Refugia Chiloé stands above Pullao Bay on Chiloé, the largest island of an archipelago where Chile's Lake District ends and Patagonia begins. The building is a striking geometric form on stilts, a nod to the island's traditional palafito houses, and it is partly solar-powered. Inside, clean lines, native wood, exposed beams and wide glass combine with the work of local craftspeople. There are 24 rooms and suites, simple and warm, with hand-made furniture, hand-knitted wool slippers and views over the inland sea, the bay and the islands. The stay is all-inclusive, and the excursions are the heart of it: the hotel's guides lead walks in the forest, rides along empty coast and sailing trips through the archipelago on its own boat. Cooking draws on the hotel's gardens, nearby farms and the bay itself, with shellfish, sea urchins and mussels, and a traditional curanto cooked in the ground and served with live music. The spa has indoor and outdoor pools, a sauna shaped like a seashell and a steam room, all looking over the wetlands.
- Rooms
- 24 rooms and suites
Insider tip Book a sailing on the hotel's own boat early in your stay; the archipelago makes most sense from the water, and you can plan the rest of the days around what you see.
Why I choose it A design-led lodge in a little-visited corner of Chile, with excursions that open up the island's culture as well as its landscape.
