Ancud is a city located in southern Chile within the Los Lagos Region. It occupies the northernmost part of the island and province of Chiloé and serves as the second-largest city in the Chiloé Archipelago, following Castro.
Established in 1768, Ancud functioned as the capital of the archipelago until 1982. The city was originally founded during colonial times to serve as a bulwark against foreign powers and played a significant role in the Chilean colonization of Patagonia during the 19th century.