Your Complete Guide to Exploring the Best of Chile
Chile, a country of striking landscapes and cultural richness, captivates with its diverse geography, vibrant cities, and rich history. From the bustling streets of Santiago to the otherworldly beauty of the Atacama Desert, Chile offers a blend of tradition and natural wonders. Explore ancient archaeological sites, savour delicious seafood and wines, and experience lively cultural festivals. The country’s dramatic mountains, pristine lakes, and Pacific coastline make it a top destination for travellers seeking both adventure and tranquillity. Chile’s unique charm ensures an unforgettable travel experience.
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Top Attractions
See below for a selection of the top attractions in Chile, review the map to see where these are located to help plan your trip.
Torres del Paine National Park
Torres del Paine National Park in Chile is a sprawling wilderness of rugged mountains, pristine lakes, and ancient glaciers. It offers trekkers and nature enthusiasts a chance to explore diverse ecosystems teeming with wildlife like guanacos and Andean condors. The park’s breath-taking landscapes make it a haven for photography and outdoor adventure.
Access from – Puerto Natales
Atacama Desert
Chile’s Atacama Desert, known as the driest desert on Earth, presents visitors with surreal landscapes of salt flats, geysers, and towering sand dunes. It’s a place where the stark beauty of lunar-like terrain meets vibrant sunsets and the silent allure of ancient petroglyphs, offering a profound journey into Chile’s natural and cultural history.
Access from – San Pedro de Atacama
Easter Island (Rapa Nui)
Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, is a remote Polynesian island in the Pacific Ocean famous for its enigmatic moai statues. Beyond these iconic sculptures, the island boasts volcanic craters, pristine beaches, and a rich cultural heritage. Visitors can immerse themselves in the island’s intriguing history and explore its archaeological wonders.
Access from – Hanga Roa
Chiloé Island
Chiloé Island in Chile is famed for its unique wooden churches, palafitos (stilt houses), and rich folklore. Visitors explore its rolling hills, quaint villages, and pristine coastline dotted with colourful fishing boats. The island’s distinct culture, traditional cuisine, and natural beauty make it a captivating destination steeped in local traditions and maritime history.
Access from – Castro
Valparaiso
Valparaiso, Chile’s vibrant port city, enchants with its steep streets adorned with colourful murals and historic funiculars. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it offers visitors a blend of bohemian charm, bustling markets, and panoramic views from its numerous hilltops. Valparaiso’s artistic spirit, street art, and cultural diversity make it a cultural hub worth exploring.
Access from – Valparaiso
Carretera Austral
Chile’s Carretera Austral is a legendary highway that traverses remote Patagonian landscapes. Stretching over 1,200 kilometres, it winds through ancient forests, fjords, and glaciers, offering breath-taking vistas at every turn. Adventurers and nature lovers flock here for trekking, fishing, and wildlife spotting in one of South America’s last wilderness frontiers.
Access from – Various towns along the route
Lauca National Park
Lauca National Park in Chile’s northern Andes is known for its high-altitude landscapes, including Chungara Lake and Parinacota volcano. It’s a haven for wildlife such as vicuñas, flamingos, and Andean condors. Visitors can explore its rugged terrain, thermal springs, and archaeological sites, immersing themselves in the park’s natural and cultural heritage.
Access from – Arica
Elqui Valley
Chile’s Elqui Valley is famed for its clear skies, perfect for stargazing and observing solar phenomena. It’s also known for its vineyards producing Pisco, a grape brandy. Visitors can explore charming villages, enjoy outdoor activities like trekking and horseback riding, and immerse themselves in the valley’s serene and mystical atmosphere.
Access from – La Serena or Vicuña
Marble Caves
The Marble Caves on General Carrera Lake near Puerto Rio Tranquilo are natural formations of marble arches and tunnels sculpted by water over millennia. Visitors can take boat tours to explore these mesmerizing azure caverns, where sunlight reflects off the turquoise waters, creating an ethereal and enchanting experience in Chilean Patagonia.
Access from – Puerto Rio Tranquilo
Villarrica Volcano
Villarrica Volcano in Chile is one of South America’s most active volcanoes, known for its perfectly conical shape and stunning summit views. Adventurers can hike to its smoking crater or ski down its snowy slopes. The volcano’s geological significance and scenic beauty make it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers.
Access from – Pucon
San Pedro de Atacama
San Pedro de Atacama is a desert oasis town in Chile’s Atacama Desert, renowned for its otherworldly landscapes, salt flats, and geysers. Visitors can explore ancient archaeological sites, stargaze in the clear desert skies, and immerse themselves in the town’s vibrant cultural scene. It’s a gateway to one of the world’s driest and most surreal environments.
Access from – San Pedro de Atacama
Humboldt Penguin National Reserve
Humboldt Penguin National Reserve on Chile’s northern coast is home to colonies of Humboldt penguins, marine birds, and sea lions. Visitors can observe these charismatic creatures in their natural habitat, explore coastal cliffs, and enjoy boat tours to nearby islands. The reserve is a conservation success story, protecting biodiversity in the Pacific Ocean.
Access from – Punta de Choros
Punta de Lobos
Punta de Lobos, near Pichilemu in Chile, is a world-renowned surfing spot known for its powerful waves and rugged coastline. Surfers flock here for its consistent swells and laid-back atmosphere. Beyond surfing, visitors can enjoy stunning ocean views, beachcombing, and exploring the nearby cliffs and rock formations, making it a paradise for coastal adventurers.
Access from – Pichilemu
Valle Nevado
Valle Nevado, nestled in the Andes near Santiago, Chile, is a premier ski resort known for its pristine slopes and stunning mountain views. Visitors enjoy skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing in winter, while summer offers hiking and mountain biking. Its alpine scenery and modern facilities attract outdoor enthusiasts year-round.
Access from – Santiago
Perito Moreno Glacier
Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina’s Los Glaciares National Park is a spectacular ice formation that regularly calves into Lake Argentino. Visitors can observe this natural phenomenon up close from viewing platforms or take boat tours to appreciate the glacier’s massive size and striking blue hues, surrounded by rugged Patagonian landscapes.
Access from – El Calafate
Valle de la Luna
Valle de la Luna in Chile’s Atacama Desert resembles an otherworldly lunar landscape with its barren hills, salt formations, and rugged canyons. Visitors can hike to viewpoints for panoramic sunset views, explore caves and rock formations sculpted by wind and water, and experience the desert’s surreal beauty under the clear desert skies.
Access from – San Pedro de Atacama
Geysers del Tatio
Geysers del Tatio in Chile’s Atacama Desert is one of the world’s highest geyser fields, erupting with steam and boiling water at dawn. Visitors can witness these geothermal wonders, soak in natural hot springs, and marvel at the desert’s stark beauty and the contrast of icy geysers against the desert landscape at sunrise.
Access from – San Pedro de Atacama
Map
See map of Chile to review top attractions. For the best experience save locally to open with google maps/share with your friends to help plan your next adventure! Some locations are hidden behind others, click map to reveal full details:

