travel itinerary chile

The Ultimate Chile Itinerary For Ten Days and Two Weeks

By Author Steph Dyson

Posted on Last updated: 8th April 2024

With the piercing peaks of the Andes prominent in the north, glacier-riddled national parks of the south, and fertile, wine-growing valleys of the center, it’s fair to say that Chile has jaw-dropping geographical diversity oozing from every pore.

It’s for this very reason why planning a Chile itinerary for ten days or more of travel might seem a bit of a headache. However, I’ve got plenty of ideas about how to organize a showstopping tour of this truly incredible country – and even wrote a guidebook about it .

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How to use this Chile itinerary

Luckily, Chile has one of the best plane networks and road connectivity in South America, meaning you can – and should – zip between its diverse regions if you’re on a short trip.

Staying here longer? Even better; you’ve got plenty of time to really get under the skin of a country I came to love over the three and a half years I was based here. You can also get inspired by my list of the 31 best places to visit in Chile – which includes not just the “must-sees” but those under-the-radar destinations that few other websites mention.

This Chile itinerary focuses on the things to do in Chile broadly, but you’ll find plenty more details about where to go in Patagonia in the following:

• Four itineraries for one and two weeks of travel in Patagonia
• An itinerary for three or more weeks in Patagonia and free e-book download )

Looking for guidance about what to take with you on a trip to Chile? Check out our detailed Patagonia packing list , as well as our guide to what to pack for South America more generally.

Recommendations for travel in Chile and using this Chile itinerary:

• As a vast, sprawling country, there are plenty of things to do in Chile; it’s always better to slim down your travel itinerary, take it slow and really dig deep into a place than scratch the surface with a whistle-stop tour of all the top attractions. In the latter, you’ll also spend too much time traveling between places which, let’s face it, is not the main idea of a holiday or even longer-term travel.
• Travel in Chile is expensive and while this post doesn’t delve too deeply into how you can travel Chile on a budget, consider booking cheaper types of accommodation, such as local alojamientos or hospedajes (cheap B&Bs) or cabañas (cabins) if you’re in a group, many of which aren’t available to book via hotel booking websites.
• Chile is a safe place to visit. Since the pandemic, parts of Santiago and Valparaiso have become less safe than they used to be (for example, avoid Downtown at night) and the use of Uber or official taxis firm is highly recommended, but once you get out of the city, you’ll find Chile a safe and welcoming place to travel . Patagonia, and pretty much any rural area, is incredibly safe.
• There is a wealth of good hotels and guesthouses across the country. Some of the best had a profound impact on my trips around the country, which is why I’ve pulled together my absolute favorites into this guide to the best hotels in Chile (just 31 of them!!).
• Plenty of hostels and the previously mentioned accommodation types also have kitchens, making it easy to self-cater. Bear in mind that Chile has some excellent restaurants and some surprisingly good local cuisine (even if it might not seem like it at first glance) so make sure to factor in some time and money for eating out!
• Alternatively, camping is relatively easy throughout the country , so pack camping and cooking equipment (see my recommendations in this post about packing for Patagonia ) and use that as a way of seeing Chile on the cheap.
• These Chile itineraries for ten days and two weeks rely on the fact that you will take some long-distance transport to travel between the regions. Yes, flights can be expensive, but if you plan ahead, you can get a good deal with Sky Airline (the low-cost airline) and LATAM (the more upmarket airline). I generally compare prices on Skyscanner and then book directly through the companies themselves.
• Additionally, Jet Smart is Chile’s answer to Easyjet in Europe and has some extraordinarily low fares, although, they don’t yet offer flights to all of the cities and they’re often at slightly more awkward hours. However, they’re definitely worth checking out, particularly as they’re starting to offer direct flights between cities in Chile without having to go through Santiago, which can significantly reduce your flight time (you can see their full list of destinations here ). Be aware that you always have to pay an extra fee for both hold baggage and cabin baggage and they will charge you if you go over the weight limit for either. 
• Buses are also an inexpensive and reliable way of traveling through Chile, with long-distance, overnight buses making it easy enough to travel from Puerto Montt to Santiago or Santiago to San Pedro de Atacama in reasonable comfort (although prices of flights, if booked a few weeks in advance, are generally as cheap as bus tickets for these routes). Aim to book a couple of days in advance; websites such as Bus Bud , Viaje en Bus , and Recorrido are really helpful, while you can book off the cuff at the bus terminals in all towns and cities.
• Renting a car is also a great way of traveling. I’ve personally driven through a lot of Chile and it’s much faster than taking buses and gives you the freedom to explore beyond the main tourist destinations. Driving in Santiago is somewhat terrifying and you find drivers don’t pay a lot of attention in most cities and even in rural areas, so you’ll want to keep your wits about you. However, of all the countries in South America, Chile (and Argentina) is definitely the safest place to rent a car. There are lots of tolls on the highways, so make sure you’ve always got cash and download Maps.me for maps available without internet. I always book using Rental Cars , as I find they have the best prices (even better than going directly with companies generally) and have insurance documents in English. Always double-check your insurance documents to ensure your insurance is valid for driving on unpaved roads if you plan on exploring the Carretera Austral , as this is not always guaranteed.
• Uber works in Chile. Uber used to be illegal, but now isn’t. Uber is generally a reliable and safe way of traveling around cities (and better than hailing a cab, which will often try and rip you off or scam you).
• Oh, and I lived in Santiago for close to three years and wrote a guidebook about Chile (you can learn about the project here and buy the book here ), so rest assured that these itineraries stem from some pretty extensive exploration and travel.

Planning Your Trip to Chile?

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FAQs about visiting Chile

Chile is a vast country, extending 4,270 km (2,653 mi) from tip to toe and packed with superlative natural landscapes, world-renowned wineries, and remarkable cultural destinations. As a result, the minimum amount of time you want to spend in Chile to truly get a feel for the country is ten days.

Seven days isn’t much time to see this huge country. However, with just seven days, you could spend one in Santiago enjoying the city’s fine restaurants and exploring its museums and street art , before heading out to the Casablanca wine valley to sample the country’s tastiest white wines or to the historic coastal city of Valparaíso . 

From there, you can fly three hours south to Punta Arenas, the southernmost settlement in continental South America, where you can see penguins and whales.

Afterward, continue to Puerto Natales (three hours north by vehicle), the gateway town to Torres del Paine National Park . Spend three days in this beautiful protected area kayaking to glaciers, hiking to lofty mountain peaks, and even catching sight of pumas. Then, fly back to Santiago and then home.

January and February mark the hot summer months in Chile, but also the busiest times for tourism. If you want to explore the sights of Patagonia and other popular places around the country without the crowds, the months of November and March are the best times to visit Chile . Expect slightly cooler temperatures but quieter attractions!

Yes I can! While there will be tour agencies operating wherever you’re based in the world, I suggest booking through local company EcoChile Travel , a leading tour operator based out of Santiago.

Because they’re local, they’re far better acquainted with what’s going on in the country and the new, exciting places that should form part of your itinerary than international companies and will also get you the best price.

All of EcoChile Travel’s itineraries can be custom designed and they’ll organize all the logistics of booking your trip, plus set you up with an interactive app with all your travel reservations, and dining recommendations.

If any of the itineraries below tickle your fancy, they you they should be able to turn it into reality for you!

Chile Itinerary for ten days of travel 

Day one: santiago.

Arrive at Aeropuerto Internacional Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) in Santiago and take either a transfer ($7,000 with Delfos or TransVIP ; no need to book in advance), Uber or the Turbus airport bus (get off either at Terminal Pajaritos (better if it’s rush hour) or Terminal Alameda and take the metro Line 1 to the centre of town).

Spend your afternoon trotting around Downtown. Visit the Plaza de Armas to see the oldest buildings in the city, some of which date back to the 18th century.

Pop into the Museo Histórico Natural (Natural History Museum) to learn about Chilean history and, more importantly, to take their free tour up to the Reloj de la Torre , the Clock Tower, for incredible panoramas of the entire Plaza de Armas.

Visit the nearby Museo Chileno de Artes Precolombino (Chilean Museum of Pre-Colombian Art), with its incredible collection of pottery, textiles, and artwork covering the pre-Colombian civilizations across Latin America.

You could also spend an afternoon learning about another side of Chile at the Museo de Memoria y los Derechos Humanos (Museum of Memory and Human Rights), which explores the darkest days of Chile’s history: the Pinochet dictatorship.

Finally, read this article about the best things to do in Santiago , this piece about day trips you can’t miss from Santiago , and then listen to my interview on the We Travel There podcast to learn more about my recommendations for visiting Chile’s capital city.

For dinner, you’ve got various options:

• Head to Barrio Bellavista to experience unique, indigenous cuisine at Peumayen or go for gourmet Chilean dishes paired with some of the best Chilean wines at Bocanariz .
• Barrio Lastarria (a couple of blocks west of Plaza Baquedano) is also a good shout for dinner. Learn about Chilean pisco at Chipe Libre or go for traditional Chilean dishes at Liguria , a restaurant popular among local Santiaguinos and even Kate Moss.
• For meat lovers keen to learn about the Chilean art of the asado (barbecue), make sure you head east along Line 1 of the metro for a steak (cooked a punto (medium rare) at Eladio .

Where to stay in Santiago: Stay overnight in Santiago’s first ‘ecoHotel’,  Carménère Eco Hotel  (Santander 292, double room $155,000 CLP ($196 USD)), which is equally appealing to environmentally conscious travelers and those seeking an authentic Chilean wine experience from their own hotel. It’s in the heart of the hip Barrio Italia, surrounded by a wealth of bars and restaurants and excellent transport links.

Alternatively, read my complete guide to Santiago’s best hotels and hostels for every budget, ordered by neighborhood. 

Days Two to Five: San Pedro de Atacama

Head back to Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) , from where domestic flights leave from a separate terminal. Take a two-hour flight to Calama .

Transfer services at the airport are timed to leave after flights arrive, so hop on one (one hour 30 minutes) to San Pedro de Atacama , one of Chile’s top tourist attractions.

While I explored the region by hire car a few years ago, this isn’t something to do lightly. Elevations are really high and altitude sickness is no joke (trust me, I’ve had it twice), while driving conditions on roads, many of which are unpaved and practically just sand, can be lethal if taken too fast. If you’re in any way unsure, opt instead for a tour.

Spend the next two days exploring the region’s top sites, including Piedras Rojas, the Lagunas Altiplanicas and Geisers del Tatio, and spend an evening stargazing and learning what ancient Andean cultures believed lay in the night sky.

I highly recommend taking a tour of the Geisers del Tatio with Trekana , whose guides are borderline obsessed with the wildlife that you can see en route, including two species of flamingoes, a whole host of bird species, beautiful vicunas (the wild cousin of the alpaca), and if you’re lucky, vizcachas (a type of chinchilla with extremely big ears and a penchant for sunbathing).

For more detailed information and inspiration for San Pedro de Atacama read this post on adventurous places to visit in and around San Pedro de Atacama .

Where to stay in San Pedro de Atacama: If you’ve got a bigger budget or are traveling in a couple, stay at Ckuri Atacama   (double $63,000 CLP/$80 USD; minimum two-night stay); it’s definitely the nicest accommodation you’ll find in San Pedro. Their three double rooms include private bathrooms, large double beds, a small breakfast area with fridge, cutlery, and plates (breakfast isn’t included – so go and check out Pananderia Franchuteria (Calle Gustavo Le Paige) in town for Chile’s best croissants and other delicious French pastries!).

Where to stay on a budget in San Pedro de Atacama: For smaller budgets,   Hostal Lackuntur (dorm $30 USD, $90 USD double) is ideal. It’s got a decent kitchen, loads of hammocks, and a very welcome swimming pool. Its location a few blocks north of the town also ensures it’s nice and quiet during the evenings.

Days Six and Seven: Valparaíso

Return to Calama and take a flight to Santiago. Buses leave from the Terminal Alameda (Av. Alameda 3750) and the Terminal San Borja (San Borja 235) in the city center for Valparaíso (two hours, $3,000 CLP/$4 USD), a historic harbor city set across 42 hills and home to a wealth of street art.

This includes La Sebastiana, the beautiful ship-inspired house of Nobel Prize-winning Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda (well, one of his three), elderly acensores (which are also UNESCO heritage monuments), and a colourful skyline of brightly-painted houses, cobbled streets, and vivid graffiti.

Read all about our favorite things to do in Valparaíso for more information about the city.

If visiting over the summer (be warned: it gets rammed full of Chilean holidaymakers), be sure to hop on a local  micro ( bus) and head around the coast towards Viña del Mar where the best beaches are.

The easiest to access is Playa Caleta Abarca as it’s right on the main road that passes through the city, while nearby Reñaca also has a pretty beach.

Viña del Mar is also home to the brilliant Museo de Arqueología e Historia Natural Francisco Fonk , which houses a collection of artifacts from Rapa Nui (Easter Island) – including a 2.9-meter tall moai statue – and is well worth a visit.

Valparaíso has a reputation for being unsafe, with Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepción the safest areas to explore during the day, and practically the only areas I would recommend staying at night.

Avoid the bus station where possible (if arriving here, call an Uber to pick you up or arrange a taxi with your hotel) and the area around the harbor. Always stick to areas with plenty of street lights and don’t carry valuables with you.

If driving, look out for your tyres being punctured; it’s a clever trick by thieves, who come and offer to assist you change the type but manage to relieve you of your belongings while they do.

Where to stay in Valparaíso: Winebox (Baquedano 763, $99,000 CLP/$125 USD double) is a truly unique hotel, built entirely from 25 recycled shipping containers. What’s more, they have an urban winery in the basement and a wine bar cum restaurant on the roof (which is open to the public). It’s actually on Cerro Mariposa, so you’ll need to take local colectivos (shared taxis) or taxis to get into the centre at night.

Where to stay on a budget in Valparaíso: For smaller budgets, the pint-sized Puerta Escondida (Templeman 549, $79,000 CLP/$100 USD double room) is a welcoming B&B in the heart of Cerro Concepción. It gets booked up fast, so be sure to reserve in advance.

Days Eight and Nine: Santiago and Colchagua

Return by bus to Santiago and you’ve got two options for exploring another of Chile’s top attractions: vineyards (which, in our opinion, make Chile the best country in South America for wine ).

• For bigger budgets: rent a car and drive to winery Casa Silva, just north of San Fernando.
• For smaller budgets: take the bus from the Terminal Santiago ( Av. Alameda 3850) operated by Nilahue to Santa Cruz (3 hours, $7,000 CLP),

1. For bigger budgets

One of the most awarded wineries in the country and on the northern tip of the Colchagua Valley, Casa Silva not only has a wonderful setting (think rolling hills covered with neat rows of vines and a colonial-style bodega overlooking their polo field) but also an excellent restaurant.

Where to stay: I stayed in their gorgeous accommodation, Hotel Casa Silva  (double $181,000 CLP/$210 USD) and spent a day eating in their two fine restaurants, wine tasting in their wine shop, and wandering their vineyards.

You can stay one day at Casa Silva, and then on the next, drive to Santa Cruz, the main town for the Colchagua wine valley, and spend an afternoon exploring some of Chile’s top vineyards (see below).

2. For smaller budgets

Take a bus to Santa Cruz where you can rent mountain bikes, complete with panniers, from Casa Suiza ($40,000 CLP/$51 USD double, $19,000 CLP/$24 USD dorm) to explore the local vineyards of the surrounding Colchagua Valley at your leisure.

For all budgets

All of the wineries in the Colchagua Valley offer tastings, tours and many even have fine-dining restaurants (in beautiful settings, surrounded by vines), so I strongly suggest you aim to have lunch at one of the restaurants.

The valley is also known for its carménère wine , a grape similar, and for a long time, confused with Merlot, so make sure you sample plenty while you’re here.

My favorite is Montes , which lies ten kilometers north of Santa Cruz. It’s a renowned winery (they age their wine to the sound of Gregorian chant in an amphitheater-shaped cellar) with tours (from $10,000 CLP/$14 USD), tasting (from $2,000 CLP/$3 USD per glass) and the truly sensational Fuegos de Apalta restaurant.

I had the best steak of my life in their dining room, which surrounds a circular iron grill where you can watch the chefs at work. It doesn’t come cheap (expect to pay $20,000-$24,000 CLP/$28 USD-$34 USD per main) but their lomo liso (sirloin) and entraña (skirt steak), washed down with a Cabernet Sauvignon is an experience you’ll never forget.

Other wineries to visit from Santa Cruz include:

• Boutique winery Laura Hartwig , which you can easily walk to for a tasting as it’s on the outskirts of Santa Cruz. They produce very small quantities of wine each year and while it can sometimes be hit-and-miss, they often strike gold. You can sample glasses for just $1,000 CLP/$1.5 USD).
• Eight kilometers east of Santa Cruz, Viu Manent is a winery set within a beautiful old hacienda. Their star grapes are Carménère and Malbec and they have tours of the vineyard via horse-drawn carriages (from $15,000 CLP/$21 USD) as well as tastings (from $12,000 CLP/$17 USD) and great food in their restaurant Rayuela Wine & Grill ($9,000-$14,000 CLP/$13-$20 USD mains).

Where to stay in Santa Cruz: Hotel TerraViña (Camino a los Boldos, $166,000 CLP/$210 USD double) has a charming location overlooking rows of vines from cast-iron balconies and a swimming pool. The added benefit is they’re a short walk through the vines to the Laura Hartwig winery, which can be reached by a short vine-lined path.

Where to stay on a budget in Santa Cruz: Small budgets will enjoy staying overnight in Casa Suiza (Los Libertadores 199, $40,000 CLP/$51 USD double, $19,000 CLP/$24 USD dorm). There are plenty of places for unwinding, including a grassy garden, plus kitchen access, and owners who run cycling tours to tiny boutique wineries.

Day Ten: Santiago

Spend a final day in Santiago. Dedicate at least three hours to exploring the Museo de Memoria y los Derechos Humanos (Museum of Memory and Human Rights), an excellent museum dealing with a grizzly topic: the Pinochet dictatorship that lasted from 1973 to 1990.

If you want to learn first-hand about the Chilean love of the sanguche , head to La Fuente Alemana for a traditional churrasco (beef or pork sandwich) – just ask them to go easy on the mayo. Alternatively, sample some other key Chilean dishes in Santiago with the help of this guide to Chilean food .

Head over to nearby Barrio Lastarria ( barrio means neighborhood) and take the short hike up to Cerro Santa Lucia for views across the city and the omnipresent Andes Mountains beyond.

For even more impressive cityscape views, take the funicular up to Cerro San Cristóbal in Parque Metropolitano (don’t walk; there have been reports of muggings of people hiking up the hill and those straying from the trails).

Finally, listen to my interview on the We Travel There podcast to learn more about my recommendations for visiting Chile’s capital city.

Return to the airport and fly home.

Chile itinerary for two weeks of travel : Santiago and the Lakes District

In this itinerary, I talk you through how you can organize it yourself. However, if you want someone to take care of the logistics and plan a once-in-a-lifetime trip, then reach out to my recommended local tour operator, EcoChile Travel . They’re experts in planning trips in Chile and can custom design the itinerary to suit you and your budget. Their Chilean Lakes District itinerary follows a similar route to this itinerary. Mention Worldly Adventurer to get a 5% discount off this trip.

Arrive at Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) in Santiago and take either a transfer ($7,000 with Delfos or TransVIP; no need to book in advance, Uber, or the Turbus airport bus (get off either at Terminal Pajaritos (better if it’s rush hour) or Terminal Alameda and take the metro Line 1 to the center of town).

For more inspiration, read this article about tourist attractions you can’t miss in Santiago .

Where to stay: Splurge on your hotel and stay overnight at the foot of Cerro Santo Lucia in  Hotel Magnolia  (Huérfanos 539, $276,000 CLP ($350 USD) double) in the heart of the Barrio Lastarria and surrounded by a wealth of bars and restaurants, plus excellent transport links.

Alternatively, read my complete guide to Santiago’s best hotels and hostels for every budget (including much more affordable than Hotel Magnolina), ordered by neighborhood or learn about other things to do in Santiago .

Days Two to Five: Chiloé

The fastest way to reach Chiloé is with a direct flight between the domestic terminal of Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) and Aeródromo Mocopulli (MHC; just outside of Castro).

This cuts your travel time down considerably, as flying to Puerto Montt means a four-hour journey (including a 30-minute ferry across the Canal de Chaco).

It’s not the most scenic of journeys, either, and you’ll be doing it on the way to Puerto Varas, so save yourself time by flying directly to Chiloé. There are far fewer daily flights to this airport, however, so book early.

From the airport, it’s a short taxi ride to Castro, where you can organize to pick up a hire car .

Chiloé is a small island, however rural public transport – like in most of Chile – isn’t the most frequent nor the most reliable. As a result, I would highly recommend hiring a car for your time here, giving you the freedom of seeing multiple parts of the island in one day – and also handy if you want to stay at one of the more remote lodges (which I highly recommend!). 

Driving in Chiloé is straightforward and easy; roads are generally one two lanes and other drivers are relaxed (unlike those in Santiago). There are also no toll booths that require cash to contend with, although I do recomend having Chilean pesos on hand for dining at more rural restaurants and for entering the national parks and reserves.

Need more inspiration?

You’ll find even more detailed itineraries, off-the-beaten-path gems, hiking routes and accommodation, restaurant and tour recommendations to suit your travel style in my brand-new guidebook, Moon Chile.

Alternatively: Fly from the domestic terminal in Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) to Aeropuerto El Tepual (PMC) (one hour 40 mins), the airport just outside of Puerto Montt . Rent a car from the agencies at Aeropuerto El Tepual and drive to Chiloé Island. Puerto Montt airport has some of the cheapest car rents in Chile (from $30 USD per day) and you can book using Rental Cars , who provide insurance documents and all contracts in English.

Castro , the capital of Chiloé is famed for its vibrant  palafitos:  colorful, traditional fishermen’s houses on stilts that line the harbor overlook the bay at two places, just off Calle Ernesto Riquelme and another accessed by Calle Puerto Montt.

However, the best place to appreciate them in all their colorful glory is across the river from Calle Ernesto Riquelme at Mirador Gamboa .

Another unmissable stop in Castro is at the Feria Artesanal (Lillo s/n, just before the harbor), a craft market where you can find both local woolen crafts to buy and a cheap lunch of empanadas  (stuffed with seafood or cheese and prawns) or huge plates of fish.

Nip out the back to meet the resident sea lion population, who’ll also be fighting over their lunch – scraps of fish thrown into the sea by the fishermen.

Where to stay in Castro: If you fancy finding out what it’s like inside a palafito, stay at the brown-shingled Palafito 1326 (Ernesto Riquelme 1326, $79,000 CLP/$100 USD double). Rooms are spacious, with crisp white linens and those overlooking the water have a balcony from which you can watch the ocean.

Alternatively, I can’t sing the praises of Refugio Pullao ($185 USD double) enough. Run by its Santiaguino owners, this tiny hotel is located on the Peninsula Rilan, across the bay from Castro, and has astounding views east out towards the ocean. Tierra Chiloé , a five-star hotel a little further around the shore, charges four times the price for the same view (although, admittedly, this includes tours and all-inclusive (and exceptional) dining). The latter is beautiful, but definitely only for those with a very large budget. 

Where to stay on a budget in Castro: La Minga Hostel (dorm $16,000 CLP/$20 USD, $25,000 CLP/$40 USD double) is a proper backpacking hostel (run by the wonderful Camila, a Brazilian and former backpacker herself) that is small but perfectly-formed. Rooms are fairly tiny and there aren’t that many bathrooms to go around, but it’s got a really sociable atmosphere without being a party hostel. Camilia also has great local knowledge and can help with suggestions for local things to do.

