance of fish in the sea. La Pincoya is a mythical sea spirit from the mythology of Chiloé, Chile, known for her beautiful appearance and her role in personifying the ocean’s fertility. Through her ritual dance on the beach, she predicts the abundance or scarcity of fish for the local fishermen. A dance facing the sea indicates a bountiful catch, while one facing inland signals a poor one. She is also considered a benevolent figure who sometimes helps lost sailors and has a connection to the mythical ship, El Caleuche.