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Its main sustainable income is the agriculture, together with the salmon and shellfish farms that provide with a job to all the habitants of this colorful place.
Its architecture has its roots in the Great Island of Chiloe, where the first habitants arrived, building their typical warehouses, chicken coops, cowsheds together with its main house. The beaches always provide with seafood products, shellfish and fish that always are included in the traditional recipes from the South of Chile, where we can mention the famous “Curanto al hoyo” a worldwide recognized dish that while its prepared, it turns into a big social event. You can add to these delicious seafood dishes the “asado de cordero al palo” which is the Grilled lamb on a stick with kutchens german style cakes and homemade baked bread.
Only 35kms south of Puerto Montt city, the Capital of the 10th Region in the Lake District is Huelmo. A small town full of natural beauty and an amazing scenery for who wants to really have a contact with the locals, na- ture and southern culture. Its calm waters of the Reloncavi Sea, the native woods and lakes with thousands of immigrating birds, build their nests every spring is only one of many things you can be able to contact.
Folk and Religion
Huelmo has an infinite cultural and historic heritage such as its Religious Folk, a legacy since the 1600´s coming from the Circular Missions of the Jesuits in the Great Island of Chiloe.
Tradition which remains intact, even if the general tendency is to lose its own identity in time, with the phenomenon that globalization brings with itself. Young, seniors gathering in religious activities, with songs and prayers keep intact the music, dance and chapel worship of the old days.
The Bordemar Band, directed by Mr. Jaime Barria, outstand with their musical group of traditional music and have been travelling around the world showing this wonderful legacy. With him, many other popular musical groups and singers try to prevail over time their wisdom through all their generations, keeping the “Huelmo Culture” alive.
Every year, 3 big religious festivities take the attention of its locals, and of many tourists. The first party is the celebration of the Virgin of Lourdes on the 11th of February each year and then the Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, Patrona de Huelmo party each 24th of September and finally the birth of Jesus celebration on the 24th of December.
At the end of each party, there is a final ceremony at the chapel. Each neighbor gathers to decorate the chapel with flowers and native plants, making the church look very colorful inside and out. After the mass, the Saints images are taken for a long peregrine walk, in a way of saying thanks for the New Year or a favor that was given by a Saint. Together with this, a music band with accordions, guitars and drums play the traditional march strings. This is obviously a great show for our soul and sight.
