What's on in Castro, Chile through the year

Peak crowds — Chiloé summer season, Summer holidays in Chile

• Season

  Chiloé summer season

  1 Jan – 28 FebSummer season opensCrowdedBook early

  January and February are when the boat trips, the island's small museums and the palafito hotels are all running, and all full. It is also the only stretch of the year with more dry days than wet.

Still on: Puñihuil penguin season (15 Sep – 31 Mar (usually))

Peak crowds — Chiloé summer season, Festival Costumbrista Chilote

• Festival

  Festival Costumbrista Chilote

  21–22 FebMajor festivalCrowded

  Two days in the municipal park of curanto cooked in a pit, milcao, chicha and Chilote dance groups — the island's own fair rather than a show put on for visitors, held alongside a large craft market. Source ↗

Still on: Chiloé summer season (1 Jan – 28 Feb), Puñihuil penguin season (15 Sep – 31 Mar (usually))

Busy — Summer holidays in Chile, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Puñihuil penguin season (15 Sep – 31 Mar (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in April.

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

• Season

  Winter shutdown

  1 May – 15 Sep · usuallyOff-season shutdownClosures

  The rain is near-constant from May, the excursion boats stop and a fair share of the waterfront closes. What stays open is serving the island rather than visitors, and it costs half as much.

Busy — Winter holidays in Chile

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Winter shutdown (1 May – 15 Sep (usually))

Busy — Winter holidays in Chile, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Winter shutdown (1 May – 15 Sep (usually))

Busy — Nazareno de Caguach

• Festival

  Nazareno de Caguach

  28–30 Aug · usuallyPilgrimage seasonCrowded

  Thousands of Chilotes sail to the tiny island of Caguach, hours by boat east of Castro, for the feast of Jesús Nazareno on 30 August. A second, summer pilgrimage is held on the third Sunday of January. Source ↗

Still on: Winter shutdown (1 May – 15 Sep (usually))

Peak crowds — Fiestas Patrias, Fiestas Patrias recess in Chile

• Nature

  Puñihuil penguin season

  15 Sep – 31 Mar · usuallyBirdlife season

  Humboldt and Magellanic penguins nest together on the Puñihuil islets on the Pacific side of the island, seen from small boats off the beach. It is a day out from Castro via Ancud; December to February is best. Source ↗

• Holiday

  Fiestas Patrias

  16–21 Sep · usuallyNational holidayCrowdedBook earlyClosures

  18 and 19 September are Chile's biggest holidays, often stretched into a long weekend. Fondas serve empanadas, chicha and cueca dancing, long-distance buses and flights sell out, and offices and many shops close. Source ↗

Still on: Winter shutdown (1 May – 15 Sep (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Puñihuil penguin season (15 Sep – 31 Mar (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Puñihuil penguin season (15 Sep – 31 Mar (usually))

Busy — Summer holidays in Chile, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Puñihuil penguin season (15 Sep – 31 Mar (usually))