Chiloé Island, Chile: travel guide
Wooden churches, stilt houses and misty seas off southern Chile
Chile's second-largest island is a misty, myth-soaked archipelago of 14 UNESCO-listed wooden churches, colourful palafito stilt-houses over the water, penguin colonies, and the distinctive Chilote cuisine of curanto. A world apart from mainland Chile.
About Chiloé Island
Chiloe is a large island off the coast of southern Chile, an archipelago region rather than a single town, and it has a culture and cuisine quite distinct from the mainland. Its landscape is green and often misty, with fishing villages along the inlets and a strong tradition of myth and storytelling.
The wooden churches of Chiloe are the island's signature, built in a local style and recognised internationally. In Castro, the colourful palafito houses stand on stilts above the water, and the Iglesia de Castro is a vivid landmark. Further afield you can visit the Punihuil penguin colony, hike in Chiloe National Park and browse the Dalcahue artisan market.
Chiloe suits slow travellers and those who enjoy local food such as curanto. Summer is the driest period, but be prepared for rain at any time.
- Country
- Chile
- Currency
- CLP
- Time zone
- America/Santiago
- Nearest airport
- MHC
Last updated
Top places to visit in Chiloé Island
Palafitos de Castro
Historic Stilt Houses · 4.8 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Castro's famous stilt houses (palafitos) extend on wooden piers over the tidal flats of the estuary, painted in vivid rainbow colours that reflect in the still water. A UNESCO-recognized heritage element and the most photographed scene in…
Iglesia de Castro
UNESCO Wooden Church · 4.7 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Chiloé's most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage church — a vivid yellow-and-violet 1912 Neo-Gothic structure sitting on the hillside above Castro's main plaza. One of 16 Jesuit-built wooden churches on Chiloé inscribed on the UNESCO list…
Puñihuil Penguin Colony
Penguin Colony · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h · entry $10,000 (≈ ₹980)
A small rocky archipelago off the northwest coast of Chiloé is one of the very few places in the world where Humboldt and Magellanic penguins nest together in the same colony. Boat tours from Puñihuil beach bring visitors within metres of…
Chiloé National Park
Temperate Rainforest National Park · 4.7 rating · about 5 h · entry $4,000 (≈ ₹390)
Wild temperate rainforest covering 43,000 hectares on Chiloé's windswept Pacific coast. Accessible from the village of Cucao, the park has 100 km of empty Pacific dunes, dense Valdivian rainforest, rare Darwin's fox, and the endemic Chiloé…
Dalcahue Sunday Artisan Market
Traditional Artisan Market · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The finest artisan market in the Chiloé archipelago, held every Sunday morning in the waterfront covered market. Chilote women sell hand-knitted woolens, carved wooden figures, curantos pots, locally dried seafood, and the unique Chiloé…
Things to do
- Chiloé Archipelago Island Hopping by Ferry Cultural · 8 h · from CLP 55,000 per person
- Chiloé National Park Penguin Colony Tour Nature · 8 h · from CLP 48,000 per person
- Castro Palafito Photography Walk at Sunrise Cultural · 2.5 h · from CLP 12,000 per person
- Ancud Sea Kayak — Penguin Colonies at Puñihuil Adventure · 5 h · from CLP 55,000 per person
- Curanto Underground Cooking Participation Food Drink · 4 h · from CLP 42,000 per person
Day trips and tours
- Chiloé Authentic Experience — Penguins + UNESCO Churches + Curanto 12 h · from CLP 110,000
Where to stay in Chiloé Island
- Castro Palafito District about CLP 90,000 per night
Castro is the capital of Chiloé and the best base for exploring the island. The palafito stilt-houses on the Gamboa and Miraflores bays are the iconic image of Chiloé — and several palafitos have been converted into…
Hotels
- Palafito 1326 Hotel 4-star · CLP 22,000 to CLP 55,000 per night
- Lodge El Anzuelo Fino 4-star · CLP 28,000 to CLP 68,000 per night
- Hotel Unicornio Azul 3-star · CLP 12,000 to CLP 25,000 per night
- Hostal Chilhue 2-star · CLP 2,500 to CLP 7,000 per night
Where to eat
- El Trébol Castro chilean, seafood, chilote · about CLP 9,000 per person
- Antojitos de Ancud chilean, chilote, traditional · about CLP 8,500 per person
- La Brújula del Cuerpo vegetarian, vegan · about CLP 8,000 per person
- Café del Puente Dalcahue cafe, chilote · about CLP 5,500 per person
- Curantea Castro chilean, chilote, traditional · about CLP 22,000 per person
Getting to Chiloé Island
Airport: Castro (MHC)
Getting around
- Bus
- Ferry
- Taxi
- Walking
More in Chile
Frequently asked questions about Chiloé Island
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Chiloé Island?
- The highest-rated places in our Chiloé Island guide are Palafitos de Castro, Iglesia de Castro, Puñihuil Penguin Colony, Chiloé National Park, Dalcahue Sunday Artisan Market.
- Where should I stay in Chiloé Island?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Chiloé Island: Castro Palafito District.
- How do I get around Chiloé Island?
- Ways to get around Chiloé Island covered in our guide: City bus, Ferry, Taxi, Walking.
- Which airport is nearest to Chiloé Island?
- The nearest airport to Chiloé Island has the code MHC.