Transport
In Chile, there is a well-developed network of intercity buses that connect major cities and tourist destinations. Within cities like Santiago and Valparaíso, public buses and metro systems provide efficient transportation options. Domestic flights are essential for traveling long distances quickly, particularly to reach remote areas such as Patagonia. Trains are less common but still used for certain routes. Taxis are readily available in urban areas, with ride-hailing apps such as Uber, DiDi, and Cabify offering convenient alternatives. These apps provide transparent pricing and are widely used, ensuring ease of travel for tourists navigating both urban centres and more remote regions of Chile.
Budget
Traveling in Chile varies; budget travellers spend $30-$40 per day on hostels and local food; mid-range travellers budget $60-$100 for comfortable hotels and dining out; luxury travellers may spend $150+ daily on upscale accommodations and fine dining. Costs can vary widely depending on the region and activities chosen, with higher prices in touristy areas like Patagonia.
Seasonality and Weather
Chile’s weather varies significantly due to its geography spanning from the arid Atacama Desert in the north to the temperate regions of central Chile and the cooler climate in the south. In the north, temperatures can soar above 30°C (86°F), while the central regions, including Santiago, range from 10–30°C (50–86°F), with warm summers and mild winters. Southern Chile experiences colder temperatures with frequent rain. The best time to visit depends on the region: northern Chile is ideal from September to November and March to May, while central and southern Chile are best from October to March, avoiding the rainy winter months.
Must Try Dishes



Language
The main language spoken is Spanish. Below are some key phrases (phonetic translation) to get you started. A big smile and a few words can get you a long way!

Top Cities in Chile
Nearby Destinations
Useful Pages
Image Attributions
| Image | Author, License |
| Carretera Austral | Felipe Del Valle, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons |
| Lauca National Park | BlackNose, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons |
| Punta de Lobos | Gobierno de Chile, CC BY 3.0 CL, via Wikimedia Commons |

