Castro
The capital of Chiloe, with houses on stilts over the water and a corrugated iron church painted yellow.
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Castro was founded in 1567 and is among the oldest continuously inhabited towns in Chile, though earthquakes and fires have taken most of what was built before the twentieth century. Two things define it. The palafitos are rows of houses standing on wooden piles over the tidal water of the Fiordo de Castro, painted in strong colours, built by fishing families and now largely converted to hotels and restaurants. The church of San Francisco, finished in 1912 and clad in corrugated iron painted yellow and violet, is one of the sixteen Chiloe churches inscribed by UNESCO in 2000 for their timber construction tradition.
What you actually see
- Palafitos on piles - houses over the tidal water, painted in strong colours.
- San Francisco church of 1912 - clad in painted corrugated iron.
- One of the sixteen inscribed churches - UNESCO, 2000.
- A town founded in 1567 - though little pre-modern fabric survives.
When to go
December to March; Chiloe is very wet the rest of the year. A full day.
Honest expectations
Many palafitos are now tourist accommodation rather than homes, which changes the character. Rain is constant outside high summer. The ferry crossing to the island adds time. Prices in season are high.
Nearby
Dalcahue and Achao are north-east; Chonchi is south.
What to pack for Castro
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.