A 20-minute boat ride from Puerto Chacabuco will take you to Deer Island (whose actual name in Spanish is Isla Carmen). Located in the middle of the Aisén Fjord, the island owes its name to the elusive red deer, one of the largest deer in the world—males can attain weights of around 240 kilograms (530 pounds). The island boasts a population of some 200 of them, but they are famously shy and there’s no guarantee you’ll see one. As you walk the hiking trails in search of the creatures, you’ll find it much easier to spot the island’s arrayán trees (also known as Chilean myrtles), which grow up to 15 meters (50 feet) tall and can live for more than 600 years. From early summer to midsummer, they produce dramatic and fragrant white flowers.
