---
type: "Article"
title: "Stellar Architecture at Refugia Boutique Hotel on Chiloé Island"
description: "Design hotel Refugia opened its doors to the public in September 2012 in Southern Chile, in a very unique and mystical spot on this planet – on Chiloé Island, South America’s second largest island situated just South of Puerto Montt. The hotel is surrounded by more than 10 hectares of land where countryside, beach, greenRead More"
resource: "https://travelmemo.com/chile/design-boutique-hotel-refugia-chiloe-island"
author: "Walter Schaerer"
publisher: "Travelmemo"
photo_count: 10
tags: ["Architecture", "Boutique Hotel", "Design", "Chile"]
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generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer", at: 2026-07-04T14:24:54+00:00 }
verified:
  - { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer", at: 2013-03-11T01:00:15+00:00 }
sources:
  - id: photos
    resource: design-boutique-hotel-refugia-chiloe-island.md#photos
    title: "Original photography by Walter Schaerer"
    author: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer"
timestamp: 2026-07-04T14:24:54+00:00
---

# Stellar Architecture at Refugia Boutique Hotel on Chiloé Island

> Refugia (now Tierra Chiloé) is a design boutique hotel on Chiloé Island in southern Chile, built from native wood, glass, and concrete by Mobil Arquitectos, offering gourmet all-inclusive stays amid forests, beach, and Pacific inlets on the Rilan peninsula.

## Destination
Chiloé Island, southern Chile, south of Puerto Montt on the Rilan peninsula — South America's second largest island.

## Getting there
Guests are picked up from and returned to nearby Castro airport; LAN Chile operates flights from Santiago.

## When to go
The article does not specify a best season, but notes that Chiloé's weather can change rapidly in any direction at any time.

## Why visit
A remote, architecturally striking luxury retreat combining indigenous craftsmanship, panoramic sea views, gourmet cuisine, and guided cultural and outdoor excursions into Chiloé's UNESCO-recognized heritage landscape.

## What to see
- **UNESCO Wooden Churches** — 86 wooden churches on the island, 16 declared UNESCO World Heritage; former Jesuit and Franciscan outposts explored on a full-day guided excursion.
- **Castro palafito houses** — Colorful stilt houses in the regional capital Castro, alongside grocery and artisan markets.
- **Chiloé countryside and inland sea** — Rounded hills, green fields, forests, beach, and the inlet surrounding the Rilan peninsula and neighboring islands.

## What to do
- **Wooden churches cultural tour** — Full-day guided excursion with English- and Spanish-speaking guides covering history and architecture of the famous churches.
- **Island hopping on yacht Williche** — The hotel's own 23-metre fully staffed yacht used for island-hopping cruises with gourmet lunch on board.
- **Kayaking, horseback riding, biking and hiking** — Range of half-day and full-day activity excursions offered depending on weather and interests.
- **Spa** — First-floor spa facilities available, particularly useful during bad weather.

## Good to know
Rates are approximately $530 per person per night year-round, but are all-inclusive: airport transfers, gourmet full board including excursion lunches, complimentary Chilean house wine, guided excursions, yacht use, and spa access. The hotel has no in-room TVs by design but does provide broadband internet. Now operating as Tierra Chiloé under the Tierra Hotels group (from August 2014).

## Photos

```yaml
photos:
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/mimo/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Refugia-Hotel-Chiloe-living-room-by-night.jpg"
    caption: "Refugia's living room and fireplace by night"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/mimo/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Refugia-Hotel-Chiloe-sous-chef-Ariel.jpg"
    caption: "Chef Ariel and his king crabs"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/mimo/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/King-crab-at-Refugia-Hotel-Chiloe.jpg"
    caption: "King crabs on a bean purée"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/mimo/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Refugia-Hotel-Chiloe-Katja-Birrer-and-Andres-Bravari-Gambino.jpg"
    caption: "Hotel manager Andrés and travelmemo's Katja"
```