While still not quite as popular as the Patagonia region way in the south of Chile, other southern Chilean cities like Pucón, Valdivia and Puerto Varas and the island of Chiloe, are becoming more and more known to travelers around the world. These desirable destinations are pretty remote and may not be the easiest to get to, but they’re definitely worth the effort. With picturesque lakes, snow-capped volcanos and wild untouched forests, there’s no shortage of natural beauty to be captured and enjoyed in the south of Chile.
I recently backpacked and bused down to Patagonia from Santiago and was fortunate to discover many of Chile’s rustic gems along the way. When it comes to backpacking and a style of traveling when you’re constantly on the move, where you decide to stay can really make or break your experience. Awesome accommodation makes all the difference. I’ve stayed in all types of awesome hostels and hotels all over the world, but these four from my Southern Chile backpacking trip are definitely worth an honorable mention!
Here are 4 Awesome Hostels in Southern Chile:
Chili Kiwi
Where: Pucón
Chili Kiwi Hostel in Pucón is by far one of the coolest and most unique hostels I’ve ever stayed in. Right when we entered the Kiwi compound, I knew this place was special. It’s owned by a New Zealand “kiwi,” [hence the hostel’s name and rustic appeal] and run by other backpackers who fell in love with Pucón and decided to stay a while. Chili Kiwi over looks Pucón’s picturesque harbor and on a clear day has awesome views of Volcán Villarica!
After check-in you’ll immediately be offered a tour of the entire premises including the hostel bar and outdoor tree-house style seating areas. Every morning there is a welcome meeting, run by the cheery hostel staff, explaining the many different activities and tours available around Pucón and they even have in-house tours services! My 4-person dorm was inside one of the outer back cabins, complete with ensuite bathroom and our own beautiful wooden kitchen stocked with complimentary basics like coffee, tea, oils and spices!
Chili Kiwi’s Awesome Amenities:
- All beds equipped with personal reading lights, plugs and lockers! (As most backpacker’s should know this is hard to come by..)
- 3 spacious communal kitchens
- In-house tours available including hiking Volcano Villarica
- Absolutely amazing and unique private rooms including Hobbit Huts, Tree Houses and even a Glamper Van!
Address: Roberto Geis 355, Pucón
Dorms from $18. Privates from $44 per room. Book your stay here.
*Be sure to book ahead! This place is seriously popular!
Casa Margouya
Where: Puerto Varas
Casa Maragouya is a quirky, no frills hostel located on the second floor of an old wooden house in the middle of Puerto Varas. Just two blocks from the lake and close walking distance to grocery stores, cafés, restaurants and bars, you really couldn’t ask for a more central location. Its small and simple design matches the tone of the cozy little town and it’s a great place to meet other backpackers. Casa Margouya is quiet and super laid-back, making it a great place to kick-back and relax in the midst of Southern Chile’s many outdoor activities. Or hey, if you’re looking for more adventure, you can conveniently book many tours right at their front desk!
Awesome Amenities
- In-house tour booking
- Free coffee and tea available at all times
- Every bed comes with a safety storage locker
Book your stay here.
Palafitos Hostel
Where: Castro, Chiloe
Palafito Hostel is located in one of Castro’s classic palafito, or stilt, houses and makes for the ultimate Chilota experience. The Gamboa Palafito neighborhood is full of history and one of the few surviving palafito districts after the 1960’s earthquake and tsunami. These traditional wooden homes are characteristic of Chiloe island, reflecting the identity of its residents and their deep connection to both land and sea.
Each morning at Palafito Hostel you’ll awake to the sweet smell of freshly baked bread and stumble out of your room to find natural light filtering through the large framed windows. When visiting this little sleepy island, running into rain at some point is pretty much a guarantee. Luckily, Palafito Hostel provides the perfect escape with its charming homey interior, scenic waterfront views, warm wood fires and yummy homemade treats. You can cozy up on the couch in the common area, mug in hand, and calmly watch the storm blow on by.
Palafito’s Hostel Awesome Amenities:
- Complimentary breakfast every morning with fruit, eggs, yogurt, granola and homemade bread and jams! Best breakfast I’ve had at a hostel in Chile thus far!
- Waterfront rooms with beautiful balconies
- Safety Lockers
Address: Ernesto Riquelme Street #1210, Castro
Dorms from $20. Privates from $40 per room. Book your stay here.
13 Lunas Hostel
Where: Ancud, Chiloe
If 13 Lunas Hostel was in a high school superlatives contest, it would 100% win “most all around.” Seriously, this place has got it all. It’s centrally located, clean, comfortable, social and has all the amenities your little heart could desire. With several large open seating areas, a basement grill/ beer pong zone, outdoor hammocks and lots of activities planned daily, you’re sure to meet other travelers, if that’s what you’re looking for. More of the strong silent type? At 13 Lunas the “party area” is two floors down from the upstairs dorms, making for a well thought-out and needed separation for those just wanting a good night’s sleep.
Owners Claudio and Francisco are super cool, always down to hang and available for all questions, concerns and recommendations to help you enjoy your stay. They’ve even prepared a little list of their “favorites” around town to help you enjoy Ancud just like a local!
Awesome Amenities
- Eco-friendly solar panels used to heat all water in the hostel
- Recycling & compost programs in place
- Ping pong, foozeball and beer pong
- Complimentary breakfast including eggs, coffee, cereal and bread
- Board of recommendations, suggestions and advice for Ancud
- DALCA the dog!
- In-house bike rentals
- Netflix, DVDs and games for entertainment
Address: Los Carrera 855, Ancud
Dorms from $18. Privates from $43 per room. Book your stay here.
