Refugio Ballena Hostel

I planned a shorter visit but decided almost as soon as I arrived that I wanted to stay longer, and I'm so glad I did. Marco and Fran are such a lovely, energetic pair, always smiling and happy to share their home and island. The hostel is thoughtfully set up, extremely clean, and filled with warm natural light. The kitchen is beautiful and spacious, and my dorm bed was comfortable. The walk from the bus station is lovely, straight through the center to the Río Gamboa, then along a continuous view of the palafitos. I made that walk seven times at different hours and can say it felt extremely safe. On arrival, the hosts gave me lots of tips about Castro and day trips across Chiloe. They know the region so well, and their suggestions were much better than the guidebook I'd been using. I had an incredible stay and would recommend it to anyone. It was a perfect experience for me!

The facilities were clean, and as a solo female traveller I felt safe staying here. Marcus and his wife Fran were incredible hosts, locals to Castro who made the hostel ballena feel welcoming, safe, and fun. They had wonderful suggestions for hiking, sight seeing, iglesias, restaurants, and more. I had such a nice stay.

I stayed at the Ballena hostel in March and had a great time. It's worth knowing you're sharing the owners' home, and you can see the care they've put into the details. The bed was comfortable, with two power plugs for each bed. The kitchen was well equipped, and I got helpful advice on what to see and how to take buses for day trips around the island.

The kitchen is excellent, with plenty of clean, modern equipment and everything you need. The whole hostel is very clean, the beds are comfortable, and the bathrooms are nice. The owners are kind and great to chat with. Best hostel we've stayed at in South America so far, and I'd highly recommend it in Castro.