Spend the rest of your time on Chiloé exploring the churches; my favorite was definitely Tenuan , which you could reach by bus from the terminal in Castro (one hour 10 mins, $1,600 CLP/$2 USD).

If there’s a group of you, take a wander along the shore and you can try negotiating a small boat to take you to Isla Mechuque, which also has its own church and a small museum and is supposed to be stunning.

Cucao, a one-hour bus journey (again from the local bus terminal in Castro), is one of my favorite places on the island and has the mind-blowingly beautiful Palafito Cucao   ($55,000 CLP/$130 USD double).

Not only is this place hugely comfortable (it has lovely double rooms), it’s the living room area and outdoor terrace with views across Lago Cucao that make this place one of the most sensational places I’ve ever stayed in Chile. I even saw a giant otter swimming past one day.

Palafito Cucao is close to the Muelle de las Almas , a destination that has shot to fame in Chile in recent years.

While it is beautiful – it’s an art installation shaped like a pier that appears to jut out over the cliff edge and into the ocean on a desolate hillside – it’s now so overrun that much of the magic is lost.

If you do want to go, make sure you get here as early as possible in the morning, as 45-minute queues for photos with the muelle are unfortunately common.

Another option, instead, is to visit the Muelle de la Luz near Chepu, another of the artist’s sculptures. Again, this can get very busy with tour groups and, for the boats to run to the muelle, it requires at least 10 people.

There’s not a huge amount there, just the muelle and beautiful views across the beach below – which admittedly ranks among the most beautiful on the island.

Insider tip: Muelles have sprung up all over Chiloé, after the original Muelle de las Almas was constructed by Santiago sculptor Marcelo Orellana Rivera. Note that there are only three original muelles : Muelle de las Almas, Muella de la Luz, and Muelle del Tiempo. All the rest are imitations, designed by local people to capitalize on the craze for selfies on them. 

Days Five and Six: Puerto Varas

Drop the car back in Castro and then take the bus to the terminal in Puerto Montt and then take a small micro (a blue local bus) from the terminal to Puerto Varas (20 mins, $1,000 CLP/$1 USD).

Hiring a car for this part of the itinerary: Alternatively, I recommend hiring a car from Puerto Montt; some of the most interesting things to do in the Lakes Region are served by fairly infrequent public transport, so it can really help to have your own vehicle. Book a one-way rental from Puerto Montt to Temuco; this is surprisingly affordable (Puerto Montt is the cheapest place in the country to rent a car) and the one-way free doesn’t add much to the overall rental price.

Known locally as the City of Roses for its abundant blooms in summer, this lovely lakeside town sits beneath the shadow of Volcán Osorno, a volcano that, thankfully, hasn’t erupted since 1869.

There’s not a whole lot to do in the town; the main attractions lie in the activities in the surrounding national parks, lakes and rivers.

If you’ve just got an afternoon here, the somewhat eccentric collection of artwork and accumulated bric-a-brac in Museo de Pablo Fierro , run by enthusiastic owner and artist Pablo Fierro is definitely worth an hour of your time,

I’d also suggest heading to La Mesa Tropera for a pizza and locally brewed beer plus the best views of the lake and the volcano, or, if you’re a wine lover, La Vinoteca has a brilliant selection of wine by the glass, a range of Chilean dishes, and an excellent attached wine shop. 

For hikers, you’ve got plenty of options nearby. Alerce Andino National Park has a range of different hikes, including one to a 3,000-year-old alerce tree, and can be reached without 4WD (although bear in mind that both routes include a gravel section of the road (and the southern entrance is in particularly poor condition). 

The Llanquihue National Reserve is another beautiful protected area, with a mix of Valdivian temperate rainforest and lava floes from Volcan Calbuco, which erupted in 2015 and closed the reserve until just last year.

Again, this park is accessible without 4WD, but with roads in a similarly poor condition, so drive slowly and carefully. 

Another option is to head to Petrohué on the banks of Lago Todos los Santos where there are a handful of treks.

The most interesting is  Paso Desolación , which goes around the edge of the volcano, taking you above the tree line with beautiful views of the Osorno volcano and Lago Llanquihue below, over an around eight-hour return hike (23km/14.2mi).

A shorter, 11km (6.8mi) route takes a path along the edge of the lake before heading back in a loop and offering views of the volcano and the valley, with a walking time of around three hours.

Don’t miss the Museo Pioneros Petrohué ($2,000 CLP/$3 USD), which is run by Petrohué Lodge and details the various “pioneers” who ventured to this once remote part of the Chilean lakes district across history, including explorers and German settlers.

If it’s not open (which it probably won’t be), nip into the Expeditions Office next door to ask to be allowed in.

Another popular attraction here is the Saltos de Petrohué ($4,000 CLP/$6 USD) where the raging, crystalline waters of the Río Petrohué churn over the rocks in a series of waterfalls, with a stunning backdrop of the Osorno volcano.

There are a handful of worthwhile trails to different viewpoints here but be warned: they are absolutely crammed throughout the season (even in October they were busy), so get here early doors. The entrance opens at 9am.

You can also get here by cycling. Lago Llanquihue has a cycling trail that extends from Puerto Varas north. You can hire bikes in Puerto Varas itself or, if you don’t want to have to drive back, Birds of Chile offers an e-biking tour, which can be combined with a half-day hike along the El Solitario trail through Valdivian temperate rainforest and volcanic ash.

Their guides have plenty of fascinating information about the flora and fauna of the region, which contains some of the final remaining tracts of Valdivian temperate rainforest on the planet.

Watersports are another part of Puerto Varas’ adventure offerings. You can also raft down the class II and IV rapids of the Río Petrohué with AlSur Expediciones , a local kayaking and rafting specialist operator.

Alternatively, book a sea kayaking tour out into the Chilean fjords for dramatic, volcano-studded landscapes (AlSur also specialize in epic, multi-day sea kayaking adventures into Pumalin National Park at the northern tip of the Carretera Austral – a must-do tour if you’re a keen kayaker!).

For a more relaxed afternoon, hop on a bus to Fruitillar (from the same place in Puerto Varas) to try locally baked kuchen , a German dessert brought, and cooked, by the German descendants who started this town.

There’s also a really good museum, the Museo Colonial Alemán , with its collection of artifacts brought over from Germany with the settlers and the history of founding the different towns around the lake.

There’s also Frutillar’s elegant, lakeside theatre, Teatro del Lago (they have performances from all across the globe and the building is renowned for its acoustics).

Where to stay in Puerto Varas: It’s definitely pricey, but the location right on the shores of Lago Llanquihue of AWA ($350 USD double) makes this a truly remarkable place to stay. Bedrooms are huge, while the restaurant serves up delicate dishes showcasing local ingredients – all with a serving of volcano views. I’ve stayed here twice now and it’s definitely my favorite hotel. Bear in mind, you’ll need a car – or to organize tours with a local operator – due to it being a 20-minute drive from Puerto Varas. FYI don’t do your laundry here. I almost wept when they gave me the $50 USD bill.

Where to stay on a budget in Puerto Varas: The wonderful Compass del Sur (camping $17,000 CLP/$21 USD, $24,000 CLP/$30 USD dorm, $54,000 CLP/$68 USD double), with its cozy sitting room with wood fire, breakfast room, and huge new kitchen, it’s my personal favorite when I’m in town. Their owners are very knowledgeable about activities to do in the local area and bedrooms are large, most of which now have their own private bathrooms after extensive renovations in 2017.

Days Seven to Ten: Pucón

Drive four hours or take a bus to Pucón (five hours, $17,500 CLP/$22 USD) from the bus terminal for Buses Jac in Puerto Varas.

Pucón is one of Chile’s best-known adventure destinations thanks to a range of highlights, including an active volcano that you can hike up, accessible national parks, and a whole host of other activities to get your pulse racing.

One of the best day trips you can take from Pucón is to nearby Parque Nacional Huerquehue , a one-hour bus ride or drive from the town with Buses Caburgua (they have their bus station at Uruguay 540).

There are five trails in the park, the most exciting being the  Sendero Los Lagos , which goes past a pair of impressive waterfalls and ends with glorious views across the lakes at the top of the mountain.

The most challenging (and with the best vistas ) is Sendero San Sebastian , where you’ll see not one, not two but NINE volcanoes and 14 lakes from the top. Uh, yes please!

You can also stay within the park, either camping (there are various places, including Camping Olga ($18,000 CLP/$23 USD for two people, minimum two-night stay) or at the basic Cabañas Tinquilco ($50,000 CLP/$63 USD per night; minimum stay four nights between December and March.

It’s also impossible to visit Pucón without hiking up Volcán Villarrica , the snow-topped volcano that dominates the landscapes surrounding the town and is easily one of the top Chile attractions for visitors.

It’s a tough climb (you start around 6-7am from Pucón and are at the crater by lunchtime), but not one that requires technical expertise; you will need to go with a guide unless you have all of your own equipment (ice axes, crampons etc.). Bear in mind, this trail is packed with other tourists, so can feel like you’re queuing up the side of the mountain, rather than hiking it.

Patagonia Experience  is the most recommended of all the agencies in the town. Expect to pay upwards of $80,000/$132 USD.

And don’t miss Termas Geometricas , some really beautiful hot springs located on the southern flanks of the volcano. Unless you’ve got a car, you’ll need to take a tour ($35,000/$58 USD) – but it’s worth the cost as you get to spend an afternoon relaxing in these stunning pools.

Where to stay in Pucón: Another personal favorite, if you’re willing to splash some cash, is the Maison Nomade B&B (double $90,000/$120 USD – but email them as they can offer cheaper prices), which is a few kilometers away from Pucón but has glorious views of the volcano from their huge garden, a swimming pool, beautiful modern rooms decorated with the handicrafts that Carolina, one of the owners, makes, plus a kitchen for guests. Alain, the other owner, also runs an orientation meeting to help you decide what you plan to do during your stay (and he knows the region like the back of his hand).

Where to stay on a budget in Pucón: Having visited this place as part of my research for Moon Chile , I can back up the general consensus that Chili Kiwi (dorm $20,000 CLP/$25 USD, $49,000 CLP/$67 USD hobbit hole) is one of the best hostels in Latin America. I stayed in both a hobbit hole and a treehouse (the hobbit hole was a bit roomier and had its own tiny private terrace, which was a nice touch), but they’ve genuinely thought of everything here: from their private bar to their three kitchens, huge lockers for people who’ve checked out but need somewhere to store their bags and just the enthusiasm of the owners and the staff who can answer practically any question you have about travel in the region (and beyond). It’s not a party hostel, but it does attract a youngish crowd.

Days Eleven to Thirteen: Parque Nacional Conguillio

From Pucón, start early for the three-hour drive to Parque Nacional Conguillio .

Alternatively, get an early bus to Temuco (one hour forty minutes) and catch the 10.30am Nar Bus to Parque Nacional Conguillio (leaves from the Terminal Rural de Temuco only in January and February, two and a half hours). It’ll drop you off right at the campsite and main ranger office for the park.

From here, there are a number of different day hikes that pass through the park’s incredible ancient scenery of thousand-year-old Araucania trees, black lava flows from looming Volcán Llaima, and gloriously blue lakes.

It’s one of my top three national parks in Chile (Patagonia National Park and Torres del Paine National Park take the other two spots) and one I highly, highly recommend.

Travel tip: The park is actually quieter and more beautiful to visit in November and December, when the weather’s warming up, or in April, to see the forests turn shades of autumn yellows and golds. The easiest way to get here in these months (or a faster means than taking the bus in high season) is hiring a car from the rental agencies in the arrivals terminal of Aeropuerto Araucanía (ZCO) in Temuco. You can get to the airport with a taxi (around $15,000 CLP/$21 USD from the bus terminal in Temuco).

You can get hold of maps from the ranger station here. The bus returns back to Temuco at 1pm (soon after it arrives).

Out of season, your only options are to take a taxi from nearby Curacuatin or rent a car in Temuco .

There’s a small shop at the campsite, but otherwise, you’ll need to bring food with you (unless staying at La Baita , who can prepare meals for you).

Where to stay in Parque Nacional Conguillio:  There are a number of campsites run by  Sendas Conguillio . The best of these, if you’re traveling in a pair or alone, is Camping El Estero ($6,500 CLP/$11 USD pp), which you cannot book (but there is normally space). If you’ve got a vehicle,  La Baita  (double $90,000 CLP/$150 USD) is spectacular, with stylish, wooden bedrooms, cozy communal living room with wood fire, and hot tubs. Outside of the summer, the prices are cheaper (but they’re closed in June).

Drive back to Temuco to return the car or hop the bus back to the city. Fly from Temuco airport to Santiago or take the bus overnight (eight hours).

Chile itinerary for two weeks of travel : The highlights

Days Two and Three: Valparaíso and the Casablanca Valley

Either hire a car or hop on a bus from the Terminal Alameda (Av. Alameda 3750) and the Terminal San Borja (San Borja 235) in the city center to Valparaíso (two hours, $3,000 CLP/$4 USD), a historic harbor city set across 42 hills and home to a wealth of street art.

This includes La Sebastiana , the beautiful ship-inspired house of Nobel Prize-winning Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda (well, one of his three), elderly acensores (which are also UNESCO heritage monuments), and a colorful skyline of brightly-painted houses, cobbled streets, and vivid graffiti.

If visiting over the summer (be warned: it gets rammed full of Chilean holidaymakers), be sure to hop on a local micro ( bus) and head around the coast towards Viña del Mar where the best beaches are.

The easiest to access is Playa Caleta Abarca as it’s right on the main road that passes through the city, while nearby Reñaca also has a pretty beach. Alternatively, you can drive further north to the pretty beaches of surf-town Maitencillo , secluded and beautiful Cachagua , or exclusive Zapallar . 

The following day, head out to the Casablanca Valley , Chile’s premier white wine-producing region. A bus to Casablanca and then a taxi can take you around some of the best wineries, including Casas del Bosque (which has a brilliant restaurant), Viña Mar (which is known for its sparkling wines, Bodegas RE (which produces unusual blends), and Emiliana (an organic, sustainable winery).

Alternatively, drive south via Isla Negra (the prettiest of poet Pablo Neruda’s houses) to reach the Valle de San Antonio , where first-rate wineries offer outstanding wines and stunningly-located accommodations. 

The best are Matetic and Casa Marin , the latter of which produces delicious sauvignon gris. 

Where to stay in Valparaíso/nearby: Winebox (Baquedano 763, $99,000 CLP/$125 USD double) is a truly unique hotel, built entirely from 25 recycled shipping containers. What’s more, they have an urban winery in the basement and a wine bar cum restaurant on the roof (which is open to the public). It’s actually on Cerro Mariposa, so you’ll need to take local colectivos (shared taxis) or taxis to get into the centre at night. Alternatively, stay in La Casona ($774 USD double) Matetic winery’s stylish 10-bed hotel, set within the vineyard and with a welcome swimming pool or at the more affordable Bungalow Miramar ($167 USD one-bedroom bungalow) that has sweeping views across the vineyards of equally brilliant Casa Marin.

Days Four to Seven: Rapa Nui (Easter Island)

Head back to Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) and take a six-hour flight west across the Pacific Ocean to Rapa Nui (Easter Island).  

Having captivated archaeologists and tourists alike for decades, Rapa Nui – while still being part of Chile – lives and breaths the Polynesian culture of its inhabitants: the Rapanui. 

After landing on the runway of Matavari International Airport (IPC) , take a transfer with your hotel into Hanga Roa, the island’s only town and the location of most lodgings. 

Spend the afternoon snorkeling off Playa Pea on the lookout for Green Pacific, leatherback, and hawksbill turtles, before catching the sunset at Ahu Tahai, where various ceremonial platforms known as ahu play host to the angular stone heads (moai) for which the island is famed. 

The following day, head out to Parque Nacional Rapa Nui , where the majority of the moai are located. New rules mean you’ll need a guide, who can show you around key locations across the island. 

Don’t miss Rano Raraku , the volcanic crater and quarry where the moai were carved, or nearby Ahu Tongariki . With 15 moai statues, it’s the largest of the platforms and ideal for sunrise. 

Read our guide to visiting Rapa Nui for more detailed information about getting to the island, as well as recommendations for what to do and where to stay , and the best time to visit Easter Island .  

Where to stay in Rapa Nui: The stunning sea views from certain suites and bungalows make  Hotel Boutique La Perouse  ($210 USD suite; $288 bungalow) an excellent choice for accommodation on Easter Island. Situated right at the heart of Hanga Roa, but with a tranquil setting, this is a great place to relax after a day of touring the island, while a delicious breakfast will ensure you’ve got the fuel you need.   

Where to stay on a budget in Rapa Nui:  If price is your number one factor when it comes to finding accommodation on Easter Island then look no further than  Camping y Hostal Tipanie Moana  ($57 USD double room with shared bathroom, $14 USD camping). Offering private rooms (some with shared bathrooms), it’s hard to quibble over the price here, which grants you clean and spacious bedrooms – some with mini-fridges – and a sociable atmosphere among the other guests staying here. 

Days Eight to Nine: Punta Arenas 

Fly back to Santiago’s Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) and then hop on a flight to Punta Arenas, a three-hour flight south. 

The gateway to Patagonia, Punta Arenas is where the first colonizers landed in southern Chilean Patagonia and is home to some of the best wildlife-watching opportunities. 

You’ll have time for at least one tour. Head out to Isla Magdalena for a half-day visit to the 120,000-strong Magallenic penguin colony that resides on this island. 

Alternatively, take a tour with Solo Expediciones to Parque Marino Francisco Coloane (Francisco Coloane Marine Park) to catch a glimpse of the many species of whales that come here to breed, including humpbacks and sei whales. 

Want a custom-made Chile itinerary, but without the effort of planning it?

Get it planned by an expert (me!) with my travel itinerary planning service ; you’ll give me an overview of your ideal once-in-a-lifetime trip to Chile and/or Patagonia, and I’ll put together a custom itinerary just for you using my expert knowledge of the destination.

Alternatively, if you’re looking for a local operator to plan and book your trip, I recommend our trusted partner EcoChile Travel. They design and book tours throughout the country, such as this 12-day highlights of Southern Patagonia itinerary – and offer Worldly Adventurer readers a 5% discount on their services!

Book here to claim your discount.

At the end of your second day, hop on a public bus to Puerto Natales (three hours). 

Where to stay in Punta Arenas:  Easily the smartest choice in Punta Arenas is the luxurious La Yegua Loca ($160 USD double), where antique wooden furniture rubs shoulders with superb views of the Strait of Magellan. Don’t miss the restaurant on the ground floor, which specialises in local specialties such as king crab.

Where to stay on a budget in Punta Arenas:  Budget digs don’t get much better than the family-run Hostal Aventura Austral ($57 USD double), which has small but comfortable rooms and brilliant hosts.

Days Ten to Fourteen: Torres del Paine National Park 

Unless you’re planning on hiking the W or the O Circuit , the best way to explore Torres del Paine National Park is with a rental car . 

From Puerto Natales, head north along Ruta 9 and then northwest along the Y-290 to enter Torres del Paine National Park from its southern entrance, where you’ll get the best views of the Los Cuernos mountains that dominate the park. 

Over the next few days, you’ve got time to hike the park’s ubiquitous route up to Mirador Las Torres where you’ll stand beneath the three sky-spearing shards of granite after which the park is named. 

Day hikes and shorter routes to viewpoints abound in the national park, with the steep climb up to Mirador Ferrier for 180-degree views across the park and the short meander along Sendero Mirador Cuernos for dazzling views of Los Cuernos among the best. 

Read our guide to day hikes in Torres del Paine National Park for detailed route information. 

There’s plenty more to do in Torres del Paine, including tracking pumas , with the park believed to be home to the highest concentration of these big cats in the world. 

The best way is on a two-day tour with Chile Nativo (use the referral code “Worldly Adventurer” for a 5% discount), which takes you along some of the paths most frequented by the cats and has a close to 100% success rate for seeing them.

Return to Puerto Natales and then fly back to Santiago.

Where to stay in Torres del Paine National Park: With its cluster of 20 deluxe yurts, Patagonia Camp  ($2,160 USD double all-inclusive for two nights) sits pretty on the southern shore of Lago Toro as a top luxury accommodation option just 15 kilometres from the park entrance. There’s no TV or internet connection in the rooms, but who needs WIFI when you’ve got a private terrace with panoramic views, and even a jacuzzi in the suites?

Where to stay in Torres del Paine National Park on a budget: Restaurant costs within Torres del Paine have skyrocketed with the park’s popularity. Stock up on food in Puerto Natales and head to Cabañas Lago Tyndall ($110,000 CLP ($160 USD) four-person cabin), which is situated on a bend in the Río Serrano and a short drive from the southern entrance to the park.

Our complete guide to what to do in Torres del Paine National Park is packed with plenty more information about how to visit this incredible place, while our detailed Patagonia itineraries contain recommendations for exploring Southern Patagonia, plus how to combine a trip to Torres del Paine National Park with Argentine Patagonia, including the Perito Moreno glacier and hiking capital, El Chaltén. 

How to amend this two-week itinerary

Rather than heading to Rapa Nui, you could spend three days in the Atacama Desert. San Pedro de Atacama is the region’s main hub and jumping-off point for Mars-like scenery and wildlife-packed protected areas, such as the Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos.

We’ve got a full guide to what to do in San Pedro de Atacama , while, if you want to avoid the hassle of organizing your trip, EcoChile Travel can help you plan a four-day trip to the region , including visits to local indigenous communities to learn more about the unique culture of the region. Mention Worldly Adventurer for a 5% discount on the tour.

Itinerary for one or two weeks in Patagonia (Chilean and Argentine)

I’ve written a whole guide to where to go and what to do in Patagonia, so head over to this one- and two-week Patagonia itinerary or these three- and four-week itineraries .

Tuesday 23rd of July 2019

Great article. I love this piece of writing. Thanks

Thursday 13th of June 2019

Hello Steph,

Thank you for your detail guide and the itineraries of 10 and 14 days. My husband and I are planning to go to Chile 10/11 days on late October or early November. I had planned to go to Ecuador but considering the high altitude that we probably couldn't stand.

There are so many blogs on Pinterest just telling me how great the attractions there but very few itineraries provided. So happy that I found yours

Here I have a few questions for the 10 days itinerary: 1) Any tours around the hostels to the attractions @ San Pedro de Atacama (my husband hates driving on vacation and I don't have a license)? 2) any other suggestions for the day 8 to 9 if not going to the vineyard? Thank you in advance!

Steph Dyson

Friday 21st of June 2019

Hi Sarah, yes you can find tour companies for destinations around San Pedro de Atacama on the main drag in the town - there are loads of them! Try and negotiate several tours with one company as this will help you get a discount. Whipala Expedition and 123 Andes Chile Conectado (both have websites) are recommended companies. There are plenty of other destinations to visit in San Pedro. Check out this article for more ideas! Enjoy your trip :)

Best Places to Visit in Chile

Beach Destinations

Top National Parks

Guide to Chilean Patagonia

Guide to Valparaiso

Guide to Vina del Mar

Best Wineries in Chile

Things to Do in Chile

Things to Do in Santiago

Must-Try Food

Best Time to Visit

Weather & Climate

Airports in Chile

Best Santiago Hotels

One-Week Itinerary for Chile

One Week in Chile: The Ultimate Itinerary

Stretching 4,270 kilometers (2,653 miles) from north to south, Chile is one long, lean, and epically diverse country. It’s a place where you’re never more than a stone’s throw away from the mountains or the sea, with a remarkable assortment of places to hike, spot animals, and soak up Chilean history and culture. 

