I can still honestly say I am lucky to have coincidentally visited Castro during Festival Costumbrista, despite it likely being the reason I wound up calling 37 hostels (while standing outside in the rain). The annual festival is held in various towns on the Isla de Chiloé in February, and celebrates the history and culture of island life. For an entry fee of about $1.25, we listened to live traditional folk music, watched locals weave and form unique apple-wood baskets, shopped at an artisan market, visited farm animals and learned to cook (and taste!) authentic island food.
I received polarizing reviews on whether to visit Chiloé, an archipelago of more than 40 islands. A friend of mine said he loved the beautiful island, and could spend a month there if he had the chance. A fellow traveler said he heard it was boring unless you were 80 years old and liked to visit churches. Nora and I decided to go for it anyway, and were glad we did. We spent two days on the island, and loved it.
