Contao, Coastal village in Hualaihué, Chile

Contao is a fishing village situated on raised terrain along the southeastern shore of Reloncavi Sound. The settlement faces the Pacific waters directly while being backed by mountain ranges.

The settlement developed during colonial times as a center for extracting Fitzroya timber. This activity became the foundation of the local economy for generations.

Fishing remains central to daily life in Contao, with locals using methods passed down through generations. The connection between people and the water shapes how the village functions and develops.

The village is accessible by Contao Airport, and the Carretera Austral highway links it to surrounding communities. Road access makes exploring the surrounding region straightforward for visitors.

On 11 December 1916, pilot David Fuentes Soza landed his two-seat Bleriot monoplane "Talcahuano" on a beach at Contao after wind, poor visibility and fuel forced him down during a flight from Ancud to Puerto Montt. He refuelled and continued the next day, completing the first air link between Chiloé and the mainland and the first airmail transport in South America.