Promising a broad introduction to Chile’s magnificent landscapes, this ultimate itinerary spans the extreme dusty north of the Atacama Desert and the montane, glacier-riddled south of Patagonia. It’s an ambitious plan for just a week and you’ll be covering quite some ground, so expect to rely on Chile’s network of low-cost flights to transport you across vast distances. Alternatively, slice out a destination or two to free up time to dive deeper into a select few destinations. 

Day 1: Santiago

Touch down in Santiago’s Arturo Merino Benítez to begin your Chilean adventure. Airport shuttle services from the arrivals hall transport you into the chaotic but thrilling modern city of Santiago. The Chilean capital is a place of five-lane expressways and high-rise blocks owned by flashy multi-nationals. But, if you peer a little deeper beneath this contemporary façade, you’ll find a city of history, ample parks, and dynamic neighborhoods packed with intriguing restaurants and bars.

Your first stop is the Plaza de Armas, Santiago’s cavernous main square. It's a hive of activity, from the elderly gentlemen playing chess in one corner to the shoe shiners and stray dogs who roam between the towering palms. Nearby, the Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino (Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art) is a wealth of Indigenous artifacts, including funerary statues used by the Mapuche people. 

In the afternoon, enjoy a leisurely stroll around the trendy Lastarria neighborhood before taking the winding paved pathways to the bench-fringed top of leafy Cerro Santa Lucía. This rounded hill that rises out of the city center offers some of the finest views across Santiago. You’ll want to bring a camera to capture a skyline of rooftops offset by the vertiginous backdrop of the snowy Andes Mountains. 

For a final flavor of Santiago’s unique culture, book a table at pioneering restaurant Peumayen to sample enigmatic flavors from Chile’s indigenous populations. Afterwards dive nose-first into a tasting at Bocanáriz , home to more than 300 of the country’s finest wines. 

Day 2: Valparaíso

The antithesis of Santiago’s urban modernity lies a two-hour bus journey west in the tumbling coastal city of Valparaíso. Lavish, late 19th-century European buildings and aged funiculars that creak their way up into the city’s 42-or-so hills typify this colorful bohemian city that was once among the world’s most important shipping ports. 

While Valparaíso has certainly lost its wealth, it will never lose its spirit. Much of the main tourist neighborhoods of Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepción are now daubed in a lively lick of paint from the internationally-renowned graffiti artists who have left their mark here. To understand the vivid history of these sights, you’re best off exploring with a tour. 

Another creative who fell for the city is Chile’s much-loved poet, Nobel Prize-winning Pablo Neruda. Famed for his passionate poems written for a string of lovers, his Valparaíso home, La Sebastiana , is a place to delve into his love of whimsy and childlike décor—as well as admire some of the finest views of the city and harbor from his living room. The free audio guide is a must to understand the house and its famous former inhabitant. 

For lunch, soak up the sun on the shady terrace of Restaurant El Peral , where the razor clams and seasonal fish give you a taste of traditional coastal Chilean dining straight off the boat. 

Leave the city to return to Santiago for the night and enjoy a sundowner on the rooftop terrace of the exclusive The Singular Hotel . Then make your way to Argentine steakhouse Happening for an expertly grilled entraña (skirt steak) paired with a robust Chilean cabernet sauvignon.

Day 3: San Pedro de Atacama

TripSavvy / Chris VR 

An early, two-hour flight heading north to Calama Airport, followed by an easy airport shuttle (no need to book; they leave when full from outside arrivals), brings you to northern adventure capital, San Pedro de Atacama. 

Drop your luggage at your hotel and slather on the sunscreen: At 2,433 meters (7,982 feet) above sea level, you’ll want to take care. The altitude can hit—and fiercely—so spend your afternoon gently to acclimate . Devote an hour or so to the Museo del Meteorito (Meteorite Museum) and their collection of more than 3,200 meteorites that have landed in the surrounding desert, some of which are a remarkable 4.5 million years old.

To catch the sunset as it fades behind the wind-buffeted sand dunes of the Valle de La Luna (Moon Valley), either hire a bike from a business along Toconao road and cycle the 45 minutes, or book a horseback riding tour with Atacama Horse Adventure if you’re feeling less energetic. Take plenty of water for the dry desert air and warm clothes; when the sun drops, the air quickly turns cold. 

Back in town, enjoy classy Andean dining beside an open fire at Adobe , where live Andean music begins at 8 p.m.

Day 4: Los Flamencos National Reserve

It’s an early start—think 4 a.m.—for a tour up into the mountains that encircle San Pedro de Atacama. You’ll arrive as the sky begins to bleed with the dawn at the Géiseres del Tatio (Tatio Geysers), the world’s highest and third largest geyser field. As they’re located at 4,320 meters (14,173 feet) above sea level, you may well be struggling for breath, so take things slowly as you admire jets of steam that erupt from the earth’s crust. Pack a swimsuit for a morning dip on the way back in the luxuriously hot Puritama hot springs, a series of eight, crystal-clear pools fed by geothermal water. 

Back at your hotel, take an afternoon nap before joining a tour out to Laguna Chaxa, a saline lake surrounded by the gray-white salt flats of the Salar de Atacama. You’ve a great chance to spot Andean, James’s, and Chilean flamingos (although good luck telling them apart), who come here to dine on the waters’ veritable feast of algae. Just before sunset, you’ll be whisked across to Laguna Tebinquinche for a pisco sour and a dramatic display as the light drops beneath the surrounding wall of volcanoes, turning the lake pink. 

Chow down on a llama burger and wash it down with beer, made on the premises and infused with herbs plucked from the desert. Wrap up warm for a stargazing tour with local experts SPACE , who’ll whisk you out into the desert to observe the night skies using their 15 professional telescopes; with more than 300 clear nights annually, the Atacama Desert is one of the world’s best places for stargazing. 

Day 5: Punta Arenas

It’s another early start as you make your way back to Calama Airport to board a five-hour flight to Punta Arenas, with a layover in Santiago. The main gateway to Chilean Patagonia, this wind-battered town lies on the northern shore of the Magellan Strait, where eagle-eyed visitors may spy squat-nosed Chilean dolphins frolicking in the waters if you take a wander along the coastal road. 

Book onto an afternoon speedboat tour with Fiordos del Sur out to Magdalena Island, a 97-hectare reserve with some 120,000 resident Magellanic penguins between November and March. Expect to get up-close-and-personal with this chattering mass of birds and their newly-hatched chicks thanks to pathways that allow you to roam between their nests. 

In the evening, enjoy a local delicacy—king crab—and pretty bayside views at fine-dining establishment La Yegua Loca . You'll then catch a late, three-hour bus ride across plains to Puerto Natales. 

Day 6: Puerto Natales

A ramshackle town hugging the depressingly-named—yet enchantingly picturesque—Last Hope Sound, Puerto Natales is deep in cowboy country. 

To get to grips with the Patagonian pursuit of sheep farming, board the speedboat to Estancia La Península on a one-day tour of their 19,000-hectare family ranch. You’ll spend a morning trotting along the fjords atop a criollo horse before catching a display of sheep shearing and digging into the ultimate in Patagonian lunches: spit-roasted lamb. 

Back in Puerto Natales, sample the locally-made Calafate berry gin at the Australian-run Last Hope Distillery . Save room for dinner at uber-luxurious The Singular Patagonia for a first-class feast of scallops, hare, or salmon ceviche, all paired with one of dozens of different options of Chilean wine. 

Day 7: Torres del Paine National Park

Your final day dawns on the outskirts of Chilean Patagonia’s most famous national park: Torres del Paine. Revered for its three spire-like peaks of granite that rear out of a landscape awash with glassy lakes and thunderous glaciers, it epitomizes remote Patagonia. It’s a two-hour drive from Puerto Natales and best visited with a rental vehicle. 

The main attraction is the eight-hour hike up to the three towers, although you can shake things up a little and instead go ice trekking on the park’s 3.7-mile-wide glacier, Grey, or paddle out to its snout across the glacier's namesake lake for a completely new perspective. 

Finish the day back in Puerto Natales ahead of your flight back to Santiago. Or, you could opt to extend your trip to include Argentine Patagonia, just across the border. 

A Guide to Airports in Chile

The 8 Most Popular Cities in Chile

The 20 Best Things to Do in Chile

Top 15 Destinations in Chile

The Complete Guide to Chilean Patagonia

Your Trip to Chile: The Complete Guide

Torres del Paine National Park: The Complete Guide

The Best Time to Visit Chile

Weather in Chile: Climate, Seasons, and Average Monthly Temperature

Guide to the Spectacular Scenery of Chile's Lake District

Road Trip Ideas Through South America

Top 10 National Parks in Chile

Top 50 Places to See in South America

Your Trip to Argentina: The Complete Guide

One Week in Argentina: The Ultimate Itinerary

50 Incredible Pictures of Argentina to Inspire Your Next Vacation

10 Days in Chile: The Perfect Chile Itinerary Where Stunning Landscapes and Adventures Await

Ready to plan the perfect Chile itinerary? From the stunning Torres del Paine to the Atacama – plan an epic Chile trip with this guide. 

There are a lot of amazing locations in South America , but Chile ranks right up at the top as my favourite. Why? Oh, just the combination of dramatic natural landscapes giving way to some of the best stargazing, hiking and wine-tasting anywhere in the world. Then there’s the capital city of Santiago , with its rich history and culture that makes it a perfect city break. Colonial architecture and a thriving arts scene make a nice contrast when you’re preparing for an epic trek or trip to the desert.

I’ve just come back from my fourth trip to Chile and – as ever – it blew my mind. I spent nights slack jawed as the Milky Way lit up the night sky, freezing mornings as geysers erupted into life right before my eyes, feasted on delicious food and even better wine – it was nothing short of incredible. 

So with everything that Chile offers, how can you plan an itinerary that puts together the best things to do and places to stay in a tidy 10-day package? Not to worry.

I got you covered with the ultimate Chile itinerary. So sit back, relax, and start making your travel plans to this incredible country.

Handy Tips for Planning Your Chile Itinerary 

Group Tour or Independent Travel? 

You can absolutely do everything on this Chile 10-day itinerary while travelling solo . Going by yourself allows you to enjoy stargazing, hiking, and sightseeing at your own leisure. But if you don’t want to handle the logistics, a group tour may be more your speed. G Adventures offers some excellent Chile itineraries, including one to Patagonia on The W Trek.

What to Pack for Your Chile Itinerary

Your 10 days in Chile will involve hiking and sightseeing across the sprawling South American country, so you’ll need to pack for any type of weather. Going to the Atacama Desert? You’ll need to bring your sunglasses, lightweight trainers , and plenty of suntan lotion. A travel backpack with a water bottle, first aid kit, and power bank for your tech gadgets is always a good call. Patagonia can be a bit less predictable, especially in the Spring and Autumn, but carrying warm layers (and a windbreaker or heavy coat) is a great start. No matter when I plan a trip to Torres del Paine, I bring a lightweight daypack , a refillable water bottle , and high-quality hiking boots like these . For a full list of what to pack for Torres del Painne in Patagonia, read this .

Useful Resources 

Skyscanner – The top flight search site. It makes booking flights from anywhere in the world more convenient and affordable.

Booking.com – A reliable website for finding the best rates on hotels in Chile.

Guide to Camping in Torres del Paine – If you decide to do the W Trek (you should), this guide breaks down everything you’ll need to know.

Viator – Excellent resource for scheduling tours for your Chile travel itinerary.

Getting Around 

Believe it or not, if you measure Chile from top to bottom, it’s nearly as long as the USA is from coast to coast. So if you’re planning a holiday in more than one region (like this 10-day Chile itinerary), you’ll want to fly to one of the airports near your destination, and then hire a car or book a tour. If you’re staying in Santiago, use Uber. Petty crime is currently rife in Chile, especially in the Centro district, and taxis may ask you to negotiate fares or straight up rip you off, which can get awkward and expensive.

Chile Itinerary 

Chile itinerary days 1-2: santiago /i.

Santiago is a fascinating place to visit (I’ve been there several times), and every time I return, I discover new things to see and do. There’s a slight edge to the city, but most locals are friendly and willing to talk to you about the complex history and thriving art scene. Street art is most prominent in the neighbourhoods of Bellavista and Barrie Yungay. You’ll also have plenty of historic sites to visit, like Museum Arte Precolombino and the truly stunning Gothic and Baroque architecture at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago de Chile.

Remember; you’re in Chile. Arrive hungry and thirsty. Restaurants like Liguria and Bocanáriz offer hearty Chilean fare and house Carmenere that puts the best bottle back home in London to shame.

Things to do in Santiago 

Spend an afternoon in barrio lastarria (and visit santa lucia hill).

Start your 10-day trip to Chile in Barrio Lastarria at the 19th-century Hidalgo Castle. It’s perched high up near the beautiful gardens and fountains of Santa Lucia Hill. After you enjoy the city views, walk down to Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes for the largest (and free) collection of South American and international artwork.

Tour La Chascona

Another area you’ll want to explore on your Chile trip itinerary is Bellavista. Stop by La Chascona, where you’ll see the home of celebrated poet and politician Pablo Neruda. Tickets are CLP $8,000 (around £7) and include a guided audio tour to explore the unique art and architecture of the home Neruda built for his lover (and eventually 3rd wife) Matilde Urrutia.

Lunch at Galindo

This no-frills bar and grill offers delicious and filling traditional Chilean cooking to help soak up a couple of local beers.

Arrive with a voracious appetite for the Pichanga (two cuts of pork with goat cheese and olives) and Pastel de Choclo (a rich combo of creamed corn, meat, veggies, and olives).

San Cristóbal Hill

Want the best views on your Chile itinerary idea in Santiago? Head to the base of San Cristóbal Hill (near Estacionamiento Pedro De Valdivia Norte) and ride the nearly 100-year-old Funicular de Santiago Up to enjoy unmatched vistas from about 3,000 metres high. Grab a refreshing mote con huesillo (a non-alcoholic drink with barley and peaches) before taking a ride on the cable car to admire the views from above.

Head to Centro for Sightseeing Opportunities 

Santiago’s Centro neighbourhood might not have the hipster chic of areas like Lastarria, but it is home to some of the city’s most important sights.

Be sure to head to the Plaza de Armas and into Santiago’s glorious Cathedral. It might not look like much from the outside, but inside it’s a Gothic meets Baroque extravaganza. 

After, make a beeline for the nearby Chile Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, which is hands-down my favourite museum in the city. Spread out over several levels, the museum takes you on a journey through the Pre-Columbian peoples of South America. 

Getting to Santiago 

Starting your Chile itinerary of 10 days in Santiago is easy. Fly into Santiago International Airport (SCL) and take a rideshare to your hotel.

Suggested Stay for Santiago on your 10 Days in Chile Itinerary 

The Singular Santiago is a luxury five-star property with reasonable hotel rates in the heart of my favourite neighbourhood to stay in Santiago – Lastarria.

Super comfy rooms, a nice spa, and outdoor patio that’s perfect for chilling outside in the warmer summer months are a few reasons I love choosing this as my landing spot in Santiago.

Check prices and availability for The Singular Santiago on Booking.com Alternatively, check all accommodations in Chile on Booking.com 

Chile Itinerary Days 3-6: Torres del Paine 

The rich green plains and hills moving slowly from the rivers and lakes to the dramatic Paine Massif mountains makes Torres del Paine a memorable stop on your Chile itinerary. 

If you want to experience Patagonia on your trip to Chile, spend a few days hiking the glaciers, mountains, and valleys below and have chances to see wildlife like Andean condors, guanaco, pumas, and rheas.

You can rest up at a luxury hotel between sightseeing or take on the W Trek if you’re up for the challenge of hiking 100 km over several days.

If you choose to do the W Trek, make sure you pack the right gear . I learned quickly that the weather can change from pleasant to downright terrifying in a matter of hours.

If that all sounds a bit too epic, don’t worry. You can choose from many great tour guides to show you around on a day hike.

Things to do in Torres del Paine  

W trek hike.

Hike some of the most iconic landmarks in Torres del Paine, including Lake Pehoé, Paine Grande, and the towering cliffs at Los Cuernos. I recommend booking a guided group tour like this one if you want to do the W Trek in four days, as it includes lodging for three nights.

Lake Pehoé 

For one of the most dramatic scenes anywhere in Chile, head to Lake Pehoé. You’ll see the deep blue waters projecting an image of the Cuernos del Paine so unique, you’d better hope you brought a backup memory card.

Grey Glacier 

Grey Glacier is the most famous glacier in Torres del Paine. You’ll know why when you catch glimpses of it around the national park. I recommend walking on the east side of Lago Grey, which allows you to get an up-close look to really take in the enormity of it all.

Frances Valley Viewpoint

The tallest of the mountains in this national park, Paine Grande, towers over you at more than 3,000 metres high. Frances Valley is the best place to see it. I like this vantage point because you can also see Lago Nordenskjöld, which looks magnificent near the base of the massive mountains.

Getting to Torres del Paine  

You’ll fly from Santiago to Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ), where you will then make your way to Torres del Paine. I’m not going to lie; it’s kind of a small nightmare. You’ll need to buy a bus ticket for the 7 am bus and show up around 6:30 am so you’re not late to the park. Once there, be prepared for some long lines.

Suggested Stay for Torres del Paine on your 10 Days in Chile Itinerary 

This beautiful five-star resort allows you to have some much-deserved R&R after a day of hiking, horseback riding, or photographing the Chilean Patagonia. You’ll have first-rate views of the mountains, lakes, and rivers nearby. A heated outdoor pool, hot tubs, and luxury accommodations make this a perfect choice to bed down after a day full of adventure.

Check prices and availability for Explora en Torres del Paine – All Inclusive on Booking.com Alternatively, check all accommodations in Chile on Booking.com 

Chile Itinerary Days 7-10: Atacama Desert

The Atacama Desert is home to over 10,000 years of human history in the expansive open space in Northern Chile. The Incas and indigenous cultures before them called what’s now the driest place in the world home. Visiting the entire region is impossible over a few days, but adding the Atacama during your 10-day Chile itinerary is a must for some of the most incredible scenery and stargazing you’ll see anywhere. I’ll paint you a quick picture. As you climb up from the basin, the landscapes change. Lava rivers, impossibly smooth from far away, are punctuated by rocks and occasional tufts of grass. As you get closer the colours reveal themselves as a kaleidoscopic world you’d bounce off if you fell from the sky.

Then as you continue to make your way up, you’ll see the Socaire village, with fields of rich agriculture (mainly quinoa and potatoes) watered through centuries-old irrigation channels that date back to the Incas. Welcome to the Atacama Desert.

Things to do in the Atacama Desert

Atacama basin.

The driest place in the world, the basin is full of surprisingly varied landscapes, especially where the forests of cacti, trees, foxes, and owls separate the desert from the salt flats and their blue lakes and pink flamingos.

El Tatio Geysers 

Be warned, your morning at El Tatio Geysers is going to be both early and cold. 

The geysers are most active at sunrise thanks to the rapidly changing temperatures – and it’s a 1.5 hour drive from San Pedro – all that translates to a very early start. It’s worth it though. 

Seeing the smoke belching from the fumaroles in the biggest geyser field in South America is an unforgettable experience you cannot miss during your trip to the Atacama. 

Valle de la Luna

Visit the famous landscape known for magnificent natural works of art like the towering Amphitheater and the Grand Dunes. Both are most brilliant when the sun sets, and paints the beige and off-white earth varying shades of pink, red, and purple. You’ll need to buy tickets in advance here . The secret is out on this one.

Piedras Rojas 

The mineral-rich lake, where the red rocks play off the blue-green waters, snow-capped mountains, and billowing white clouds in the deep blue skies, is Piedras Rojas. Go in the winter when the water levels are low (or if you’re lucky, the water is frozen) for the most visually stunning contrast of colours between the lake, rocks, and Volcano Capur nearby.

Float in Cejar Lagoon 

Floating in the salty environs of Cejar Lagoon is a one-off experience you shouldn’t miss. While most of the salt lagoons in the Atacama are strictly on a look but don’t touch basis, Cejar Lagoon is the exception. 

Strip down to your swimmers and hop in to experience the lagoon’s surreal buoyancy as you bob on its surface. Don’t get your face wet though, it stings if it gets in your eyes. 

Toconao Village 

The most ancient village in the Atacama region, you’ll want to stop before or after your trip to the desert to visit the mountain town known for having some of the highest elevation wineries in all of Chile, like Bodega Ayllu and Viña Santa Romina.

If you’re looking for a bit of a hidden gem, Ckamur is a relatively recent attraction in the mostly desolate Valle de la Muerte. If you recognize the stark rock formations casting shadows and blankets of colour over the dry desert landscape, you may remember them from The Mandalorian.

Getting to the Atacama Desert

Fly into El Loa Airport (CJC) in Calama before driving about 1 hour to San Pedro de Atacama.

Suggested Stay for the Atacama Desert on your 10 Days in Chile Itinerary 

Nayara Alto Atacama is the perfect choice for your 10 days in Chile itinerary. Why? You’ll enjoy low-key luxury accommodations in San Pedro, where you can book all-inclusive packages. I chose a package that included all meals, tours, and transportation, which was costly but a great value for convenience and quality.

Check prices and availability for Nayara Alto Atacama on Booking.com Alternatively, check all accommodations in Chile on Booking.com 

Other Chile Travel Itineraries

2-week chile itinerary.

Adding a trip to wine country on your Chile itinerary is never a bad idea, especially when you have two weeks in Chile. The Elqui Valley offers incredible wineries alongside some of the best stargazing in Chile.

Visit Cavas Del Valle, a family-owned winery offering award-winning wine and special releases like a late harvest syrah. You can also hike to see beaches and wildlife at Punta Choros or go stargazing in a vineyard at Centro Astronomico Alfa Aldea.

• Day 1: Santiago
• Day 2 – 6: Elqui Valley
• Day 7-10: Atacama
• Day 11 – 14: Torres del Paine

7-Day Itinerary Chile

If you have less time, you can still plan a week in Chile while still seeing many of my favourite locations over seven days. 

• Day 2-4: Torres del Paine
• Day 5-7: Atacama

Chile Itinerary – Map 

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Chile Itinerary: Read Next

• The Best Things to do in Chile  
• Hiking the Torres del Paine: What You Need to Know  
• Unmissable Things to do in Santiago  
• What to do in the Atacama Desert

I’m Julianna Barnaby - a professional travel writer and geek extraordinaire. I started The Discoveries Of to help you to discover the best of new destinations from around the world.

Discovering new places is a thrill - whether it’s close to home, a new country or continent, I write to help you explore more and explore differently.

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Chile Itinerary – What to See in Chile in 10 Days

Last Updated on 20/05/2024 by kami

I know that 10 days in Chile is not enough (especially if you add a side trip to Bolivia to your Chile itinerary) but sometimes that’s all you have. And that was the case with me too.

I planned my trip to Chile carefully so I could use my time there in the best possible way and see all the best Chile attractions. I must say I was really satisfied with my 10 days in Chile itinerary and I’m happy to share it here with you.

Of course, I could have visited some other places, divide my time between destinations differently but overall I could really see a lot and most importantly I visited places that have been on my bucket list since I was a teenager.

I hope this Chile itinerary will inspire you to visit this amazing part of the world too, it is truly spectacular and definitely worth the long trip down there!

Planning a trip to Chile?

