Wooden churches and houses over the water: three days in Chiloé
Colorful stilt houses, churches that are World Heritage sites and market kitchens. A three-day route around the island.
Photo: Draceane · CC BY-SA 4.0
Day 1: Castro
From the Castro waterfront you can see the stilt houses, homes built over the water. They have colorful facades and today serve as homes, hostels and restaurants. The city also has the San Francisco church, with its yellow facade. It was declared a National Monument in 1979 and a World Heritage site in 2000.
Day 2: Chiloé National Park
The main trail is suitable for everyone and can be extended to the Muelle de las Almas (Dock of Souls), tied to the legend of the boatman Tempilkahue. Other points are the Chanquín sector, with Lake Cucao and dunes, Metalqui Island, with a sea lion colony, and the Cole-Cole sector. The park is home to Darwin's frog, one of the smallest frogs on the planet.
Day 3: Quinchao Island and Dalcahue
The morning starts with a ferry to Quinchao Island, the second largest in the archipelago. Chullec, Achao and Curaco de Vélez are there. According to the guide, Achao has the largest wooden church in the islands and Curaco de Vélez the oldest. Then you reach Dalcahue, where the Nuestra Señora de los Dolores church was built in 1849 and its tower is 26 meters tall.
What to eat
In the market kitchens of Dalcahue they serve curanto, chapalele and milcao. The Dalcahue crafts fair runs twice a week.
Before you go
- The guide gives no prices, ferry schedules or exact fair days: confirm them on the spot.
- The churches are UNESCO World Heritage sites. The guide does not say how many there are.
Keep reading
Sources
- Chile Travel: Recorre Chiloé en 3 días (publicado 27 Aug 2021, modificado 6 Jan 2026)
- Revisado el 9 Oct 2026