Castro, Chile

Capital City

With a population of just 33,417, Castro is a sleepy backwater on Chiloé Island, far removed from the bustle of mainland Chile. Though the city boasts a handful of colonial-era sights and wooden stilt houses, the reality is that bureaucracy is a persistent headache, and the rainy, cool climate is a far cry from the Mediterranean idyll you may have envisioned.

While Castro served as the administrative center of Chiloé until the 18th century, the city has languished since, only regaining its status as the provincial capital in 1982. Today, it offers little more than a quaint town square and a regional museum - hardly the stuff of a grand relocation. Unless you're enamored with the island's remote charm and don't mind the constant drizzle, Castro is unlikely to be the Chilean paradise you're seeking.

This city is best suited for the hardy souls who can tolerate the isolation and damp conditions in exchange for a slower, more tranquil pace of life.