Here are the services I always use and personally recommend:

• Accommodation : I always book a place to stay on Booking.com
• Tours: when I decide to go on a tour I use either Viator or Get Your Guide .
• For transportation and booking tickets online , I usually use Omio that works in Chile, too.
• Looking for the airport pickup ? Check Welcome Pickups!
• If you plan to rent a car during your trip to Chile check Discover Cars to compare prices and find the best deals
• Get insured for your trip to Chile with SafetyWing

Table of Contents

Visiting Chile – practical information

Before you visit Chile you might need some practical information to plan your trip there in the best and most effective way. I put together a small guide to visiting Chile with all the info you might need – click here to read my Chile travel tips!

Chile itinerary

And now, let me share with you my 10 days in Chile itinerary. In fact, there are 11 days included but one of them was a complete waste of time and I wouldn’t count it in the overall trip as all I did was watching Netflix then.

Day 0: arrival

I don’t really count that day to my Chile itinerary either as I arrived late in the evening and I made it from the airport to the hotel at around 10 pm. I was so tired after the long journey from Barcelona + the jetlag that I fell asleep almost right away.

How to get from the airport to the center:

I used public transport when going from Santiago airport to the city center and it was really easy. There is a bus that departs from in front of the airport exit no 4, it goes every 10 minutes between 6:00 am and 11:30 pm and once per hour during the night.

The bus goes to the Los Heroes metro station via Las Rejas, Universidad de Santiago, Pajaritos, and Estación Central metro stations. You buy the ticket in front of the bus, when I used it in May 2019 one-way ticket was 1 900 CLP, return 3 400 CLP.

The taxi and uber from the airport to the center should be around 20.000 CLP.

Where I stayed:

I’ve decided to stay in downtown Santiago since I didn’t have all that much time and I wanted to be close to most of the attractions. The thing is, central Santiago is where people go to work but in the evening it felt a bit deserted. I didn’t mind it all that much since my jetlag was killing me but you might want to stay in a more eventful neighborhood like Barrio Italia or Bario Bellavista.

I stayed at Che Lagarto Hostel Santiago and I can definitely recommend this place. Other places in central Santiago worth recommending include:

• Hotel Cumbres Lastarria (9.2/10)
• Hotel Altiplanico Bellas Artes (9.0/10)
• Hotel Plaza San Francisco (9.1/10)

Day 1: Santiago de Chile

Because of the jetlag, I had an early start on my first day in Chile. I wanted to focus on central Santiago only since I didn’t know when I will be dead tired again (did I mention jetlag is a bitch?). Fortunately, there are plenty of things to do and see in Santiago so I wasn’t bored at all!

I’m a sucker for good views and beautiful interiors and that’s what my first day in Chile was about. Central Santiago is full of interesting buildings, I had some of them on my list while others (like the National Library or Estación Mapocho) I found randomly.

Wandering around randomly and finding all the great spots was a real highlight for me. The architecture was really impressive, the kind I like the most, a nice mix of 19th and 20th centuries styles, with some nice details, passages or yard that hide real gems.

As for the views, I climbed to Santa Lucía Hill, and normally the view from there should be good, with the Andes just outside of the city. But since it was hazed a bit the view wasn’t as impressive as I expected.

That’s also why I skipped another viewpoint, probably the most popular one in Santiago – from San Cristóbal Hill. At least I could see a bit of the Andes in the background and the city didn’t look bad either.

Places I visited on that day:

• Chilean National Library
• Santa Lucía Hill
• Plaza de Armas
• Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral
• The Main Post Office
• Central Market
• Mercado Tirso de Molina
• Estación Mapocho
• Plaza de la Constitución
• and numerous random streets in the Downtown

Day 2: Day trip from Santiago to Valparaiso

Before I even found cheap flights to Chile I knew there is one place, in particular, I need to see there and that’s Valparaiso, one of the most popular day trips from Santiago . From the moment I saw this colorful street art heaven I kept dreaming about going there and see all these amazing works in real life.

Valparaiso is like a madman dream. The whole city is basically covered in all kinds of colorful street art and what’s more, there are a few funiculars connecting lower and upper parts of the neighborhoods – for the person who likes both of things it’s like a paradise.

Fortunately, Santiago to Valparaiso day trip is super easy to do and that’s where I went on my second day in Chile. Even if this is the second-largest city in Chile, it didn’t felt that way, it was more like this sleepy town where life goes by slowly.

The bus station is located a short walk from the center of the city and all the main Valparaiso attractions. But the truth is, the best things to do in Valparaiso is to just wander around and enjoy the colorful city with all its quirks. At least that’s what I did and I enjoyed Valparaiso to the fullest.

The number of street art works is simply overwhelming, you can see some good paintings on every second home and corner and sometimes you don’t know where to look, there are so many of them! This is why I wanted to visit Valparaiso really badly and that’s the thing that definitely didn’t disappoint me.

Since the city is located on the picturesque hills there are a few funiculars you can use for a little fee – they are a must to get a feel of Valparaiso.

I spent a few hours in the city and would have gladly stayed longer. While one day in Valparaiso might not be enough to get to know the city properly, it can give you a good feel of the place.

How to get from Santiago to Valparaiso:

This is actually super easy. There are frequent bus connections, every 20 minutes or so, and the journey takes around 90 minutes.

First, you need to get to Pajaritos bus station and then see which bus departs first – the two main companies serving this route are Turbus and Pullman (they have similar prices and standards). I got the return ticket for 5 800 CLP (one-way was 3000 CLP) and the bus left within 10 minutes.

If you don’t want to use public transport you can go for the tour from Santiago to Valparaiso (sometimes together with another nearby coastal town, Vina del Mar). Here are some popular tours:

• Valparaiso and Viña del Mar Day Tour
• Valparaiso, Viña del Mar, & Casablanca Valley Tour
• Highlights of Valparaiso and Viña del Mar

Day 3: Punta Arenas

Early in the morning, I left Santiago for Punta Arenas – the largest city and the tourist center of Chilean Patagonia, located some 2 thousand kilometers from the capital.

There are frequent flights operated by three airlines, connecting Santiago and Punta Arenas – I used the local airline Sky since their schedule worked the best for me and the price was very fine.

Unfortunately, I arrived in Punta Arenas on May 1st – Labour Day – so basically everything was closed (I had to do some grocery shopping at the gas station). The weather also didn’t help as it was gloomy and just sad so I did nothing on that day, just hid in my hostel room, edited pictures, and watched movies on Netflix.

I don’t really count this day as a valid one in my Chile itinerary since there were no activities involved. But if this was a regular day, in the summer season I would most likely go to one of the tours that depart from Punta Arenas (that already didn’t run when I arrived).

Here are some of the Punta Arenas tours you can take:

• Full-Day Whales, Penguins, and Glaciers Tour
• Walk with Penguins on Magdalena & Marta Island

Where I stayed: Hostal Torres del Paine 2 – it was cozy, clean and with friendly staff. The location was very good too, a few minutes walk from the main square of Punta Arenas.

Other recommended places to stay in Punta Arenas:

• Patagonia Apart Hotel – Suite (9.3/10)
• Hotel Ilaia (9.4/10)
• Hostal Buenavista Patagonia (9.4/10)

Day 4: Day trip to Torres del Paine

I started the day very early as I had to wake up at 4:30 in the morning but I didn’t mind it all that much as this was the day my childhood dream was about to make true – I was going to Terres del Paine National Park! It’s a bit of a journey from Punta Arenas (Puerto Natales, located a bit up north, is a bit more popular departure point for Torres del Paine tour), around 4 hours one-way, but it’s definitely worth the trip.

Torres del Paine was the reason why I went all the way to Patagonia or even to Chile. The magnificent mountains are so beautiful they seem unreal and no pictures can show you how impressive they really are.

Since I only had 10 days in Chile, a day trip to Torres del Paine must have been enough for me, but I would gladly have stayed there for a few days and go hiking to see more of this amazing area. But even during this day trip, I could see quite a bit as we stopped in various locations in the Torres del Paine National Park (there are so many amazing viewpoints that you don’t need to climb to!), as well as in Mylodon Cave and eventually in Puerto Natales.

We were back in Punta Arenas around 8 in the evening, just in time for dinner in one of the restaurants in the city. It was a long day but I enjoyed every single minute of it!

Here are recommended Torres del Paine tours that depart from Punta Arenas:

• Full Day Torres del Paine
• Full Day Torres del Paine Private tour, departing from Punta Arenas

Day 5: Punta Arenas – Santiago

It was my third day in Punta Arenas and I finally could see the city before catching the flight back to Santiago in the evening. There are a few interesting things to do in Punta Arenas but the city is compact enough that you can easily walk everywhere.

Don’t miss the local cemetery with some impressive mausoleums of the aristocratic families. You might also notice that many of the surnames sound Croatian – that’s why there was a big diaspora from Croatia , they arrived in Patagonia in the second half of the 19th century, shortly after Punta Arenas was founded.

Other interesting places in the city include Plaza de Armas and its surrounding, with some nice architecture and the monument of Magellan, the embankment with the “Punta Arenas” sign or Cerro de la Cruz – the best viewpoint in the city.

There are also a few really nice cafes in the city where you can relax and have a cup of coffee or hot chocolate.

Where I stayed: since I arrived late in the evening (at 10 pm) at Santiago airport and I had my next flight at 7 in the morning I’ve decided to stay in the Holiday Inn at the airport. It was a bit expensive but that few hours of sleep in a comfortable bed was bliss, especially before a long travel day I had ahead. Click here for the details of the hotel.

Day 6: Santiago – Calama – Uyuni

This day was spent on traveling only and I saw nothing but a beautiful landscape of northern Chile and Bolivia.

I took the early morning flight to Calama – the city known as the getaway to the Atacama. But instead of going there right away I did a little detour on my Chile trip and went to Bolivia to see the famous Salar de Uyuni. I figured that since I’m so close it would be a pity to miss this place, even if it basically required two days of traveling there and back.

So, after arriving in Calama I went to the local bus station to catch the bus to Uyuni across the border. The journey took less than 7 hours but the views along the way were really amazing.

I arrived in Uyuni when it was already dark so I could really see the city. Besides, the altitude of over 3,600 meters above the sea level affected me a bit (after all I came here directly from altitude 0 in Punta Arenas) and I was so tired I went to sleep almost right away.

Where I stayed: Le Ciel d’Uyuni (8.0/10)

Other recommended places to stay in Uyuni:

• Casa de Sal – Salt Hotel (9.4/10)
• Hotel Jardines de Uyuni (8.9/10)

Day 7: Uyuni

I prebooked my Salar de Uyuni tour so I didn’t need to look for one when I arrived in the town – this shouldn’t be difficult anyway as Uyuni lives off tourists and there are tour agencies on every corner.

A popular option is to take a 3-days tour from Uyuni to San Pedro de Atacama and see all the highlights along the way. Since I had a very limited time I had to skip it and do only a day tour. But that was fine too.

Before the tour departed I went for a quick walk around the city – it’s small and nice but nothing really special. The Salar de Uyuni tour I took was good but similar to all the other day trips there – even if there are many companies offering the tour to the salt flats, they are all exactly the same.

Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flat in the world and the area is really vast but there are a few places where all the tours meet and it can get a bit crowded. You can expect more people at the trains graveyard, the market with souvenirs and Isla del Pescado but other than that there will be only you and your tourmates. In my group, there were six people and I think that’s the standard size.

Salar de Uyuni is a truly spectacular place and one of the world’s wonders of nature. Just like with Torres del Paine, no pictures can show how incredible the salt flats are – all you can see around are white layers of salt that spread for kilometers in front of you. This is definitely a must-visit place in South America.

Here are Salar de Uyuni tours you might want to book:

• Salar de Uyuni – 1 full day tour
• Private Day Trip Salar de Uyuni
• Starlight and Sunrise Salt Flats Tour

Day 8: Uyuni – San Pedro de Atacama

Another day that I spent traveling, this time from Uyuni back to Chile. My next stop was San Pedro de Atacama – the main tourist hub on the Atacama desert – the driest place in the world.

I took the direct bus from Uyuni, it left the Bolivian town very early in the morning and arrived at the final destinations a bit over 10 hours later (that included 2 hours spent at the border). Fortunately, the bus was comfortable enough so the trip wasn’t that bad.

I still had some time to walk around San Pedro de Atacama on that day – it’s a small but pleasant town in the desert that aims at tourists so in the central part you will mostly see tour companies, bike rental shops or a few restaurants. Still, it’s a nice, quiet, and relaxing place to be in.

Where to stay in San Pedro de Atacama

• Hotel Pascual Andino (9.3/10)
• Anka Hostel (9.3/10)
• La Casa del Pueblo Hostal (9.6/10)

Day 9: Atacama tour

I wanted to see more of Atacama than San Pedro de Atacama and the surrounding (which was great anyway) so decided to go for a tour of the desert. There are many options to choose from and I’m sure no matter which tour you decide to take, it will be amazing.

I went for the one covering Miscanti Lake and Miniques Lagoon, Piedras Rojas, Tuyajto Lagoon and Chaxa Lagoon on the Atacama Salt Flats inside Flamingos National Reserve. This was again a long and busy day but the views were incredible and so breathtaking. I can easily say Atacama was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen, I didn’t expect such beauty there!

Here are tours from San Pedro de Atacama you might be interested in:

• Piedras Rojas, Altiplanics Lagoons & Salar Full-Day Tour
• Hidden Lagoons of Baltinache

Day 10: Atacama – Santiago

I was considering going for another tour on that day, to the geysers, but I’ve decided to stay in San Pedro de Atacama. I was already a bit tired and there were a few places near the town that I wanted to see so I actually ended up hiking for some 15 km in a beautiful area.

Most of the visitors go to the nearby Valle de la Luna but since I’ve seen a bit of it from the bus I went to another valley – Valle de la Muerte. And it was a great decision!

The valley was mostly empty and the views were yet again incredible. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it to the highest point as I had to go back to the town to catch the transfer back to the airport in Calama. But what I’ve seen was already enough to impress and amaze me!

Where I stayed: since I arrived in Santiago again late in the evening and I had a flight back to Barcelona the next evening I figured an airport hotel is a good option again so I don’t need to go back and forth to the center with my backpack. Besides, after these busy 10 days in Chile, I really needed to splurge a bit and to eat a proper, European breakfast. Yes, it was a bit expensive but I don’t regret a single penny.

Day 11: Santiago – departure

After a well-deserved rest, I left for central Santiago to see a few more places that I missed at the beginning of the trip. It was again a busy day since Santiago offers so much.

This time I focused on some less-known attractions and so I visited Centro Cultural Palacio de La Moneda (a cultural center located in the presidential palace), Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos (Museum of Memory and Human Rights, commemorating the victims of Pinochet regime between 1973 and 1990), Parque Quinta Normal, Barrio Italia (a charming, colorful and bohemian part of Santiago), Museum of Contemporary Art, Museum of Fine Arts, Barrio Bellavista (another cool and artsy neighborhood) and finally Centre Gabriela Mistral (another cultural center).

It was not everything I wanted to see in Santiago as the capital of Chile had so many cool spots that stole my heart. But it was time for me to leave Chile, tired but satisfied with all the incredible places I’ve managed to see.

Final thoughts on spending 10 days in Chile

While I know that 10 days in Chile is not enough o put all the great places in the country (especially if you add a side trip to Bolivia to your Chile itinerary), it is already enough to see some of the main attractions, to get a feel of the country and to meet some friendly people.

Of course, I would have loved to stay there longer, to go to Easter Island, Lauca National Park, Chiloé National Park or Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park or to spend more time in Patagonia and Atacama that I both loved. But since my time in Chile was very limited I had to focus only on the highlights and I think I did a pretty good job covering them all.

So if you are wondering if it’s possible to see Chile in 10 days I can confidently say that yes, it is. And this Chile itinerary shows you how to do it.

Further reading

I published many articles about Chile that you might find useful when planning your trip there. Here are some of them:

• Chile travel tips – all you need to know about visiting Chile
• 23 Best Things to Do in Santiago, Chile
• 6 Great Places You Can Visit as Day Trips from Santiago, Chile
• Santiago to Valparaiso Day Trip – Visit the Most Colorful City in Chile
• The Best Things to Do in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
• 14 Great Things to Do in Punta Arenas, Chile

If you are looking for articles about a specific destination – check out the map with all the articles I’ve published (and their locations).

Travel Resources

Below you can find the brands I trust and use when planning trips:

• You can find the best accommodation options at Booking . They have many discounts and excellent customer service. Click here to look for the place to stay in Chile
• I recommend joining organized tours to get to know the place better and to visit more places during your trip. You can find a great selection of tours at Viator or Get Your Guide .
• To always stay connected I use Airalo eSim cards – click here to get yours!
• For transportation and booking tickets online , I usually use 12Go or Omio
• Never travel without travel insurance , you never know what might happen and better safe than sorry. You can check the insurance policy for Chile here.
• Make sure to have the offline map always installed on your phone, they can save you so many troubles. I always use the free app Maps.Me .

For the end I left a few announcements that might interest you:

• Sign up to my newsletter or follow me on Bloglovin to get updates about the new posts
• Join my Facebook group about Eastern Europe, the Balkans and former USSR and connect with fellow travellers and enthusiasts of these regions – just click here!
• I’ve included a few handy links of services and products I personally like and use so you can plan your own trip to Chile too. They are often affiliate links. This means I will get a small commission if you book/purchase anything through my links, at no extra costs for you. Thank you!

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Andreas Moser

One of my highlights in Chile was Humberstone, a ghost town in the Atacama Desert: https://andreasmoser.blog/2017/06/16/humberstone/

Awesome trip. Am planning a trip there using your itinerary. i were to visit easter islan for 2 days where can I insert that leg in your itineraey

Enjoy Chile, it’s a great place!

Parind Shah

Hi Kami, Thanks much for this detailed trip report. I have two questions: 1. Atacama tour (day 9) – Did you do the tour with some tour company or on your own? Please give details in either case. 2. Torres del Paine (day 4) – Did you do the tour with some tour company or on your own? Please give details in either case.

Thanks much, Parind

Hi, in both cases I did tours I found on Viator (I’m not sure these exact tours are still available there). They were the only choice for me as I didn’t have a car and overall I’m glad I took them as those places were pretty amazing!

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10 Days in Chile: A Fun Itinerary for First Timers

In the narrowest country on Earth, snow-capped mountains and pristine beaches are within 100 miles of one another. You’ll need 10 days in Chile to discover all that and more, including the dazzling Atacama Desert and Santiago, the nation’s capital.

When I backpacked through the Andes a few years back, I covered most of this 10-day Chile itinerary. Take it from me: you won’t miss any must-sees!

Table of Contents

How to get around

Despite being a developing nation, Chile has one of the highest living standards in Latin America. As such, it is equipped with efficient and reliable infrastructure, especially in the parts of the country travelers are more likely to visit.

For short distances like Santiago-Valparaíso and attractions within the capital’s metropolitan area, you can easily hop on a coach bus or rent a car and reach your destination in a couple of hours.

But since around 1,000 miles separate Santiago from San Pedro de Atacama, you’ll be better off catching a plane on the final part of your trip. Luckily, low-cost airlines like JetSmart and Sky will take you to Antofagasta or San Pedro for approximately $60, roundtrip.

As for moving around within major cities, you can often count on the subway. In Santiago, specifically, the system currently features 136 stations spread across seven lines and serves all of the city’s boroughs.

Valparaíso and Viña del Mar are linked by a commuter train line that will take you from the port in Valparaíso to downtown Viña.

Days 1-2: Santiago

Where to stay: Renaissance Santiago in the ritzy Las Condes district or Hotel Magnolia to discover the city center on foot

We’ll start our trip from Chile’s capital, the one and only gateway to the country where almost 40% of the population lives.

This huge metropolis sits at the foothills of the Andes, so naturally superb views are one of Santiago’s calling cards. Hike up Cerro San Cristóbal to take in a commanding vista of the city. Alternatively, you can ride the funicular or the cable car to reach the hilltop.

On your first morning in Santiago, you can stroll down O’Higgins Avenue, locally la Alameda, which is home to some of the most imposing landmarks in town. Don’t miss out on the neoclassic La Moneda Presidential Palace or the 16th-century Church of Saint Francis.

To the south of la Alameda, you can walk through the quaint París-Londres neighborhood. Meanwhile, to the north of the avenue, you should get lost in the artsy Lastarria district. This area, as well as Bellavista on the other side of the Mapocho River, is filled with excellent dining options too.

From there, you’ll be within walking distance of the Plaza de Armas, around which several world-class museums will be waiting for your curious eyes.

On your second day, head out to the Los Dominicos neighborhood, which feels like a small town nestled in the middle of such a hectic city. Here you can load up on handicrafts and tour the little pueblo, in a welcome break from Santiago’s hustle and bustle.

If a glamorous night out is what you’re looking for, Santiago will not let you down. The Las Condes borough on the city’s eastern end is jam-packed with cocktail bars, restaurants, and clubs. Isidora Goyenechea is one of the coolest streets in the area.

Las Condes is also the go-to shopping district for Santiagueños. If you wouldn’t mind shopping till you drop before leaving the capital, Parque Arauco is the perfect shopping mall for you. And in case you’re not overwhelmed with shopping bags, cross the street to watch an incredible sunset on the lawn of Araucano Park.

Day 3: Cajón del Maipo

Our first day trip from Santiago will be to the canyon of the Maipo River, locally the Cajón del Maipo, in the heart of the Chilean Andes.

As you leave the city toward the snow-capped summits of the cordillera, you’ll pass by remote villages, tiny waterfalls, and lots of breathtaking views.

The high point is El Yeso Dam , which looks just as stunning as your favorite alpine lake. First, though, keep driving uphill to take a refreshing dip in the fabulous Termas del Plomo hot springs . Reach the dam by the golden hour to wonder at an awe-inspiring sunset.

You’ll get to choose between traveling back to the capital to sleep in a cozy bed or, if that’s your thing, camping overnight at the canyon to enjoy nature a little longer. You can also go trekking early in the morning; just don’t be late for our next adventure!

Day 4: Maipo Valley

The surroundings of the Maipo River to the south of Santiago are home to Chile’s most prestigious winemaking region.

You can embark on a wine-soaked journey through the beautiful valley through a day-long winery tour where you’ll savor some of the yummiest wines in South America.

That doesn’t mean, however, that your whole day has to revolve around wine — though that sounds tempting, at least to me. Squeezed between the peaks of the Chilean Coastal Range, the valley is scenic and dotted with lovely villages.

As you head toward the country’s central coast, you can stop, for example, at Pomaire, where you’ll encounter an age-old pottery tradition and several authentic eateries serving gigantic empanadas and other local treats.

While most itineraries of the Maipo Valley will pick you up and drop you off in Santiago, you should try to arrange to be taken to Valparaíso instead, as you’ll be midway between the capital and the ocean anyway.

Day 5: Valparaíso

Where to stay: Hotel Casa Higueras for the nicest views or the cozy AYCA La Flora Hotel Boutique , a budget-friendly alternative

Our next stop will be at one of Chile’s most fascinating places, the port city of Valparaíso. Once dubbed the San Francisco of the South, this hilly overhanging the Pacific is famous for its multicolored cityscape.

To learn more about Valpo’s turbulent history, you can book a walking tour of the old town. As you meander through the maze-like cobbled alleys, you’ll soak up amazing views of the bay.

Given Valparaíso is more affordable and slow-paced than Chile’s capital, it’s attracted throngs of artists in the last couple of decades.

Thanks to that, the city is one of the country’s cultural capitals. It plays host to many high-profile events throughout the year and boasts countless art galleries. What’s more, you’ll notice street art is everywhere.

