Castro, Chile Travel Guide — What to See, Weather & Where to Stay

Castro is the capital of Chiloé, a large green island that feels like a different country from the mainland. Its signature sight is the palafitos — wooden houses on stilts painted in candy colors that march down the hill to the water's edge. Above them stands the UFO-shaped wooden cathedral, one of the 16 UNESCO-listed Chiloé churches.

Island life moves at its own pace: drizzle, peat fires, curanto cooked in underground pits, and a mythology of ghost ships and witches that locals still tell with a straight face. Give Castro two days — one for the town and one for the island's wooden churches and the penguin colonies of Puñihuil.

The town center and the palafitos viewpoint are walkable. Buses run north to Ancud and south to Quellón from the central terminal — most sights (Churches Route, Puñihuil) need a local bus or a rented car, which you can pick up at the airport or in town.

To reach the island, take a bus to Pargua from Puerto Montt and cross the 30-minute ferry; the bus continues onto the island. In high season, book ferry tickets ahead on weekends.

Cool and rainy, even in summer: 8–15°C with showers that come and go throughout the day. The best months are December–March; even then, carry a rain jacket every single day. The island's green is exactly what the weather buys you.

Cash is king outside Castro — many island villages have no card terminals and no ATM. In town, card works at supermarkets and nicer restaurants. The only reliable ATM in the south of the island is in Castro, so withdraw before heading to Quellón or the national park.