Cahuil salt is an artisanal sea salt harvested by hand in the Cahuil salt flats, on the coast of the O'Higgins Region, by evaporating seawater in shallow clay pools. It's a product of heritage tradition, prized for its flavor and natural origin.

Cahuil is on the coast of the O'Higgins Region, a few minutes south of Pichilemu, at the estuary that forms the Cahuil Lagoon. From Santa Cruz, in the Colchagua Valley, it's roughly 1.5 to 2 hours by car.

What to do in Cahuil?

In Cahuil you can tour the artisanal salt flats, see how the salt is harvested, enjoy the Cahuil Lagoon with its birds and boat rides, and try the local cuisine, famous for its empanadas and seafood. It's a heritage stop on the way to the coast.

How is Cahuil salt made?

Cahuil salt is produced artisanally: seawater is led into shallow clay pools, where the sun and wind evaporate it until the salt crystallizes. It's then harvested by hand, just as it has been for generations.

The salt of Cahuil: the artisanal treasure between the valley and the sea

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Between the vineyards of Colchagua and the waves of the coast lies a place where time seems to have stopped: Cahuil, a village that still harvests salt by hand, as it has for centuries. It's one of those treasures that don't show up in the first search, and that's exactly what makes it special.

The salt flats: heritage harvested by hand

The heart of Cahuil is its artisanal salt flats. Here seawater is led into shallow clay pools, where the sun and wind do their work: they evaporate the water until the salt crystallizes, and then it's harvested by hand, just as it has been for generations.

The result is a heritage sea salt, prized for its flavor and natural origin. Seeing the salt flats in operation —the geometric squares of water mirroring the sky— is a scene that blends landscape, culture, and craft.

The Cahuil Lagoon: birds, boats, and flavors

Cahuil looks out over a lagoon formed where the stream meets the sea. It's a calm place, ideal for birdwatching, taking a boat ride, and staying to eat: the area is famous for its empanadas and its seafood.

The salt route, on the way to the coast

Cahuil is just minutes south of Pichilemu, so the two pair beautifully: salt and surf in one outing. From your base in Santa Cruz it's a 1.5 to 2 hour escape, perfect for a day of heritage and coast.

Before you go

How to get there: check transport in How to get to and around Colchagua —a car is the most comfortable for this route.
More escapes: see them all in What to visit near Colchagua.
Your base: first build your route among the member wineries and add Cahuil on the way to the sea.

From wine to salt, two artisanal crafts of the same land. Cahuil is proof that Colchagua and its coast hold treasures far beyond the glass.

Frequently asked questions

What is Cahuil salt?: Cahuil salt is an artisanal sea salt harvested by hand in the Cahuil salt flats, on the coast of the O'Higgins Region, by evaporating seawater in shallow clay pools. It's a product of heritage tradition, prized for its flavor and natural origin.
Where is Cahuil?: Cahuil is on the coast of the O'Higgins Region, a few minutes south of Pichilemu, at the estuary that forms the Cahuil Lagoon. From Santa Cruz, in the Colchagua Valley, it's roughly 1.5 to 2 hours by car.
What to do in Cahuil?: In Cahuil you can tour the artisanal salt flats, see how the salt is harvested, enjoy the Cahuil Lagoon with its birds and boat rides, and try the local cuisine, famous for its empanadas and seafood. It's a heritage stop on the way to the coast.
How is Cahuil salt made?: Cahuil salt is produced artisanally: seawater is led into shallow clay pools, where the sun and wind evaporate it until the salt crystallizes. It's then harvested by hand, just as it has been for generations.