The funiculars that cut through Valpo’s uneven topography are an attraction in their own right. So is its decadent ambiance, which mirrors a prosperous past when it was one of the richest cities in Latin America.

Day 6: Viña del Mar

Where to stay: Esencia Hotel Boutique for design lovers or the Sheraton Miramar for ultimate luxury

If Valparaíso is like San Francisco, Viña is a South American Monaco. The most popular beach town in Chile features a century-old casino and miles of gorgeous beaches with golden sands.

Once two distinct cities, Valpo and Viña del Mar have physically merged but preserved their unique identities. That’s why you can choose to sleep in either before setting out to our next stop.

Viña is the right place to shop, gamble, people-watch, or simply idle away on the beach.

Yet don’t fooled into thinking this is just a vain beach town. Viña del Mar is peppered with historic landmarks like the Vergara. Some now house museums like the Fonck Museum, which is devoted to archaeology.

When you’re done exploring the city center, keep going northward along the city’s shoreline until you reach Concon, where sprawling dunes offer commanding views of the bay.

Day 7: Antofagasta

Where to stay: Hotel Florencia Suites & Apartments to make the most of the waterfront or Hotel Antofagasta for the best amenities

Before heading out to the Atacama highlands, we’ll spend a relaxing by the northern coast of Chile, in a region that once belonged to Bolivia.

Antofagasta is an underrated seaside destination within the country, which is truly a shame. The city boasts flawless weather and pristine beaches with calm and warm waters.

Both to the north and south of town, you’ll find wild beaches worth stopping at. La Portada, a gateway-shaped rock formation, is Antofagasta’s main symbol and stands on the outskirts of the city too.

Another must-see is the impressive Mano del Desierto sculpture, a 36-foot cement hand that juts out of the desert. Visit after dark to gaze at one of the starriest skies you’ll ever lay your eyes on.

If you have the time, take a stroll around Antofagasta’s charming historic center. Sit back to people-watch at Plaza Colón, then treat yourself to fresh seafood at the Central Market.

Pro tip: If traveling during the cold season, you can stay in Santiago for an extra day instead and go skiing at Valle Nevado or any of the other resorts to the east of the capital.

Days 8-10: Atacama Desert

Where to stay: Hotel Desertica , a marvelous oasis, or La Casa del Pueblo for great value for money

It’s almost time to pack and fly back home, but first, you’ll get to spend three days in the driest desert on the planet. Your launchpad will be the village of San Pedro de Atacama, known for its vast skies and adobe houses.

When you get there, don’t miss the chance to stroll the surroundings of the plaza. At the craft market, you can fill up your bags with keepsakes. Grab an ice cream on the go and stop by the Meteorite Museum.

Right outside San Pedro, you can visit Pukará de Quitor, a 12th-century stone fortress that overlooks the desert.

It’s out in the open, however, that’ll you discover the area’s most stunning sights. Highlights include the many lagoons peppered across the Atacama. In some, like Cejar Lagoon, you can go for a swim. Others, like Chaxa, are ideal for spotting flamingos.

The Tatío Geysers are another impressive attraction near San Pedro. On your way there, you’ll see the adorable Machuca village and splash in the Tatío hot springs.

At night, Atacama has prime sky visibility, so going stargazing here is a one-of-a-kind experience. Speaking of outer space, you should also take a tour of the alien-like Moon Valley , where you’ll be treated to a mesmerizing sunset after a mild hike.

San Pedro is actually quite close to Bolivia , so crossing the border to tour natural wonders like Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve or even the Uyuni Salt Flats is a fantastic idea if you can afford the time.

Cane-shaped Chile may seem small, but you’ll need more than a week in the country to cover the main attractions in the lush central regions and in the rugged north.

10 days in Chile should be enough time to do just that. If you’re lucky to have a few extra days there, though, make sure you include either legendary Easter Island or the majestic Torres del Paine peaks in your itinerary.

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The best places to visit in Chile, from urban glam to natural highs

Aug 26, 2023 • 7 min read

Plan your Chile itinerary while strolling the streets of Santiago © Lucy Valdes / Getty Images © © Lucy Valdes / Getty Images

With the soaring Andes to the east, the pounding Pacific to the west, Patagonian fjords down south and an immense desert up north, Chile is the kind of diverse natural playground that adventure lovers dream about.

Yet, this thin South American country also boasts vibrant cities, enigmatic islands and rolling vinelands dotted with world-class wineries. Below, we look at the 10 spots you won’t want to miss.

1. San Pedro de Atacama

Best place to access the Atacama desert 

When the green oasis of San Pedro appears on the otherwise barren horizon of the Atacama Desert it feels, at first, almost like a mirage. Then, as you begin to navigate the narrow streets of this small adobe village, you realize that those spindly chañar trees hide the kind of resort town travelers dream about, catering as much to well-heeled jetsetters as it does to scruffy backpackers.

Just beyond San Pedro are lunar-like valleys, snow-capped volcanoes, soaring sand dunes, ancient rock art, steamy hot springs and flamingo-filled lagoons. You could spend an entire week here and never run out of activities. Those who like to tick off superlatives can’t miss the world’s loftiest geysers  and largest ground-based astronomy facility .

Local tip:  Always be sure to plan your excursions with the altitude in mind, saving attractions higher up in the Andes (like the El Tatio geysers) for your final days.

2. Rapa Nui (Easter Island)

Best place to learn about Polynesian culture

This tiny volcanic outcrop in the middle of the vast Pacific has an outsized reputation around the world thanks to the 887 monolithic human statues (known as moai) that guard its azure shores. The mystery of how the ancient Rapa Nui people were able to build and move such massive structures has fascinated travelers for decades.

Yet, the island is more than just an open-air archeology museum. You can spend an evening listening to Polynesian music at a local dance show, snooze under the palm trees at Anakena Beach and dine on tuna ceviche at the restaurants in Hanga Roa – all of which are perfectly aligned for tangerine sunsets over the Pacific.

Local tip: Three days is the absolute minimum amount of time you'll need to see everything. It's far more recommended that you stay up to a full week to not only see the archeological sites but also snorkel, swim and enjoy the Polynesian culture.

3. Santiago

Best place to go to a party

Chile’s frenetic capital is a cultural powerhouse whose historic center is filled with world-class museums , stately theaters and palm-lined plazas. Key neighborhoods for travelers include Barrio Yungay (for street art), Barrio Italia (for shopping), Lastarria (for strolling), Providencia (for sleeping) and Vitacura (for dining). Come nightfall, neighborhoods like Bellavista and Barrio Brasil explode with energy as Chileans party until sunrise at clubs blasting everything from Latin trap to K-pop, EDM and Reggaeton. 

Santiago makes a great base as there’s plenty to do within an hour of city limits. You can raft whitewater in Cajón del Maipo , swirl Cabernet in the Maipo Valley or snowboard at some of the biggest (and best!) ski resorts in the Southern Hemisphere.

Local tip: LGBTIQ+ travelers should head to Bombero Núñez street, which is lined in bars, clubs and performance venues where drag queens entertain into the wee hours of the night. When going out to dance, don't even think about showing up before midnight! 

Best place to hike and ski a volcano

When it comes to adventure-filled outdoor fun, few places can match Chile's breadth of options – this woodsy resort village in Chile’s Lake District is one of South America’s most alluring adventure hubs. Those with a head for heights can strap on crampons and climb to the top of an active volcano or strap on boots and ski back down it. Abandon urban stresses and hike until you're amid ancient araucaria trees on an Andean hilltop or bathe in a hot spring tucked into a temperate rainforest. Hire a kayak and paddle yourself across an emerald lake to a remote cabin or raft down raging whitewater towards a craft brewery. Located in the spiritual heartland of the Mapuche, it’s also the best place to learn about the culture of Chile’s largest Indigenous group.

5. Valparaíso

Best place for sweeping views and street art

This scrappy seaport west of Santiago has a way of capturing travelers’ hearts (and upending onward travel plans). Maybe it’s the sweeping views you get from hotels and hostels that cling off the edge of the city’s 42 hills? Perhaps it’s the narrow lanes of Unesco-listed architecture, which are covered in prismatic street art? Or could it be the 100-year-old funiculars, which transport visitors up into the clouds? Whatever the reason, Valparaíso has an unkempt charm that can become oddly addicting.

Local tip: Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepción are the safest and nicest hills to use as a base for exploring Valparaíso. They're also the most colorful with some of the city's most extravagant murals. 

Best place to get away from it all

Are you rich in time and patience? The remote region of Aysén offers the kind of untouched landscapes and clock-stuck towns that are vanishing elsewhere on earth. There’s only one real road here, the Carretera Austral, and a lot of it remains unpaved, particularly the further south you tread. At points, there is no road at all and you must instead drive onto a car ferry. That’s the tradeoff of visiting the lesser-seen Patagonia, but the rewards are many: vast mountain ranges, deep fjords, loamy rainforests and huge ice fields of glistening glaciers.

7. The Colchagua Valley

Best place for wine

No wine region in Chile can compete with the star power (and tourism infrastructure) of the Colchagua Valley . Centered around the small city of Santa Cruz, about three hours south of Santiago, it boasts dozens of high-end resorts, fine dining restaurants and, of course, vineyards – all catering to international wine lovers. The wineries themselves are true works of art ranging from grand colonnaded estates to ambitious glassine tasting rooms stuffed with million-dollar paintings. Red wines such as Carmenere and Cabernet Sauvignon shine in Colchagua, though most places also serve whites from their vineyards near the Pacific Coast. 

Best place for mythology and ghost stories

Ever heard of a potato? Of course you have. Well, the common spud actually traces its origin to this peanut-shaped island off the coast of northern Patagonia. Culinary travel based around the island’s prismatic native potatoes thrives in the island’s capital, Castro, which is also known for its colorful stilt homes (called palafitos).

But everyone's favorite carb isn't the only reason to visit. You can also hike on coastal trails to remote beaches, seek out Unesco-listed wooden churches or dive into the island’s unique mythology of ghost ships and forest gnomes.

9. Parque Nacional Torres del Paine

Best place for hiking

Search the internet for images of Patagonia and half of them will be from this one national park in southern Chile, whose iconic granite spires have come to represent the entire region. Most visit to either hike along the five-day W Trek or sleep in one of the park’s luxurious all-inclusive adventure lodges, which offer daily guided excursions. With massive glaciers, turquoise lakes and the highest concentration of pumas anywhere on earth, you can spend days here and never run out of places to explore.

Local tip: To get off the beaten path, intrepid hikers should consider doing the  Dientes Circuit on nearby Isla Navarino instead of the W Trek. This remote 5-day 53km (33-mile) route is the southernmost hiking circuit in the world.

10. The Elqui Valley

Best place for stars and pisco

This fertile valley on the southern fringe of the Atacama Desert is the epicenter of Chile’s pisco industry, with a half-dozen distilleries where you can learn about the nation’s revered brandy (as well as toss back a few sours). There are also craft breweries and boutique wineries where you can stock up on supplies for sun-drenched picnics alongside the Elqui River. Come nightfall, this International Dark Sky Sanctuary boasts some of the clearest skies on earth. Several hotels offer glass roofs and telescopes so you can probe the night skies just as some of the world’s top astronomers do in the Valley’s multimillion-dollar observatories.

Local tip: At between 1650 and 2206 meters (5413-7237ft) above sea level,   Viñedos de Alcohuaz is one of Chile's highest-altitude wineries. It produces some truly experimental (and spectacular) bottles, and has a Bond-like underground tasting room.

This article was first published Oct 13, 2021 and updated Aug 26, 2023.

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Groovy Mashed Potatoes - Travel Blog

Unique travel experiences, fun itineraries & offbeat places to help you plan your dream trip

Ultimate 2 Week Chile Itinerary for the Adventurer

Stunning diverse landscapes cover Chile all the way from the North to the South. Our 2 week Chile itinerary takes you through four regions: the wild south of Patagonia in Torres Del Paine National Park, the bohemian port city of Valparaiso, the mystical Elqui Valley where mountains are covered in cacti, and lastly to the Atacama Desert, considered one of the best places in the world for stargazing. Your 2 weeks in Chile will be filled with adventure!

Ultimate 2 Week Chile Itinerary

Day 1: Santiago

We stayed in Santiago for two nights but were underwhelmed by the capital city and recommend saving days for other exciting parts of Chile. Once you arrive in Chile get a good nights rest in a hotel close to the airport to prepare for your flight to Patagonia the next day.

Day 2: Puerto Natales

Puerto Natales is the main hub and closest city to Torres Del Paine National Park. It's just a 2 hour drive away from the park entrance. We loved the cute port city and were surprised by the variety of quirky restaurants, bars and cafes in the area. The first day in the city will be your preparation day before going into the park.

To get to Puerto Natales from Santiago, you will have to take a 3-hour flight. Our flight left at 11 AM and we had no problem preparing everything for our trek the next day. Make sure you book your flight far in advance, as it books up fast.

You don't have to do a multi-day hike to see the famous three towers in Torres Del Paine National Park. You can do a day hike and camp or stay at a hotel at the base of the park. You will need to purchase your bus tickets and any hiking snacks in Puerto Natales the day before you leave, as well as pick up your camping equipment if you're renting anything such as a tent, sleeping bags etc.

Where to stay in Puerto Natales

Hostal treehouse.

Toore Patagonia

Where to eat in Puerto Natales

Best for lunch: Cafe Artimana

Cafe Artimana offers hearty Chilean cuisine. They have stellar reviews, with a 5-star rating on TripAdvisor. I ordered the homemade vegetable gnocchi and Ari the salmon salad. Both did not disappoint. The environment was warm with a cozy artistic decor and great music.

Best for an intimate dinner: Aldea

Aldea has delicious local food, which changes frequently on their blackboard. The high quality dishes, wine selection and intimate setting make for a fabulous evening. We ordered the ceviche and lamb with a glass of red Chilean wine. The owner had great wine recommendations.

Best value dinner: La Guanaca

If you want something easy to have back your hotel, pick up a delicious wood-fired oven pizza at La Guanaca.

Days 3-4: Torres Del Paine National Park

Today you will arrive in the beautiful and rugged Torres Del Paine National Park, where you can hike up to the famous Three Towers of Paine. Once you ascend 750 m to the Towers Lookout, you are rewarded with spectacular views of the three granite towers behind a blue glacial pool.

Prepare for the weather, as it's extremely windy and you could have a blizzard come through at any moment. The best time to hike in Torres Del Paine is from November-March when it's summertime.

To hike to the Three Towers, there are three ways to go about your itinerary:

Option 1: camp in Torres Del Paine National Park

• Take the 7 AM bus to the Amarga entrance at Torres Del Paine National Park.
• There is a shuttle that leaves from Amarga to Las Torres Hotel where you start your hike.
• Hike up to the Towers Lookout and drop off your camping gear at the Chileno refugio along the way. We rented our gear from Rental Natales.
• Hike back down to Chileno and camp there over night. Chileno has a lodge you can eat at. The total hike for the day is about 13 km with a 750m ascent and 400m descent. It will take you around 7 hours.
• The next day hike the 5 km back down to Los Torres Hotel. From there, take the shuttle to Amarga and the bus back to Puerto Natales for the night.

Option 2: stay in a hotel in Torres Del Paine National Park

• Organize transfer with your hotel to get from Puerto Natales to the hotel.
• Spend the rest of the day relaxing and taking in the views at the hotel.
• Do the day hike to the Towers Lookout early the next morning. Your hotel will shuttle you to the start of the hike. The total hike is about 18km (750 m ascent, 750 m descent) and will take you 8-9 hours.
• Spend another night at your hotel and arrange transfer to the airport the next day.

Option 3: organize a day trip with a guided tour

If you don't want to stress about logistics like transportation or hiking directions, organize a day trip with a guided tour.

Extension options: If you're able to extend your 2 weeks in Chile we recommend doing the 5 day W Trek in Patagonia. Read our comprehensive 5 Day W Trek itinerary for more info.

Days 5-7: Valparaiso

You don't want to miss seeing the less travelled city of Valparaiso. The bohemian city was a thriving port and "Jewel of the Pacific" in the late 19th century, until a massive earthquake struck in 1906 and the Panama Canal was completed in 1914. Wealthy families abandoned the city and it underwent 100 years of decline.

Valparaiso became the Berlin of Chile attracting artists, creatives, writers, and poets. It's filled with street art, contemporary art galleries, fascinating architecture and quirky hillside cafes and bars.

Located an hour west of Santiago, it is an easy drive from the Santiago airport. Renting cars in Chile is easy and the roads are great to drive on.

Where to stay in Valparaiso

Breakfast was included and had a good spread with banana smoothies and avocado toast. We enjoyed sitting in chairs made out of old free-standing bathtubs for breakfast and drinking wine with the owner up on the rooftop patio in the evening. The hotel doesn't accept check in past 10 PM, so plan your flight accordingly!

Fun things to do in Valparaiso

• Take the funicular up the hills and walk down to explore different neighbourhoods
• Explore Concepcion neighbourhood, filled with quirky cafes, restaurants and art galleries. It was our favourite area.
• Walk up Cumming street, starting from the bottom. This is where you can find tons of live music bars and restaurants - pick your choice of music and enjoy! Most restaurants open late in the evening at 8:00 PM.
• Cook your own private dinner on the balcony of your room at the Winebox Hotel
• Have cocktails up on the rooftop of Winebox hotel

Day 8-10: Elqui Valley

Road trip time! If you have a rental car you can either drive 6.5 hours to Pisco, Elqui from Valparaiso or you can drive back to Santiago, take a quick 1 hour flight to La Serena and pick up another rental car for the 1.5 hour drive into the Elqui Valley. We chose the latter to limit our driving time.

The relaxed and sunny drive from La Serena Airport to Pisco Elqui was one of the most beautiful drives we've ever done. We had never seen so many cacti or rather, mountains covered in cacti in our lives. It was exciting driving through the "route of the stars" to the quaint town of Pisco Elqui. The area is famous for its astro tourism and production of Pisco, a type of brandy used to make one of our favourite cocktails, the Pisco Sour.

Where to stay in Pisco Elqui

It's worth splurging for the Aire cabana. It sits at the very top of the hill and has a large terrace overlooking the mountains with sunbeds for star gazing. It felt very private. The cabana is spacious with high ceilings and four large skylights. Service was impeccable and we were welcomed with a refreshing Pisco Sour on arrival. Each morning the hotel staff brought breakfast to our patio outside, which included eggs, fresh fruit juice, cold cuts meats, cheese, bread, avocado, and five different types of sliced fruit!

Pisco is the perfect place for relaxation and introspection. We spent our time admiring the view and stargazing on our terrace, swimming in the pool and cooking on our private BBQ. It was a wonderful place to connect with nature. The town of San Pedro has a couple small grocery stores and a cute market where you can shop for local goodies. I bought a pair of earrings.

Pisco Tours

When one is in Pisco, one must go on a Pisco tasting tour! We went on a Pisco tour at the Mistral Pisco Distillery , which cost 6,000 CLP per person ($9 USD). It included a tour of their vineyard and how they produce Pisco, two tastings, and a monogramed Pisco glass. We enjoyed drinking Pisco Sours afterwards on their large outdoor terrace and eating fresh ceviche.

Day 11-14: Atacama Desert

The mountainous landscape of the Atacama Desert was like nothing we had ever seen before. It felt like we were on Mars. It was completely barren with not even one tree or cactus. We can see why NASA tests rovers here!

The night sky was what we were the most excited for. The arid desert conditions and altitude make it arguably the best place in the world to see the stars and galaxies. The stars seemed closer, almost like you could touch them, and they were vibrant in colour and brightness.

When we were flying in, we noticed it was raining and thought that was strange since the area only gets 15 mm of rain each year! We soon learned there was a rare flash flood blocking the only road to San Pedro de Atacama and flooding the town! San Pedro de Atacama is the main hub for tourist attractions, so everything was closed for the next week.

Amazing things to do in the Atacama Desert

Visit the paranal obervatory to see the very large telescope.

We were fortunately still able to visit one of our 'most excited to see' attractions located in the southwest: The Very Large Telescope. We had a childhood dream come true by visiting the Paranal Observatory , home of the largest telescope on earth.

Not only did we get to see the telescope and where the astronomers work, we got to see their famous residence featured in the movie, James Bond Quantum Solace! Even better, the tour is free. Space is limited since they only run tours on Saturdays. Make sure to book well in advance!

Visit The Hand of the Desert at sunset

The Hand of the Desert is a 11 meter high sculpture on the way to the Paranal Observatory and is worth a visit. It was created by the awarded Chilean artist, Mario Irarrázabal in 1992 and is free!

Take day trips from San Pedro De Atacama to see incredible landscapes

Go on a stargazing tour.

Don't forget to add a stargazing tour to your itinerary. We booked a stargazing tour with Atacama Desert Stargazing by Jorge , a LuxuryTravelGuide award winner for Unique Experience of the Year in 2016 that we had to sadly cancel due to the flooding. We were sad to miss out on seeing the night sky with a telescope. Make sure you plan your visit around the new moon, so you have the best view of the stars possible. A lot of stargazing tours don't open during a certain period around the full moon due to the visibility of the stars.

Enjoy an incredible 2 weeks in Chile!

Get started on booking your trip to Chile

• 🌃 Book your accommodation: Booking.com is our go-to for finding places to stay. Sort by top reviewed.
• 🚗 Reserve your car rental: see Rentalcars.com to compare car rental prices across different companies.
• 🤠 Guided tours: browse fun outings through Viator or GetYourGuide .
• 🛫 Book your flight: use Skyscanner to compare flights across different airlines (we recommend booking direct with the airline however).

Planning a trip to South America? Check out our travel guides to Argentina, Peru and Rio De Janeiro!

• Argentina: one week itinerary for the foodie and wine lover
• Brazil: 10 non-touristy things to do in Rio De Janeiro
• Peru: hiking the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu

See what it was like in our Chile vlog:

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Looking for more travel inspiration? Check out our list of Fun Adventure Ideas and list of Cultural Travel Experiences to inspire your next trip.

Are you a food lover? Don't miss our list of Outstanding Culinary Experiences Around the World .

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Chile in 10 Days: The recommended itinerary

This post is also available in: Español

• 1 Day 1 Santiago de Chile
• 2 Day 2: Viña del Mar
• 3 Day 3 and 4: Puerto Montt
• 4 Day 5: Punta Arenas
• 5 Day 6: Puerto Natales
• 6 Day 7 and 8: Torres del Paine
• 7 Day 9 and 10: Easter Island
• 8.1 Related posts:

Can you visit Chile in 10 days? It may seem like a short time to visit a whole country, but many times you can’t decide how long your vacation will last. So instead of staying in your comfort zone watching the days go by, we want to show you that everything is possible when the adventurous spirit takes over.

In this article you will find the perfect way to visit Chile in just 10 days , emphasizing what you can’t miss, from the capital Santiago de Chile to Torres del Paine and its trek W . Although we also have a little surprise at the end, in case you have more time to visit this Latin American country. Let’s go there!

Day 1 Santiago de Chile

The gateway to the country is usually the Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport in Santiago de Chile. As the nation’s capital, it is obvious that you should visit it, since its streets are home to the most important historical sites. In addition, there are a large number of museums where you can learn about Chile’s past, as well as the most important artistic pieces from all over the country.

If you have to start with a place, let it be the historic center of the city. The main meeting point in the area is usually the Plaza de Armas , where we find special buildings such as the Metropolitan Cathedral or the National Historical Museum .