Which of these hostels would you like to stay in? What makes accommodation noteworthy for you? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
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Disclaimer: Some of my stays at the above hostels were comped for purposes of this post. Still, as always all opinions expressed are my own. I would only recommend something that I genuinely felt Lauren on Location readers would enjoy!
Welcome to Wanderful Wednesdays!
Consider yourself a wanderer?! Well then, this Blog Hop is for you!
Meet your hosts: Lauren of Lauren on Location, Van of Snow in Tromso, Isabel of The Sunny Side of This and Marcella of What a Wonderful World.
Here on Wanderful Wednesday we hope to promote an open and supportive community for like-minded bloggers- expats, travelers and all kinds of wanderers!
The linkup will take place every Wednesday at 8AM GMT.
Wanderful Wednesday Guidelines:
- Link up a wanderful travel related post below! One per blogger per week please!
- Spread the LOVE! Blog Hops are all about hopping around & getting to know others within the community! At the very least please try to comment on one other post before you go!
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You can also pin your post to our new Pinterest Board! Let me know if you’d like the invite.
This week I’m highlighting A Delicious Guide to Coffee & Cake in Vienna by California Globetrotter! I’m currently on a “cleansing diet” after 2 months of eating crap and traveling, but I’m pretty sure this post would have had be drooling anyway! If you haven’t already, be sure to go check out post and spread the love! Thanks for linking up with us Lorelei! ?
Happy Hopping Friends!! 😀
I love the look of the Chili Kiwi hostel! I would love to stay there! #WanderfulWednesday
It was an awesome place to stay for sure :D!
I love the Chili Kiwi one – makes sense that it’s owned by a Kiwi because it reminds me of when I visited Hobbiton in New Zealand 🙂
The hobbit holes were my favorite part of this hostel. Unfortunately they were all booked up by the time we got there, but looked like a fun place to stay! 😀
cool places #wanderfulwednesday
Thanks Tanja!
Aw thanks for the shout out! Glad you enjoyed the post! 🙂 Happy to link up!
Of course!! Thanks for being a loyal link-upper 😛
They all look like the perfect nature retreat!
That they are Isabel! 😀
Looks like you can really backpack in style in Chile! such nice places. Your pics are amazing of that whole trip. #wanderfulwednesday
Thanks Lillian! You really can backpack in style, which is nice for longer trips. Doesn’t drain your wallet, and the places are still really nice! 😀
I have so much family in the south of Chile that I would probably not need this, but perhaps here and there! Especially places like Chiloe!
That’s awesome! Where do your family live?! Staying with friends or family always beats staying in a hostel! That’s why I don’t have one for Valdivia, because I stayed with friends. Felt like I got to know the city in a whole different way! 😀
I totally agree with you that where you’re spending the night can make or break your trip. In my opinion getting a good night’s sleep is just as important as the food that you’re eating on a trip. It sounds like you found some real gems during your trip, but I think that Chili Kiwi looks like extra fun! They houses looks so cute!
So true! Sometimes you want a fun atmosphere and sometimes you just need to rest up for the adventures ahead! All of these places were a pretty great balance, I’d definitely recommend them! 😀
The Chile Kiwi Hostel is my fave from your list. I’ve never stayed at a hostel before but if I ever visit Chile, the Kiwi Hostel would definitely be my go to.
It was definitely a fun place to stay and I would highly recommend them! 😀
All of these look super cosy!! That’s the most important thing for me, feeling comfy and cosy in the place I’m staying 🙂
These places were all super cozy! I wish I had more time to spend in each 😀
Those are some nice hostels! I’m loving the foozeball amenity! lol
Hehe… activities always make for the best accommodation! 😀
The Chilli Kiwi looks awesome! Those outdoor cabins seem really cute and that you get your own ensuite is gold in the hostel world!
Ensuite sure is gold in the hostel world, doesn’t get much better 😛
Some great places to stay if I ever get to Chile! Always good to get recommendations! #wanderfulwednesday
Thanks Tracy! 😀
I think I need to go to all of these places, you know just to try them all out. So in love with Southern Chile 😉
Oh definitely! I feel myself making a return VERY soon! 😀
What a wonderful collection of places to stay, Lauren. I’m sure this will be very helpful to anyone traveling through Chilie and looking for nice accommodations that aren’t too expensive.
Thanks Pat and I hope so! All of these hostels really were lovely! 😀
I do not stay in dorm but do use hostels for they private rooms (more when my stay is short on a place). I really like the first and third hostels. I wold like to stay in a palafito and visit this area of Chile (and many more others). #WanderlustWednesday
This area of Chile is truly beautiful and my stay in the Palafito was more like a bed and breakfast than a hostel! I think you would’ve liked it 😀
If I could choose I’d prefer a hostel with my own private bathroom. Cleanliness is also a huge factor for me. All of these hostels look pretty cozy. Thanks for the collection! #wanderlustwednesday #21
I’m pretty sure all of these hostels had the options for private rooms with private bathrooms! Thanks for linking up! 😀
Chili Kiwi looks very cool! I’d love to stay there if I’m ever visiting that part of the world.
Well let me know if you ever do! I’m sure you’d love it 😀
Love the sounds of Chili Kiwi, but are the huts in the picture the ones for 4 people?! Also love the rustic furniture of Palafitos hostel!
Noooo the huts were only for 2! The 4 person rooms were in a back cabin! 😀
Haha that makes more sense, would have been a bit of a squeeze!
All four sound lovely but I would love to stay at Chili Kiwi!
Chili Kiwi was definitely a good one 😀
All of these places look awesome! Bookmarking this post for when I eventually make it to Chile 🙂
You have to go soon! You would seriously fall for this country! 😀