Since we are in the center, it is not out of place to visit the Palacio de la Moneda . Although our route through Santiago has been limited to the historic center, it is time to leave it to visit two charming neighborhoods in the city: Lastarria and Bellavista . In the latter we can access the viewpoint of San Cristobal Hill , from where you can have exquisite views of the capital of Chile.

Day 2: Viña del Mar

You may have noticed in your travel guide that Santiago de Chile has no sea. No problem, because just an hour and a half from the capital we can go to the coastal town of Viña del Mar , which has a lot of tourist attractions.

We will approach the coast visiting the Concón dunes , a unique natural phenomenon located north of the city. Very close to them is the Cochoa beach , perfect for our first swim in Pacific waters if the weather is good.

Returning to the center of the city, we cannot miss a visit to the Wulff castle , a British building by the sea dating from 1905, which is now considered a National Historic Monument of Chile.

Then we can take a walk through the Quinta Vergara park , to admire one of the best kept gardens in the country and visit such emblematic places as the Vergara Palace or the amphitheater, where if you are lucky you may see a concert.

In the afternoon we return to the capital, to take the plane to our next destination.

Day 3 and 4: Puerto Montt

That destination is Puerto Montt. And if you visit Chile you cannot miss one of the most spectacular regions of the country, which is also the gateway to the Chilean Patagonia .

This area is called the Lake District , since around Puerto Montt there are large bodies of water that, surrounded by the Andes Mountains, form one of the most beautiful landscapes in Chile.

The most visited is usually the Todos los Santos Lake , framed in the Vicente Perez Rosales National Park. In this park there are also some of the most important volcanoes in Chile, the main one being the Ossorno volcano. Here we will spend the whole day enjoying the most popular activity in the area: hiking.

For our fourth day in Chilean lands we can go to Puerto Vara s, which is directly on the shore of Lake Llanquihue , the largest lake in the region. A highly recommended option is to take a tour that gives us a walk around the lake, as it is the best way to enjoy its immensity. In the afternoon, we will be back at the airport to travel to our next stop in this 10-day visit to Chile.

Day 5: Punta Arenas

Do you want to have the feeling of being in one of the most remote places on the planet? Well, traveling to Punta Arenas is the best way to get it, as we enter the Strait of Magellan , one of the southernmost points of the planet.

A good place to learn about the history of this place is the regional museum of Magallanes. With our adventurous spirit we will visit our next destination, Magdalena Island .

On a 3-hour boat trip, you will be able to admire the most famous inhabitants of the area: the Magellanic penguins . On the way you will also be able to see Sei whales, southern dolphins, sea lions and many more species that only inhabit this remote area of the planet.

Back in Punta Arenas, we will rest and travel the next morning to one of the most interesting points of this route.

Day 6: Puerto Natales

Welcome to Puerto Natales ! This city is the gateway to one of the most fascinating places in all of Chile. After the bus trip by route 9 from Punta Arenas (although here we leave you an article with all the ways you have to get to Puerto Natales ), we will spend the afternoon visiting a unique natural monument.

This is the Milodon Cave . And it is not just one cave, but you will visit 3. The most important one was named after the mylodon, ancient mammals of enormous dimensions that became extinct more than 12,000 years ago. A replica of the animal at the entrance will give you an idea of what it was like, and you can admire the 30 meters high imposing cave.

Day 7 and 8: Torres del Paine

Only 60 kilometers from our previous destination is the Torres del Paine National Park , a place you must visit if you are in Chile. This place is so impressive that it would be ideal to visit it in its entirety from beginning to end. As we know that in a 10-day trip is impossible, you will have to settle for a shorter visit with the excuse of coming back. We leave you with all the tour options in Torres del Paine that you have.

The first place to go is the base of the Towers , from where you can admire the most famous postcard of the national park, with the 4 huge rocks that look like knives pointing to the sky.

But the list of natural places to visit does not stop there: Lake Pehoé, Nordensjöld, Salto Grande, the Lago Grey viewpoint or the Grey and Campos del Hielo Sur glaciers are some of the products of the Torres del Paine catalog.

Day 9 and 10: Easter Island

Our last destination on this list is one of the most famous Chilean territories worldwide: Easter Island.

This island full of mysteries has as its main attraction the moais , of which there is no need to talk about because you surely know them. There are a total of 887 distributed all over the island, and historians and researchers have not yet found an answer to how the Rapa Nui, the ancient inhabitants of the island, could have transported these great stone masses there.

As in every point of this post, we have compressed the visits to give you time in your 10-day trip, but if you have more time, we recommend a 4-day trip to Easter Island so you can enjoy it completely.

The main natural attractions of the island are the volcanoes. The Rano Raraku , which is located about 20 kilometers from Hanga Roa, the capital of the island. Others such as Rano Kau, Poike or Ma’unga Terevaka complete the curious volcanic ecosystem of the island.

You can also visit several beaches on Easter Island. It is not every day you can swim in one of the most remote places in the Pacific, so visit the beautiful beaches of Anakena and Ovahe to enjoy a different day on the island.

For your next trip

We hope this small itinerary has been useful for you if you want to visit Chile in 10 days. We have left many things out, like San Pedro de Atacama , in the north of Chile, where you can visit the famous Atacama Desert. But this is a place you can visit on another trip along with the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, or if you are going to make a trip to Chile in 15 days, and we’ll leave that for another post!

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Lily is happy with a backpack on her back. Every year she travels through one country in Latin America and has repeated several times, especially Peru where she says she feels at home (although she says the same about Argentina, Chile and Bolivia).

She loves ceviche, hiking and Sunday picnics with her friends, although whenever you ask her, she's always planning her next destination.

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Thanks for writing and sharing this trip. If you can add more details such as hotels you stayed, how you travel(drive,boat,flight), how long it take from one place to other(including time) etc so we can also follow.

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Chile Itinerary: The best of Chile in 2 weeks

This itinerary offers the best of Chile in 2 weeks. Start in the capital, Santiago, where you’ll enjoy elegant colonial architecture, bustling markets and the infamous lomito sandwich. Zip over to Valparaiso, Chile’s main port city and get lost in its colorful hilltop neighborhoods. Visit the expansive beach of Viña del Mar, also known as the “Garden City” for its lush green spaces. Then take on a variety of outdoor adventures in Pucon, from hiking to volcano climbing. Enjoy your wanders in Chile!

Santiago : 4 days + 1 travel day Valparaiso : 3 days Viña del Mar : 1 day Pucon : 3 days + 1 travel day

Days 1-5: Santiago

Santiago is an energetic, yet manageable capital that’s easy to walk around and fun to explore. In the Plaza de Armas , the city’s main social hub, get a feel for everyday life. Check out the frenetic markets of Mercado Central and  La Vega . Spend an afternoon visiting   Cerro Santa Lucia , a lovely hilltop park, or see pre-Colombian artworks and artifacts at the  Museo Chilean de Arte Precolombino . Don’t leave without trying the iconic “lomito,” an authentic Chilean sandwich. And for a memorable outing, make the scenic hike through  Parque Metropolitano de Santiago  to the top of  Cerro San Cristobal . For more details, visit our post on  Santiago, Chile .

Days 6-8: Valparaiso

From Santiago, take the short, two hour bus ride to reach Valparaiso (“Valpo.”) In “El Plan,” take in the exquisite heritage buildings and lively cafés of Plaza Sotomayor, the town’s main square. Enjoy fresh seafood at a local eatery like Restaurant Montserrat near the waterfront. Passing the walls of graffiti and the town’s infamous street art, climb up into the hills of the residential neighborhoods. Marvel at the different colored homes on picturesque streets like Pasaje Templeman and Paseo Atkinson . And enjoy a ride on one of the town’s many funiculars . For more details, visit our post on Valparaiso, Chile .

Day 9: Viña del Mar

From Valparaiso, it’s just a 15-minute bus ride to the beach city of Viña del Mar. Start off by walking through the picturesque neighborhoods up in the cerro (“hills”) before making your way to el Plan (“downtown”). Visit Museo Fonck , an archeology and history museum or just see its Moai statue on display outside the entrance. Pass by art deco landmark, Hotel O’Higgins , the oldest hotel in the city, and wander through the manicured gardens of Plaza Vergara. At the beach, walk along the boardwalk and take in the sights of sunbathers, strollers and wandering gypsies. For more details, visit our post on Viña del Mar, Argentina .

Days 10-13: Pucon

From Viña del Mar, head back to Valparaiso to take an overnight bus ride to the tiny resort town of Pucon. Arrange for an outdoor activity such as skiing, white water rafting or volcano climbing. Alternatively, take a more  Cheap and Charming approach by taking advantage of sights in and near town. Visit  La Poza , a vast woodland park along beautiful  Villarica Lake featuring a black beach made of volcanic sand. Or take a short local bus ride to Huerquehue National Park offering multiple hiking trails. For more details, visit our post on Pucon, Chile , or join us on our wanders in Uruguay:  The best of Uruguay in 2 weeks

EVERGIB Wanders

Rachel Scott Everett and Brian Gibson believe travel is an extraordinary way to feel alive. After they spent a combined 2 years backpacking around the world, they continue to seek out new adventures, ever mindful that there's always more to learn, appreciate and experience. When not wandering, Rachel and Brian are Co-Founders and Creative Directors at EVERGIB, a nomadic creative studio specializing in strategically-led advertising and branding. #WorkWanderRepeat

Bariloche, Argentina

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Chile Itineraries

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The following itineraries span the entire length of this incredibly diverse country, taking you from the icy fjords and snow-tipped mountains of the south to the fertile wine-growing valleys in the centre and parched desert and highland lagoons of the north. Given the vast distances involved, you may not be able to cover every highlight, but even picking a few from the itineraries below will give you a thrilling window onto Chile's geographical and cultural wonders.

Travel ideas for Chile, created by local experts

11 days  / from 4896 USD

Luxurious Chile - Atacama Desert & Easter Island

Explore two of Chile's extraordinary highlights: the Atacama desert with its salt flats and lagoons and Easter Island. The island is famous for its stone monoliths and source of mystery for many. Your stay will be complemented in the best hotels, making this trip even more special.

10 days  / from 2650 USD

Chile Explored: From Santiago to Torres del Paine

The vast expanse of Patagonia is home to extreme landscapes, from jagged mountains, stark glaciers, clear blue lakes, and grassy fields. You will find them all in Torres del Paine, a huge contrast to the start of the trip in the historical, bustling city of Santiago.

14 days  / from 3800 USD

Self-Drive Santiago, Wines & Lakes

Discover the beauty of Chile independently in your own rental car. Start in Santiago before heading to Pucon, Huilo Huilo and Puerto Varas. As you'll be in your own car, you can plan each day at your liking - hikes, relaxing or cultural exploration? Decide spontaneously.

13 days  / from 3180 USD

From Chile to Argentina, across the Andean Lakes

Travel from Chile to Argentina across the stunning Andean Lakes, also known as the Lakes District. Beginning in Santiago, you will travel to Puerto Varas, in Chile, and then across the lakes to Bariloche, Argentina, taking in the stunning mountain scenery, before ending your trip in Buenos Aires.

16 days  / from 5050 USD

Andean Triangle - Chile, Bolivia and Argentina

Start your South American adventure in Santiago de Chile before exploring the wonders of the Atacama desert. A short hop across the border and you'll find yourself in the middle of the Bolivian salt flat. Afterwards, you'll continue to Argentina with Salta and Buenos Aires.

13 days  / from 6800 USD

Wild Patagonia

Argentina has lots to offer its visitors: a glacier the size of a city, sizzling tango, fashionable barrios, artisan towns, ranches with horses and gauchos and wild untamed natural beauty. From Buenos Aires to Patagonia, you’ll get to see it all in this adventure-laden vacation.

Recommended Chile itineraries

If you are planning your travel to Chile yourself, use these itineraries created by our travel writers as a starting point for inspiration.

Atacama desert, Chile

Chile Itinerary 1 - The grand tour - 3 weeks

Allow at least three weeks if you wish to cover Chile from top to bottom; flying between some of the destinations will allow you to cover vast distances quickly.

1. Atacama desert

Visit erupting geysers, crinkly salt plains and emerald lakes in the morning, and deep, mystical valleys by sunset in the driest desert on earth.

2. Elqui Valley/stargazing near Vicuna

Take advantage of some of the clearest skies in Chile and look at the universe through some of the world's most powerful telescopes.

3. Santiago

Chile's rapidly evolving capital city boasts a vibrant eating out and nightlife scene, several fascinating museums, numerous cultural pursuits and a selection of excellent places to stay.

4. Valparaíso

One of South America's most enchanting cities, Valparaíso has a tangle of colourful houses, cobbled streets and bohemian hang-outs spread across a series of undulating hills overlooking the Pacific.

5. Isla Negra

Pablo Neruda's house has been turned into a beguiling museum with an evocative collection of the Nobel Prize-winning poet's kitsch and often bizarre trinkets and knick-knacks.

6. Wineries

Visit the numerous traditional bodegas around San Fernando and Santa Cruz, and sample some of Chile's finest vintages.

7. Parque Nacional Torres del Paine

Hike the trails of Chile's most popular – and most spectacular – national park or climb the granite towers that give the park its name.

Chile Itinerary 2 - Island hopping

Since you're very likely to linger on one of Chile's enchanted isles, and given some of the distances involved, allow at least three weeks for this trip.

1. Easter Island

Gazing down into the giant crater of the extinct Rano Kau volcano and visiting the magical moai at Ahu Tongariki and Rano Raraku are once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

2. Isla Robinson Crusoe

Although badly damaged by the 2010 tsunami, Isla Robinson Crusoe still has the end-of-the-world castaway feel that inspired Daniel Defoe's famous book.

Sample one of Chile's most memorable dishes, admire the palafitos (traditional houses on stilts) or hike through temperate rainforest on Chile's mist and legend shrouded island.

4. Patagonian islands

Lose yourself in this veritable maze of fjords and tiny islets by taking to the water in a sea kayak, or take a boat trip in search of the elusive blue whale.

5. Tierra del Fuego

Explore the deserted roads running through steppe and dotted with guanacos and rheas, or fish in the pristine lakes and rivers of Chile's remotest region.

6. Isla Navarino

Chile's southernmost inhabited territory (barring Antarctica), where the warmth of the locals contrasts with the harshness of the landscape.

7. Cape Horn

Fly over some of the world's most treacherous waters or brave a sailing trip to Chile's southernmost group of islands – the biggest nautical graveyard in the Americas.

Chile Itinerary 3 - The great outdoors

With the exception of the treks, all items on this itinerary are do-able as day excursions, so a couple of weeks should be sufficient.

1. Paragliding/surfing in Iquique

IIquique's perfect climate makes it one of the best places in the world to soar the skies or dance through waves.

2. Skiing at Portillo

Take to the slopes at Chile's top ski resort, famous for its powder snow and with plenty of challenges for expert skiers.

3. Parque Nacional La Campana

Follow in the footsteps of Charles Darwin by hiking up to the 1880m summit of Cerro La Campana, where you'll be rewarded by some of the best views in the country.

4. Kayaking in Parque Pumalin

Explore the maze of tiny islands in the isolated fjords of Chile's largest private nature reserve as part of a challenging multi-day expedition.

5. A boat trip around the San Rafael glacier

Take a boat trip to the ice-filled lagoon that is Chile's fastest shrinking glacier and get close to the ice in a Zodiac speedboat.

6. Trekking the Dientes de Navarino

Take up the challenge of one of South America's toughest hikes at the very end of the world.

The Rough Guides to Chile and related travel guides

In-depth, easy-to-use travel guides filled with expert advice.

Travel advice for Chile

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• Getting around Chile: Transportation Tips
• Travel Tips Chile for planning and on the go

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written by Rough Guides Editors

updated 29.12.2023

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Best of Chile Itinerary

Puerto Varas - Torres del Paine - Atacama Desert - Santiago de Chile

• Begin your 2-week trip through Chile in the north, in the surprisingly beautiful desert of San Pedro de Atacama.
• Travel south with our tours to Torres del Paine and discover the wild nature of Patagonia.
• Finish your Chile itinerary by selecting one (or more!) Of our best tours in Santiago de Chile.
• Best time to travel: October to April

Welcome to Your 2-Week Travel Itinerary to Chile - Puerto Varas

• Transfer from Puerto Montt airport to Puerto Varas – Day at leisure

Upon arrival in Puerto Montt, the lakeside gateway to Chilean Patagonia, you’ll travel by land to Puerto Varas, which is just 30 min. away. Welcome to Puerto Varas, the first stop in your 2-week travel itinerary to Chile! 

This beautiful lakeside town, better known as the “City of Roses”, is the gateway city to the Chilean Lake District, and faces the great Osorno Volcano.

First inhabited by German immigrants, Puerto Varas has kept most of its traditional architecture; wooden houses, alerce trees, and German Jesuit churches can be seen all over the place, as well as rose bushes covering every street.

On your first evening in Puerto Varas, visit the rose bushes in Plaza de Armas, or go to Parque Phillipi’s viewpoint to admire Lake Llanquihue from above, walk the different pathways inside the park, and zipline from one treetop to another in the adventure activity center of the park. 

Say Hueque Tips

• What to eat in Puerto Varas?

The gastronomy of the city is something to savor as well! Taste the “Kuchen” pie, a traditional dish of the first German immigrants, the homemade marmalades (Puerto Varas is famous for their blueberry production!), and the best-smoked salmon in the whole country.

Osorno Volcano & Petrohue Falls - Puerto Varas

• Visit Osorno Volcano and Petrohué Falls

Start the day with a pick-up at your hotel in Puerto Varas and begin your route to the town of Ensenada, visiting the enchanting Laguna Verde, Spanish for “Green Lagoon,” at the foot of Osorno Volcano within Vicente Perez Rosales National Park. From Ensenada, your ascent to the Osorno Volcano Ski Center will begin. 

Take a moment to enjoy the amazing views; the snow-capped summit of the volcano, the nearby ancient glaciers and volcanoes (like Calbuco), and the teal-colored vastness of the Pacific Ocean.   

Then, it’s time to hike in the Vicente Rosales National Park, the oldest National Park in Chile, which is known for its hot springs, and Todos los Santos Lake, one of the most crystalline lakes in southern Chile.

Near this beautiful lake, you’ll reach the Petrohúe Falls, an obligatory stop if you’re in Vicente Rosales National Park. These amazing waterfalls, formed by ancient lava traces, are surrounded by the incredible Osorno volcano and the Valdivian forest, two natural wonders of Chile that you’ll enjoy in this 2-week travel itinerary. At the end of the visit, we’ll drive you back to your hotel in Puerto Varas.   

Day at Leisure - Puerto Varas

• Day at leisure in Puerto Varas – Optional tour Paso el Solitario hike

This is your free day in Puerto Varas; you have no activities scheduled for today!

But… if you still want to get active, we recommend that you add an optional day tour to experience the “Paso el Solitario “ hike, starting at the base of Osorno Volcano.

Accompanied by your local guide, you’ll reach the base of the volcano and start a moderate-difficulty trek (called Paso el Solitario) that will last about 3 hours, crossing lush woods of native vegetation, like the Ulmo and Cohiue trees. 

Enjoy the amazing views of Osorno and Calbuco Volcanoes while walking at your own pace over an irregular, though not challenging, terrain. The valley of Petrouhúe River and Llanquihué Lake (the second largest in Chile) will suddenly appear in the picture, and you’ll make a stop to eat your boxed lunch in the wild. Finally, reach the lava fields left by the last eruption of Osorno Volcano. At the end of the trail, we’ll be waiting to take you back to Puerto Varas.

Bike City Tour - Puerto Natales

• Transfer to Puerto Varas airport – Transfer to your hotel in Puerto Natales

Today, you’ll fly to Puerto Natales on Patagonia Chilena, the gateway city to the famous Torres del Paine National Park, one of the most important natural preserves in the world. You’ll be transferred from your hotel in Puerto Varas to your hotel upon arrival in Puerto Natales.

• Bike city tour in Puerto Natales

To discover the city, you will explore it actively. Join your biking group at the meeting point downtown and meet your guide for the following 3 hours. Ride along beautiful streets, and spot important monuments. Continue to the renewed waterfront,  and reach the Braun Blanchard Pier. Finally, visit the famous Arturo Prat main square and dig into the culture of Puerto Natales.

Day at Leisure - Puerto Natales

• Optional tour to Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers

You have no tour scheduled for this day, but Balmaceda and Serrano’s navigation is our recommendation! Take a fully-equipped boat to sail the Last Hope Channel for about 3 hours.

See different natural highlights from your boat (like a hidden waterfall) while enjoying a hot coffee on board. Spot wildlife like the toninas (Magellanic dolphins), and seal lions in Punta Lobos.

Reach El Toro Port and entrail a 1-hour guided hike through forest and lagoonshore to Serrano Glacier. End the day with a tasty Patagonian lunch and a whiskey toast in Perales Ranch. Finally, return to Puerto Natales.

Day-Trip to Torres del Paine National Park

• Full-day trip to Torres del Paine National Park

Today we’ll pick you up early at your hotel to take you to the first stop of this 10-hour adventurous trip: Milodon Cave. This natural monument, located 15 miles north of town, is composed of three caverns and a rocky conglomerate called Silla del Diablo (Devil’s Chair), due to its chair-like shape.

Before getting to the cave, we will pass by La Silla del Diablo and learn about its mysterious legend…a story told by the oldest man in Patagonia who believed that the Devil appeared to those who came to look for him on nights.

We’ll keep on traveling to Torres del Paine National Park, and on the way, you’ll get to see Sofia Lagoon, Prat Range, Porteño Lake, and the stunning Grey Lake viewpoint. You’ll go over Serrano Bridge and continue to the Grey Lake sector, where you’ll have time to walk along the shore. Once you return to the parking lot, we’ll take you to a restaurant to rest and have lunch (lunch is not included in our service).

After lunch, we’ll head to the Salto Grande sector. You’ll visit the Nordenskjold Lake viewpoint before continuing on a sinuous route to the Amarga Lagoon area. We’ll also make a stop at Paine’s turquoise waterfall, whose waters come directly from the Paine River.

Heading back to Puerto Natales, we’ll stop at Sarmiento Lake viewpoint to take one last picture of the stunning Torres del Paine.

Continue Your Travel Itinerary to Chile - Santiago de Chile

• Transfer to Puerto Natales airport

Today, a shuttle will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Puerto Natales airport,  where you’ll catch your flight to Santiago, the modern and vibrant capital of Chile.

• One-night stop in Santiago de Chile

This is only a stop in your journey! You’ll spend this night at our selected hotel inside the airport (walking distance from the disembarking area) because tomorrow you’ll fly to Calama, the gateway to San Pedro de Atacama, the jumping-off city to visit the Atacama Desert, the driest place on Earth.

Cejar Lagoon Tour - Arrive at San Pedro de Atacama

• Flight to Calama and transfer to your hotel in San Pedro de Atacama

After breakfast, take your flight to Calama where, upon arrival, you’ll be driven to your accommodation in San Pedro de Atacama, just 2 hours away.

This city of little adobe houses, unpaved streets, and cozy restaurants, is the base to begin exploring one of Chile’s most spectacular environments. You are beginning an adventurous journey that involves multicolored moon-type landscapes, incredible geysers, and huge volcanoes!

• Visit Cejar and Tebenquiche Lagoons

In the afternoon, take your first tour in Atacama and visit the Cejar and Tebenquiche Lagoons, inside the great Atacama Salt Flats, where you’ll be able to bathe in their clear turquoise waters with an amazing volcano backdrop.

Then, step into the heart of the salt flats and visit the “Ojo del Salar” (Salt Flats’ Eyes), two round freshwater wellsprings in the middle of the desert, where you’ll enjoy a delicious appetizer next to the impressive Andes Mountain Range.

At the end of this relaxing trip, we’ll drive you back to San Pedro de Atacama to enjoy the rest of the evening eating a pastel de choclo (a corn-based cake) at one of the cozy restaurants on Caracoles Street (the main road). Be bold in this secluded corner of the globe, and mingle with locals while you explore on the unpaved roads.  

San Pedro de Atacama is also one of the best places to stargaze in the whole world. From this altitude, you’ll see the clearest skies of your life. Make sure you don’t waste the opportunity and get out there to chase some starlight!

Visit the Highland Lakes - San Pedro De Atacama

• Discover the Highland Lakes

Today, you’ll travel 40 miles to the north of Atacama Salt Flats, one of the most exciting destinations in your travel itinerary to Chile! Start the day by visiting the Chaxa Lagoon, one of the best places to see flamingos inside the natural reserve. Discover the salt crusts, produced by the evaporation of water, which cover the land from North to South as you move your way through the desert to reach the Highland Lakes, at an altitude of 14,000 feet.

Miscanti and Miñiques, better known as the Highland Lakes, are two neighboring lagoons formed by the eruption of the Meñique Volcano, which can be seen in the background of these pristine waters. Take a lovely picture next to the Meñique Lagoon, which is shaped like a giant blue heart!

Continue your journey by visiting the village of Socaire, where you can taste the best Atacamenian cuisine, and the town of Toconao, an oasis in the middle of the Atacama Desert. Fruits and vegetables grow freely in this village which is made entirely from volcanic stone (known as ‘liparita’ stone). After exploring these interesting examples of the culture of Atacamenians, we’ll drive you back to San Pedro de Atacama.   

Tatio Geysers and Moon Valley - San Pedro de Atacama

• Visit Geysers del Tatio geothermal fields

This morning, you’ll see two highlights of the Atacama region: Geysers del Tatio and The Moon Valley. This is a full-day experience and your last day in Atacama!

First, you will travel to where the crevices of the Earth exhale their millenary breath. At about 4 a.m., we’ll pick you up to take you 60 miles away from San Pedro de Atacama into the Andes to see the geothermal field of Geysers del Tatio (the highest in the world).

Here, you’ll see 40 geysers and 70 hot springs fighting against the super low temperatures of the first morning hours (their waters can reach up to 185 °F). Take the most impressive photos, swim in the Tatio Spring’s rich mineral waters, and enjoy a complete breakfast with this magnificent backdrop.

On your way back, visit the quaint village of Machuca (at 13000 f.o.s.l), with barely 20 adobe houses and a traditional church that locals visit daily to ask the Virgin to give them water. This is the perfect opportunity to get closer to the inner mountain culture of the region, and to try one of the best sopaipillas in Chile (a fried tortilla)!

• Visit to Moon Valley in the afternoon

In the afternoon jump on a 4-hour adventure in the Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley), an out-of-this-world place. Driving straight to the desert, we’ll start noticing mysterious forms of salt and clay as we get closer to the “Three Marias”.

These statues are the female guardians of this cosmic desert, so don’t forget to bow and make a wish for these beautiful monuments.  The Atacama Desert is one of the world’s driest and most hostile zones.

After this first encounter, take a winding and hidden path to the Salt Caves, and discover the peculiar salt gemstones that have formed over centuries from the lack of humidity and the altitude of this zone.

The highlight of your adventure will appear at sunset when all the colors of this incredible landscape change their palette. The forbidding Licancabur Volcano will turn pink while the valley awaits the rise of its lunar mother. After the excursion, you will be dropped off in downtown Atacama, and from there you can make your way back to your hotel on your own. 

Continue Your Travel Itinerary to Santiago - Santiago de Chile

• Transfer to Calama airport / Transfer to your hotel in Santiago

Today we’ll take you to Calama airport for your flight to Santiago, the bustling capital of Chile. Upon arrival, you’ll be driven to your accommodation for the next 3 days.

Between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, this modern city offers all kinds of attractions for curious travelers. From different viewpoints in the city, you can see the natural beauties surrounding Santiago; the snow-capped mountains, and the beautiful Valle del Maipo, where the best Chilean wine is produced.

Santiago de Chile is known as the home of Pisco Sour, the delicious Cabernet Sauvignon, and the “Sanhattan” district, which is a stylish fusion between Manhattan and Santiago,  and heaven on earth for enthusiastic shoppers.   

• What can you do on your first day in Santiago de Chile?

Enjoy your first evening in the city by visiting two of the most interesting places in Santiago: the Santa Lucía Hill, a famous downtown garden from where you’ll have the best views over the city. Visit a museum that used to be the home of Pablo Neruda, the famous Chilean writer. Wander the streets of the most bohemian and colorful district in Santiago, passing by its traditional cafes, restaurants, and pubs, and take the gondola to reach San Cristobal Hill, another highlight of the city.

Viña del Mar & Valparaiso Tour - Santiago de Chile

• Full-day visit to Viña del Mar and Valparaiso

Today, we’ll pick you up from your hotel and take you on a full-day visit to Valparaíso, the most important port of Chile. Why visit Valparaiso? This unforgettable city, constructed on the steep slope of a hill, was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and shows off the unique art and culture of Chile.

Starting in Plaza Victoria, covered by Peruvian sculptures, we’ll continue to explore downtown and Plaza Sotomayor, until finally reaching the Prat port. From there we’ll take our first gondola of the day and head to the beautiful Palacio Baburizza, constructed in 1916. Pass by the colorful houses that stare down from above the city and the bay, and descend once again by taking another gondola. 

Leaving Valparaiso, we’ll head to Viña del Mar, the favorite Chilean summer vacation destination. Enjoy a relaxing evening walking on the coast and the pier which extends into the Pacific Ocean, and visit the beautiful “Reloj de Flores”, a giant clock that is entirely made of flowers. At the end of the day, we’ll drive you back to your hotel in Santiago de Chile. 

Day at Leisure - Santiago de Chile

• Day at leisure – Optional visit to a winery

You don’t have any scheduled activities for today… but, we recommend that you keep on exploring! Santiago de Chile is an exciting city, full of history and architectural treasures.

If you want to add an optional day tour, we highly suggest that you take a full day to explore Santiago de Chile and tour the Concha y Toro Winery, one of the most famous wine producers in the area.

It would go like this… First, we’ll pick you up from your hotel to discover the Palacio de la Moneda (a governmental building) where Salvador Allende, the popular socialist president, killed himself just before the last military coup in 1973, and Santiago’s Cathedral, the main Catholic bastion of Chile. After finishing this urban exploration, we’ll leave the city and head to the countryside to visit a time-honored bodega (winery) called Concha y Toro (30 miles to the south). 

Wander around ancient vineyards, which have seen several generations of the Concha y Toro family, try delicious wines, and choose which is your favorite. This immersive experience will end at the wine bar, where you’ll be free to taste all the beverages you would like, and we’ll drive you back safe and sound to your hotel in Santiago.

The End of Your 2-Week Travel Itinerary to Chile

• Transfer from your hotel to Santiago de Chile’s airport

Time to go home, but not empty-handed! At the appropriate time, we’ll take you to the airport to take your flight back home.

Is there still a place that you missed visiting? Maybe a traditional dish you couldn’t taste, or a hill you couldn’t hike? Don’t fret… because we have many more trips to South America to recommend. 

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• Prices in US Dollars.
• Valid until April 2025 (ask for prices at Christmas and New Year).
• Prices are per person, based on 2 people in double occupancy. Single rates are available on request.
• Flights are not included in the price but can be arranged on request.
• 3-night accommodation in Puerto Varas
• 3-night accommodation in Puerto Natales
• 3-night accommodation in San Pedro de Atacama
• 4-night accommodation in Santiago
• Daily breakfast
• Meals according to the itinerary: Box lunch (day 6); snack (day 8); breakfast and lunch during the excursion (day 9), breakfast during the excursion (day 10).
• Transfers and tours mentioned in the itinerary
• Bilingual guide (English / Spanish)
• Torres del Paine National Park entrance fee.
• International, and domestic flights or buses
• National Park and Natural Reserves entrance fees.
• Travel / Medical Insurance –  Follow this link to get a free quote  (only available for U.S. Travelers)

ESTIMATED COST FOR THE FLIGHTS ON THIS TRIP: Local flights cost from $150 per person per segment. We offer special rates on flights for this tailor-made itinerary.

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We deeply care about our planet, just like you do. When you book with us, you’re not only fulfilling your travel dreams but also leaving a positive impact on the destination you’re about to discover. We are proud to plant 10 trees in damaged zones of Patagonia for every traveler. It feels good to do it right.  Let’s move beyond sustainable!

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Thank you and the entire team for making our trip a wonderful experience. The accommodations were terrific. The tour guide in Santiago was particularly wonderful. Can't say enough about Patagonia Camp. The staff, yurt experience and natural beauty made the camp experience truly memorable.

Thank you again

PS what a great idea to plant trees.

We’ve been home almost a week now. Hard to believe our adventure is now just a memory. But what a great one! Hats off to the two of you for your huge efforts and contributions to making our vacation such a success.

With sincere thanks, Linda

I wanted to express our gratitude for your exceptional assistance in planning our recent trip to Argentina and Chile. The experience exceeded all expectations, and we are incredibly thankful for your recommendations that played a significant role in creating lasting memories for our family.

Here are some highlights from our trip that we wanted to share: Glacial trek, Aldebaran Hotel - a unanimous favorite for its post-trek relaxation and rejuvenating massages, El Chalten hikes and the New Year's Eve dinner

We had an incredible journey, and your contributions made it truly special.

Thank you once again for your excellent planning and support. We look forward to working with you in the future.

Best regards

My brother and I had a fantastic time in Patagonia and are so grateful for everything you did to make this such an amazing trip!! The itinerary you put together for us was perfect and we especially enjoyed the Laguna de los tres hike and big ice trek on the Perito Moreno glacier. Thank you so much for squeezing us into all the activities and accommodations. We are already looking forward to coming back and I've attached a few pictures of us :).

The trip was absolutely fantastic. We had such a great time! The guides were all knowledgeable and enthusiastic and a lot of fun to spend the days with. I want to give personal recognition to the tours/groups in Buenos Aires, El Calafate, Puerto Madryn, Peninsula Valdes, and the jeep tour on day 1 of Rio de Janeiro. Thank you for your hard work and support for setting up this trip. The Vamos app is also fantastic and really helped throughout the trip!

I hope to keep in touch for any future trips!

Gracias y saludos a todos!

All very good I used you with my 14 year old in 2017. It is more money but there were a number of times we were impressed how on top of things your team and organization were. We forgot we locked up our money and passports in a hotel safe. Calmy people were contacted and a remedy was found. There was a definite feeling that you all were there, ready to help or to juist make sure things were going well. Really glad we asked to go to the coast; Valparaiso, Isla Negra and Nerudas house. Really no need to see Viña del Mar, too much hotel and vacationer feeling there, would have preferred something additional in Valparaiso. Peulla hotel Natura was wonderful, could have spent another night there, and done more than a small walk in that area. Glad we took the bus over the Andes and the lake crossing. Thanks much. All four of us loved it.

The most remarkable aspect of the expedition was, undoubtedly, the breathtaking wildlife. The landscapes were a sanctuary to an array of unique creatures. Majestic whales gracefully breached the icy waters, while adorable penguins waddled along the shores, seemingly unfazed by our presence. Observing these creatures in their natural habitat was an experience that words cannot fully capture. It's a memory that will forever be etched in my mind.

The opportunity to step foot on the untouched Antarctica was a privilege. The glaciers, the icy terrain, and the absolute stillness were both humbling and invigorating. Exploring via zodiac boats allowed us to get up close to the landscape and wildlife, providing an intimate experience of this raw, unspoiled wilderness. Thanks to every member of the crew that made this adventure an unforgettable experience!

Working with Say Hueque was great.

Everyone at the company was responsive and thoughtful, even when I sent that "emergency" message they solved my problem very fast . When I'm traveling in a foreign country, it's important to me to know that there's someone I can contact that will help me figure things out. I appreciated Say Hueque's service.

Thank you again for all of the help in planning, specially Sol and Andrea.

We had a wonderful time in the desert! If I ever plan to go to Argentina or Chile in the future, I'll be sure to contact you.

We enjoyed our trip very much

Sayhueque did an amazing job from start to finish.

You guys helped me provide my husband with a truly unforgettable experience for his 50th birthday, and I can’t say thank you enough.

Buenos Aires - Calafate - Chaltén - Ushuaia - Torres del Paine

Calafate - Chaltén - Torres del Paine - Ushuaia

North Argentina - Atacama Desert - Uyuni Salt Flats

Buenos Aires - Northern of Argentina - Santiago de Chile - Atacama Desert - Uyuni Salt Flats

El Calafate - Ushuaia - Buenos Aires - Iguazú Falls

Buenos Aires - Perito Moreno Glacier - Chaltén - Ushuaia

Buenos Aires - Puerto Madryn - Ushuaia - El Calafate - Iguazú

El Calafate - El Chaltén - Torres del Paine - Punta Arenas - Río Grande - Ushuaia

El Calafate - Torres del Paine - Bariloche - Ushuaia - Buenos Aires - Puerto Varas

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My 1-Month Chile Travel Itinerary: Visiting Northern & Central Chile

One month in Chile sounds like a long time, but when you’re talking about a country that is 4,300 kilometres in length, that’s a whole lot of ground to cover!

When we were first planning our trip to Chile I naively thought a month would be plenty of time to travel the full length of the country. I really wanted to make it all the way down to Patagonia (and beyond) and looking at a map it seemed doable; in reality, one month was barely enough time to cover half the length of the country.

Our travels primarily focused on Northern and Central Chile with a quick hop over to Easter Island , and while I may not have gotten to see the majestic mountain ranges further south, I feel like I got a pretty good taste of the country. For anyone planning a similar trip, here’s a breakdown of my month-long Chile travel itinerary :

// 2 days //

We crossed over to Arica from Bolivia by bus and used our 2 short days in the city to catch up on rest and enjoy the warm temperatures. After a few weeks braving the altitude  with cups of coca tea and woollen alpaca sweaters, we were ready to enjoy the ocean breeze and bask in the sunshine. Since Arica sits right on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, this proved to be the perfect place to unwind.

As you can probably tell from the lack of photos from Arica, we weren’t feeling particularly ambitious in terms of sightseeing, but if you are up for some exploring, you can climb El Morro de Arica , a hill that looms 110 meters over the city; visit Iglesia San Marcos , which was designed by Gustave Eiffel (yes, the same one responsible for the Eiffel Tower); or stop by Museo de Sitio Colon 10 , which is a small museum featuring 32 mummies that were excavated on site.

Another alternative is getting a taxi to drive you out to Museo Arqueologico San Miguel de Azapa , which is located 12 kilometres outside of Arica. This museum is home to some of the oldest mummies in the world!

We filled our brief visit to the city with lots of walks and foodie outings, and coincidentally ended up discovering one of the best restaurants we have ever eaten at! If you find yourself in Arica, you have to go to  El Chalan . They specialize in Peruvian food, and after eating dinner here on my first night, I ended up coming back again and again. Their shrimp risotto is to die for – so rich and creamy – and I also loved their ceviche which was made to perfection and transported me right back to Lima .

San Pedro de Atacama

// 4 days //

From there it was onwards to the Atacama Desert. The town of San Pedro is quite sleepy and there isn’t a whole lot to do here aside from enjoying the cafes , people watching in the square, and visiting the adobe church. That being said, you don’t come to San Pedro to spend your time in the town! This place is meant to be used as a base while you enjoy some really cool day trips around the desert.

Some of our favourite day trips included a sunrise tour of El Tatio Geysers , complete with a soak in the hot springs and a delicious pancake breakfast; a sunset tour of The Valley of the Moon , featuring breathtaking landscapes set aglow by the setting sun; and Sam also did a full day tour of the Altiplanic Lagoons , where he got to see white and pink flamingoes.

If you luck out with clear skies you can also consider a Stargazing Tour , where you get to spot stars, planets, and constellations using fixed telescopes. Just keep in mind that these tours are weather dependant and they tend to fill up fast.

// 7 days //

We passed through Santiago a total of 3 times on our travels through Chile – mostly to catch buses and planes. Our time in the city amounted to about a week , but in retrospect, I’d argue you can cover most of Santiago in 3-4 solid days.

First up, let’s start with the views. Santiago boasts the Andes in the horizon (and while the air can be quite smoggy!) you can still get some pretty cool panoramic views of the mountain range from either Sky Costanera or by riding the funicular to the top of Cerro San Cristobal .

I would also recommend visiting Cerro Santa Lucia , an ancient volcano turned park in the heart of the city. The hill is home to Neptune’s Fountain, Hidalgo’s Castle, and plenty of spiralling staircases and winding trails. Another option for a green escape in the heart of the city is Parque Forestal , an urban park that runs along the Mapocho River.

For the art lovers , there’s no shortage of museums including the National Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Contemporary Art , which are back to back. Or if it’s history you crave, you can choose from the National History Museum , the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art , or the Museum of Memory and Human Rights .

As for food experiences , one of our favourite dishes we tried in Santiago was the chorrillana. To me, this is the Chilean version of a Canadian gourmet poutine. Just picture a heaping plate of french fries topped off with fried onions, sausage, shaved beef, olives, eggs and just about anything you can imagine.

Visiting Valparaiso felt like floating through a rainbow. This has got to be one of the most colourful cities in the world!

Since Valparaiso is all about the street art, we started our visit by joining the Free Walking Tour to help us get familiar with the city . The tour mainly focused on  Cerro Concepción and  Cerro Alegre , where we spotted some really cool murals.

No visit to a port city would have been complete without a tour of the harbour, so we also managed to squeeze that into the schedule. We lucked out with a few unusually sunny days, so we decided to do the 30 minute tour that departs from Muelle Prat . The cost was 3,000 Chilean Pesos and we got to see giant container ships, tug boats, and navy vessels, while the guide talked about the port’s history.

Another cool place to check out in Valparaiso is La Sebastiana . This was the home of Pablo Neruda, Chile’s most famed poet and writer, and it has a pretty eclectic decor. La Sebastiana is 5 stories high and it’s quite artsy and eccentric inside. Upon admission you’ll get a headset, so make sure you turn it on to hear all about Neruda’s dress-up dinner parties where he would often go through several costume changes to stump his already inebriated guests.

Viña del Mar

// 1 day //

Since Viña del Mar is only 8 kilometres away from Valparaiso, we hopped on the metro and took the 15 minute ride out to the popular seaside resort.

We opted for a super relaxed day, so instead of ticking off attractions, we just walked along the Costanera with the sea breeze whipping in our hair, enjoyed the cool sand at the beach, and then grabbed seafood for lunch. Once again, you can probably tell we weren’t feeling particularly ambitious by the lack of photos here!

If you come with more time, you may also want to visit Wulff Castle , which is perched right by the sea; go for a walk through  Parque Quinta Vergara , one of the many parks that gives Viña del Mar its status as a Garden City; or spend an afternoon at the Museum of Archaeology and History Francis Fonck , which boasts a moai and an extensive collection of artifacts from Easter Island.

But now let’s talk about music; every year during the third week of February, Viña del Mar hosts the largest and best known music festival in all of Latin America: Festival Internacional de la Canción de Viña del Mar . They’ve had singers like Shakira, Ricky Martin, Chayanne, Marc Anthony, and Carlos Santana grace the stage, so if you’re into Latin music it might be worth planning your visit to coincide with this event (just keep in mind you’ll have to book things really far in advance!)

Easter Island

And now for one of the absolute highlights, let’s talk about the magical place that is Easter Island. I’ve already written about how you can travel Easter Island on a budget and I’m working on another massive post that breaks down my one week itinerary, but in the meantime, here’s a look at what we got up to.

Aside from seeing moai, I wanted to climb volcanoes (duh!), so on our first day on the island we walked to the outskirts of town and found the trail that leads up to Rano Kau . This extinct volcano sits on the southern tip of the island and it’s one of the coolest things I have ever seen. While you can’t set foot inside the crater – that’s a protected area – you can get some amazing views of the wetlands. Rano Kau has its own microclimate and its own vegetation which differs from the rest of the island. From here, you can continue on to Orongo Village , a stone village and ceremonial centre which is just a bit further up the road.

One of the best decisions we made on Easter Island was renting a car for a few days. This gave us the mobility and flexibility to cruise around the island wherever and whenever we wanted. We drove out to Rano Roraku to see the moai quarry, we went to Ahu Tongariki to watch the sunrise over the 15 moai, we visited  Ahu Akivi to see the only moai on the island that look out to sea, we dipped our toes in Anakena Beach , and so much more.

Add in a few travel days to get from place to place, and just like that one month was gone! We may not have made it all the way down to Patagonia like I initially wanted to, but I have to admit that our month was full of surprises. Also, this gives me an excuse to come back and explore Southern Chile another time – hopefully with more than a month to spare!

Have you travelled in Chile? What are some destinations travellers shouldn’t miss?

13 Comments

Chile looks fabulous in your pictures! I’d like to visit Santiago and Easter Island. Love the gorgeous colors captured.

Thanks, Renuka! The landscapes were a dream to photograph. 🙂

What a trip… That part of the world that is so mysterious and unknown to me… Thanks for making me dreaming while I’m in the other part of the world!! 🙂

It’s quite the opposite of bustling Hong Kong, that’s for sure! I hope you get to visit sometime, Marie.

I lived in Chile for 3 years there are so many places to see especially in the South if you like nature and hiking. Sounds like you got to see a lot though.

That’s cool! Any places you’d recommend in particular? I’d love to do some of the hiking loops around Patagonia and also make it all the way down to Punta Arenas.

What a cool trip! I feel like not enough people make it a point to visit Chile. Love the photos!

I hear ya! Aside from Patagonia, travel in the rest of the country seems quite underrated.

The Maipo Valley is a really special place – mostly because of the great wineries to tour but there’s some spectacular scenery as well. And it’s really close to Santiago!

Thanks for the tip! It sounds like the ideal day trip.

Yes, Chile is a lot bigger than it looks! There really is a lot to do. Sounds like you have a great itinerary planned out. Can’t wait to read about your adventure 🙂

Being a Chilean and from Santiago specially, all I can say is… great pictures!! I loved your post. You should’ve definitely have gone to a winery as they are top class in the world. Maybe for the next time?

Hello! Your trip looks amazing! I’ve been trying to plan a month long trip to Chile as well, but am puzzled on how much to save for the trip. Do you mind sharing how much you spent for the month?

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Wild Junket

The Perfect 2-Week Chile Itinerary

Last Updated on May 17, 2024

Explore the best of South America with an adventure-packed 2-week Chile itinerary from Chile expert, Steph Dyson . 

It feels like the traveling community is only just waking up to the possibilities of Chile. A country that, until recently, was a mere footnote in most trips around South America. Although the high cost of travel here has put off many potential visitors, it’s become increasingly hard to ignore the allure of this diverse country.

With everything from ochre-colored deserts in the north, stark mountain landscapes of the Andes south and mysterious moai statues on Easter Island , it’s fair to say that there’s a whole lot to see on a trip to Chile.  

Table of Contents

How to Travel to Chile

By rental car, stay at: solace santiago, see the moai of easter island, catch sunset at ahu tahai, stay at: hareswiss easter island bungalows, see sunrise at ahu togariki, relax on anakena beach and ahu nau nau, explore the volcanic rano raraku, visit the o’rongo ceremonial village, visit the sebastián englert anthropological museum, stay at: hotel manquehue aeropuerto santiago, fly to calama in the atacama desert, rent a car or book day tours, see sunset at laguna tebinquinche, stay at: ckuri atacama, explore el tatio geysers, visit lagunas miscanti and miñiques, explore valle de la luna and valle de la muerte, go star gazing at space, stay at: hotel tierra del fuego, stay at: yagan house.

• Stay at: EcoCamp Patagonia

Stay at: Vinnhaus

Chile itinerary day 14: santiago, further reading on chile, inspired pin it, my 2-week chile itinerary.

Let’s start with the obvious: Chile is a big country. If you flip it horizontally, Chile just about covers the entire width of the United States and you could fit three United Kingdoms inside its terrain.

If you’ve got limited time, it’s essential to plan your trip in advance. Before we look at our two-week Chile itinerary, here’s a short guide to give you an overview of travel in Chile. 

Most nationalities can travel to Chile without a visa, including citizens from US, Canada, UK and the EU. Citizens of Australia and Mexico must pay a reciprocity fee on their first entry to Chile by air. Citizens of most other countries, such as the UK or the US, do not have to pay a fee. It’s best to check your country’s ministry of foreign affairs website for updated info on visa requirements.

The most common entry point for travelers is the  Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport,  commonly referred to simply as Santiago Airport), 15km (9.3 miles) north-west of downtown Santiago. The domestic and international are the same terminal, with the international on the left and domestic on the right.

Santiago Airport is served by several non-stop international service, mainly from Europe, the Americas and Oceania. LATAM Airlines is the largest carrier and has flights from the several cities in the Americas, Sydney, Auckland, Papeete, Frankfurt and Madrid. Here’s a look at all the airlines that fly to Chile .

You can also cross overland to Chile from Argentina by bus. For example, you can easily take a bus from Punta Arena, Chile, to El Calafate in Argentina. Here’s a useful 2-week Argentina itinerary if you’re planning to travel there as well!

Book your flight to Santiago here!

How to Get Around Chile

Luckily, domestic flights are cheaper than in most other South American countries and this is often the fastest and easiest way of getting between destinations. Check out Jetsmart and Sky Airline for the cheapest fares; LATAM is more expensive but is the only company that flies to Easter Island. Search for domestic flights in Chile here. 

Bus travel is another means of exploring Chile, although distances can be long and if you’re only here for two weeks, it’s probably better to spend a little bit more on flights than spend 24 hours+ traveling between destinations.  

If you’ve got a bit more time up your sleeve, consider hiring a camper van. Soul Vans have fully-equipped campers that start from 40,000 CLP (US$60) per day and you can often get a deal if you’re travelling slightly out of peak season (December through February).

For those planning to drive, I recommend getting a local SIM card in Chile or use an international SIM card to go online and use your GPS. I used GoSim which cost me $26 for 1GB of data and it worked really well in Chile.

Book your car rental here!

Chile Itinerary Day 1: Santiago

It’s likely that you’ll arrive into Chile at the international airport in Santiago. Although this city has often found itself in the shadow of other capitals in South America (Buenos Aires, Lima and Quito mainly), Santiago is actually a really lively, European city and there’s plenty to see.

Your first stop should be the cable car up to Cerro San Cristobal (1,500 CLP = US$2.26) where beautiful views across the city await. There’s also a hiking trail that you can take up instead, although this isn’t recommended; lots of robberies have been reported on this route, so stick to the funicular.

Back in the centre of town, other top places to visit include the Plaza de Armas (the main square), a central feature of practically all South American towns and a good place to sit back and soak up santiaguino daily life, from the shoe shiners hawking business to the old men playing chess beneath the trees.

This stylish modern hotel is located right near a metro stop in the Providencia district of Santiago. It’s just steps away from an array of restaurants and shops. Providencia is an excellent spot for those who love good food and wine. Solace Santiago also has a beautiful rooftop outdoor pool with stunning  views  of the city.

Check for the latest rates.

Chile Itinerary Day 2: Easter Island

Take a transfer or taxi back to the airport for an early morning flight to Easter Island. This 163 km² island sits over 3,000 miles off the coast of Chile, but still is considered part of their territory, although the two places couldn’t feel more different.

The flight from Santiago to Easter Island takes between five and six hours each way and costs around US$500 return. When you do, you’ll be struck by the tropical heat (this is Polynesia, after all) and the sense of being almost unimaginably far from any other piece of land. This is because Easter Island is one of the most isolated places on the planet.

Many travellers are put off by the price of getting here, however, it is possible to visit Easter Island more cheaply than you might think . Renting a hire car or a bike (although the latter can be sweat-inducing) can also grant you more flexibility to explore the sites at your own pace.

Book your domestic flight to Easter Island

There’s plenty to see on this island of 887 moai , statues carved from volcanic stone that were erected on ceremonial platforms known as ahu along the coasts and, contrary to popular belief, stare back in and across the island.

The reason for this is that the statues were built to honour important community members or leaders and it was believed that when they died, their spirit would continue to watch over and protect their descendants. Read my guide on how to visit Easter Island .

The only town on the island, Hanga Roa, is surrounded by moai statues. The most famous nearby is the Ahu Tahai, a set of three restored platforms containing differently-sized statues, one of which even has “eyes” made from coral and rock and that were believed to be used during ceremonies and special festivities.

This spot is also excellent for sunset, as the sun drops below the horizon almost directly behind the largest ahu , Ahu Vai Ure, which contains five moai in varying stages of erosion.

If visiting during summer, consider heading to another ahu nearby along the coast if you want good photos; this place gets jam-packed with tourists and you might find it loses the magic a little as a result.

There are plenty of options of places to stay here, however many are very expensive, particularly if you’re travelling in January or February when it’s high season. My favourite place on the island was Hareswiss Bungalows , a set of cabins run by a Swiss expat who knows loads about the history of Rapa Nui and even runs tours. Cabins have kitchen areas and little terraces overlooking the sea; it’s about a 25-minute walk from Hanga Roa (or a short taxi journey), which makes it feel even more special and tucked away.

Check for the latest rates

Chile Itinerary Day 3: Easter Island

Wake up early the next morning and drive out to Ahu Togariki, the island’s largest set of restored moai . Numbering 15, these statues are spectacular at sunrise, when the dawn breaks right behind them (although this only happens in summer – in winter, the sun rises a little further north).

From here, head over to Anakena, a picturesque beach surrounded by coconut trees and lapped by warm waters, making it a great place to swim or sunbathe. It’s also the location of Ahu Nau Nau, a seven- moai platform, many of which are in an excellent state of preservation, meaning you can see the detailed carving of their faces and even on their backs.

There are plenty of other sites to stop at along the northern coast, although many contain moai that still lie on the floor. No one knows exactly why, but some time in the mid-1800s, the villagers began to topple the statues, leaving them face down in the earth.  

Back around towards Ahu Tongariki lies perhaps the island’s most fascinating spot: Rano Raraku, a volcanic crater that was the location of the moai quarry. It was here that the statues were carved out of the rock and you can still see many still attached to the rock and left unfinished.

There’s thought to be almost 400 moai still here and many stand upright on the flanks of the volcano, with a path winding between. You can also climb up to the edge of the crater and see even more inside. For photography, the afternoon is the best time to go.

Chile Itinerary Day 4: Easter Island

The southern coast of the island is full of fascinating destinations, the most notable of which is the O’rongo ceremonial village . To get here, you can either hike from Hanga Roa (two hours), take a tour or go by car.

O’rongo is a series of restored stone houses, half buried in the ground as a way of protecting them from the fierce winds that swirl around this headland. It was here that the Birdman Cult, a religious belief system that came into play after the toppling of the moai and the disintegration of the worship of the ancestors.

Each tribe would compete for their chief to become the tangata manu or spiritual leader of the island for the coming year and this would involve a competitor from the tribe being nominated to swim out through the surging waters to reach the islets that you can see from the village. There, they would be tasked with collecting the first-laid egg of the sooty tern, a bird that once nested here. If he successfully brought it back to the village – in one piece, of course – then his chief would win.

Just next to the village, you’ll also find Rano Kau, another volcanic crater. A number of viewpoints allow you to appreciate this impressive evidence of how Easter Island was formed – by eruptions from the three volcanoes that provided its rugged terrain.

Chile Itinerary Day 5: Easter Island

Most flights to mainland Chile depart in the early afternoon, which means you still have plenty of time to visit the P. Sebastián Englert Anthropological Museum , which has a great collection of items from across the island and explains in detail the social structure and religious belief of the Rapa Nui people and how on earth they carved and then moved the huge moai – a subject that continues to inspire debate among archaeologists and anthropologists.

Fly back to Santiago in the afternoon.

I would recommend staying near the Santiago Airport since you’ll be flying again the next morning. Hotel Manquehue Aeropuerto Santiago is the best hotel near the airport, with modern and comfortable rooms and free airport shuttles. Breakfast is included in your booking and it starts as early as 4.30am.

Check for the latest rates here

Chile Itinerary Day 6: Atacama Desert

The next morning, it’s back to the airport (you’ll know it pretty well by now!) for a flight from Santiago to Calama , an unsightly mining city in the Atacama Desert, and the springboard for trips to San Pedro de Atacama. Transfer services leave directly from the arrivals hall of the airport and take you the one and a half hours east to the town. Book your domestic flight here.

San Pedro de Atacama is best known for its picture-perfect, high-altitude landscapes. Bear in mind that it’s situated at 2,408m above sea-level and so it’s worth taking it easy for the first day or two as you get acclimatized. Many of the most interesting sights in Atacama are situated at even high altitudes.

Tours are easy enough to organise to all of the following places; the main street through the town is bursting with agencies who run pretty much the same trips for similar prices. For significant savings, visit a couple of agencies and ask for quotes for a package of tours – you’ll get money off for booking more than one from a company.

An alternative way of exploring the region – and one I personally preferred when I visited – is by hiring a car. Rental is cheapest from Calama and the added flexibility allows you to explore even the region even more easily.

Book your car rental in Chile!

On your first night in San Pedro, you should have time to hop on a tour or drive out to Laguna Tebinquinche. This salt-lined lake is a prime spot for sunset, as the fading light hues its edges with shades of pastel pink and the undulating mountains and volcanos east afford a spectacular backdrop for photos.

San Pedro has plenty of accommodation options. My favourite is by far Ckuri Atacama , a tiny little B&B built in adobe (mud bricks) and with beautiful textiles on the wall, large bathrooms and even a small, private dining space for each room. The straw roofs and terracotta-colored walls create a rustic atmosphere. Breakfast isn’t included but it comes with a fridge, plates and cutlery, so you can just prepare your own.

Book your stay here!

Chile Itinerary Day 7: Atacama Desert

Officially the highest geyser field on earth, the El Tatio Geysers are best visited at dawn. Driving here can be a little challenging (the roads aren’t well marked, so get hold of a good map or use maps.me on your phone) but it’s worth it to see the spirals of steam unfurling from the ground in the cold light of the morning.

You can walk between the different pools of boiling hot water but watch your step; a number of tourists have died or received life-threatening burns by getting too close and stepping through flimsy earth and into the water.

There are hot springs in the complex but they’re actually quite cold, as only pockets of thermal waters exist. You’re better off heading to the Termas de Puritima (Entrance is 19,500 Chilean Peso = US$29) on your way back and spending the day luxuriating in these gorgeously warm waters, which are also alleged to have healing properties.

Chile Itinerary Day 8: Atacama Desert

South east of San Pedro de Atacama and reached by an hour and a half’s drive, the pastel-blue lagoons, Miscanti and Miñiques are a pair of pretty, saline lakes where, in the surrounding puna, you’ll likely spot guanaco (wild alpaca), vizcachas (chinchilla-like rodents) and even foxes.

On the way back to San Pedro and accessed by a turn off just before the village of Toconao, Laguna Chaxa is another stunning saline lake, this time filled with flamingos. Home to all three of the species found in South America, James’s, Chilean and Andean, the lake is an important breeding ground for the birds. There’s also blinding views of the Salar de Atacama, a large salt flat.

Chile Itinerary Day 9: Atacama Desert

Just about eight kilometres west of San Pedro, Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley) is perhaps one of the region’s most famous sights. You can get there easily by bike (just remember to pack plenty of water, a sun hat and sunscreen – this is the desert after all) and, if you want the tumbling ridges of red-coloured sand dunes all to yourself, aim to get there mid-morning or early afternoon.

The tour groups arrive for sunrise and sunset, as the views of the sun plummeting behind the dunes are particularly striking.

Some five kilometres northeast and Valle de la Muerte (Death Valley) is another set of plunging sand banks, but this time a good place for sandboarding or even horse riding. Both activities you organize with agencies in town.

Celestial conditions in the skies above San Pedro are considered the best in the world, making it an ideal spot for star gazing. You can organize your own tour (just head out into the desert one night and stare up) or go with one of the professionals.

Space star tours  are considered the best, as they have the largest public observatory in South America and will talk you through the history of the different constellations. They book up fast, so make sure you reserve at least a week in advance.

From San Pedro de Atacama, take the transfer service back to Calama and fly to Santiago. If possible, have another flight lined up directly to Punta Arenas to avoid having to return into Santiago and back to the airport the following morning.  

Book your star tour here

Chile Itinerary Day 10: Punta Arenas

The next part of this Chile itinerary takes you to Patagonia, the southern tip of Chile! The flight from Santiago to Punta Arenas takes around three hours and transfer services from just outside the airport in Punta Arenas can you drop you off at your hotel for around 5,000 CLP (US$8.50).

Punta Arenas is often overlooked by travellers who head straight on to Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine National Park. However, this city was formerly inhabited by rich wool barrens, who left European architecture in their wake.

You’ll want to visit Museo Regional de Magallanes , which has an interesting collection of 19 th -century furniture and information about the Spanish arrival to this southern edge of Chile, as well as the indigenous people who once lived here and who navigated through the freezing waters in canoes carved from tree trunks.

If you have time and visit between November and March, organise a half-day trip out to Isla Magdalena , a 120,000-strong Magellanic penguin colony a few hours’ boat journey from the city. Beware that the waters can be powerful –seasickness pills are recommended.

Hotel Tierra del Fuego is an elegant European-style hotel right in downtown Punta Arenas, one block away from the Magellan Museum. If you’re looking for some comfort after trekking, this is a great place to unwind and chill out.

Hostal Pardo & Shackleton is a good budget choice in Punta Arenas, with a kitchen and spacious communal area, a good breakfast and really friendly staff. The rooms are fairly basic but comfortable enough.

Book your hotel here!

Chile Itinerary Day 11: Punta Arenas

The next day, catch a bus to Puerto Natales, a town three-hours north and the gateway for the world-famous Torres del Paine National Park. Read my detailed guide to Torres del Paine Chile .

If you’ve got more than two weeks, then consider hiking the acclaimed Torres del Paine W trek , a four or five-day walk through splendid, wild Patagonian scenery. There’s not loads to do in town, but you should take a walk along the sound (the town is built on the edge of fjord) where you can often spot aquatic birds and the occasional dolphin playing in the water.

Yagan House is a stylish hostel-cum-hotel in Puerto Natales, with really cosy, comfortable and clean bedrooms and a huge common area with kitchen and sofas. They’re well located in the centre of the town and really knowledgeable about the park. You can book excursions from their tour office as well as massages from the reception.

Check the latest rates

Chile Itinerary Day 12: Torres del Paine

The night before, rent a car for two days (from 40,000 CLP daily) and leave as early as possible to get there (it’s a two-hour drive). Although there is plenty of public transport into Torres del Paine , it’s hard to move between the trailheads unless you’re hiking the full W trek. For shorter trips when you don’t have time to do the full walk, it’s significantly easy to have your own wheels. Make sure you bring cash to pay the 21,000 CLP (US$31) entrance fee.

Leave the car parked outside one of the two accommodations below and hike the nine kilometres to reach the mirador for the towers or torres after which the park is named. It’s a steep, continually climbing hike, so make sure you have good hiking boots and plenty of food and water. It’s about four hours up and three down.

Stay at:  EcoCamp Patagonia

Stay the night at EcoCamp Patagonia , a charming eco-friendly camp with geodesic domes  inspired by the ancient dwellings of the region. The sustainable domes are all fitted with private or shared bathrooms, wood stoves and private terraces.

A complimentary buffet breakfast is served in the dining room while drinks can be enjoyed at the bar, lounge or outdoor terrace. Guests travelling with all inclusive rates are served a complimentary lunch and dinner, otherwise these are available for an extra fee.

Another alternative is the more luxurious Hotel Las Torres Patagonia , which starts at 300,000 CLP (US$450) per night for a double room, and has a restaurant on site. Both are overpriced – but so is everything in the park!

Chile Itinerary Day 13: Torres del Paine

Drive over to the Pudeto catamaran dock where you can park the car and board the 9am boat across Lago Pehoé ($18,000 single, $28,000 return, cash only) to reach Paine Grande, where the trail for Glacier Grey starts.

It’s a four-hour hike to reach a mirador situated about a kilometre from the snout of the glacier; expect impressive views and lots of ice crashing into the water below.

You can also join a kayaking tour that gets even closer to the ice or a day’s trekking on its surface, although you’ll need another day in the park to fit this in. Big Foot Patagonia Adventure are the only company that offer these.

Trek back to Paine Grande, get on the final catamaran of the day (6.35pm) and bid farewell to Torres del Paine .

Another option in Puerto Natales is the trendy Vinnhaus , a place offering hotel style and comfort, but with hostel prices and atmosphere. All bedrooms are dressed with antique-style furniture, there are international plug sockets on the wall and a lovely little attached café where you can chat away to other guests.

You’ll need a full day to get back to Santiago, with the return journey to Punta Arenas from Puerto Natales taking three hours and then a further three hours on the plane from Punta Arenas to Santiago.

That’s the end of your Chile adventure! With this two-week Chile itinerary, you would have seen the best of the country at a quick but exciting pace. I hope by the end of the journey, you would have fallen in love with Chile like I have.

Phew! Thanks for reading all the way to the end. I hope this Chile itinerary will help you plan a trip of a lifetime.

 Check out other articles I’ve written on Chile and other parts of South America:

• How to Visit Easter Island
• My Complete Guide to Torres del Paine
• How to Visit the Galapagos Islands
• Galapagos Islands with Kids
• Colombia Itinerary: A Detailed Guide for 10 Days in Colombia
• 22 Things to Do in Medellin, Colombia
• Bogota Travel Guide
• 2-Week Brazil Itinerary
• 10-Day Peru Itinerary
• How to Get to Machu Picchu in Peru
• Best Things to Do in the Sacred Valley, Peru

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links i.e. if you book a stay through one of my links, I get a small commission at NO EXTRA COST to you. Thank you for your support!

About the Author: Steph Dyson

Steph Dyson is a bilingual freelance travel writer, guidebook author and blogger originally from the UK and now based in Santiago, Chile. She’s been published by World Nomads and Time Out and contributed to the Rough Guide to Peru and South America on a Budget . Her latest project is a full update of the guidebook, Moon Chile . Get more travel tips for South America at Worldly Adventurer , on Facebook and Instagram .

Steph Dyson

Steph Dyson is a bilingual freelance travel writer, guidebook author and blogger originally from the UK and now based in Santiago, Chile. Having travelled and volunteered across South America since 2014, she writes about beyond-the-beaten-trail adventures, using her extensive experience of exploring (and getting lost in) this continent. She’s been published by World Nomads and Time Out and contributed to the Rough Guide to Peru and South America on a Budget. Her latest project is a full update of the guidebook, Moon Chile. Get more travel tips for South America at Worldly Adventurer .

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The Comments

Juan Ovalle

Would love to visit Chile one day and would definitely go back to your post when planning! This was so helpful!

Are you taking people with you on this trip, or is this just your own private trip, because I would be interested in joining. Laura

Nellie Huang

hi Laura, the author of this post is my friend Steph and she went on her own private trip. She does live in Chile though, so if you have any questions for her please feel free to reach out to her through her website (link in the first sentence of the post).

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MY WANDERLUSTY LIFE

#TimeBudgetTravel

How to Spend One Week in Chile & Cover All the Bases

Last Updated: December 6, 2023 //  by  Ashley Smith 8 Comments

In the category of Most Awesome Under-the-Radar Travel Destination, the award goes to… envelope please… one week in Chile! It gets the gold medal, the blue ribbon, an EGOT ‘cause why not?, a Heisman, a Nobel Prize in pisco, AND it gets to go on Ellen . We’ll even give it a penguin-shaped star on the Wanderlusty Walk of Fame for good measure.

Table of Contents

One week in Chile

If you’re looking for an easy, rewarding, delicious, and physically beautiful trip to take, I whole-heartedly suggest a week in Chile. This isolated country that somehow manages to stay under-the-radar (bless it!) has so much to offer yet makes covering all the bases still simple enough for the casual time budget traveler.

When deciding where our small mastermind of travel bloggers would go this year (last year was 3 days in Mexico City ), Chile was suggested by almost everyone.

It was suggested for its stellar stargazing by one, for its famous Chilean wine regions by another, for its mountainous, outdoorsy options by another, and I was like, “WTF ever dudes. Let’s do it!” Because even though Chile was a stranger to me, All of the Above didn’t sound half bad. (saying things like this gets me invited to parties.) 

My week in Chile would be my first time back in South America in ten years and would be my first time ever in the Southern Hemisphere. You can file that under “Crossing the Equator and Other Things You Just Can’t Say ‘No’ To.”

After all, I’m trying more and more to live according to what can only be called the Forrest Gump life trajectory—just going wherever the opportunities take me, asking very few questions along the way. And that’s all I have to say about that.

But, would we be able to cover All of the Above in just a week?

My week in Chile

Oh hell yeah we did.

Regardless of how little time we would have in Chile, it was mandatory for me that we cover all the bases, i.e. wine tasting, hiking in the Andes, checking out Chile’s two biggest cities, learning some local history, exploring Chile’s rugged coast, and bonus points if any of the above involved alpacas and/or penguins. (Spoiler alert: They did!!!!!!) *does the Carlton*

My week in Chile both started and ended with a half day, with the whole trip coming to a full 7 days in Chile. In that time we did everything we set out to do (and then some… ahem, looking at you 3 whole days of Chilean wine tasting I thought I was ready for but was, to the surprise of no one, not) but still had plenty of downtime for passing the nighttime hours on our terrace (drinking more wine), leisurely strolling the city streets (on our way to drink wine), and getting plenty of sleep (because we drank more wine in seven days than I have in the last seven years of my life).

Have only a week to travel? Here’s how to spend one week in Chile and still cover all the bases…

One week in Chile: Day 1

Part of the reason we chose Chile as a destination was the phenomenal flight deal we got: JFK ⇢ ATL ⇢ Santiago, Chile for less than $580 RT. Sometimes these things just fall into your lap. I mean, Forrest didn’t set out to become the ambassador of a ping pong paddle brand.

We arrived in Santiago after our overnight flights from JFK and ATL, the last of which we boarded using only our faces and nothing else. No boarding passes, no passports. It was as close to Futurama as I’ve ever been. We left New New York and flew 50 years and one time zone into the future before landing in Chile.

After grabbing transport into the city and settling into our rental apartment ( Real World -style complete with room-snatching and roommate negotiations), we headed straight for Mercado Vega Chica for lunch which was totally part of our plan the whole time because we are professional travelers with professional itineraries.

Just kidding—we read about it in the Delta airplane magazine on the way over. You can hear more about this in our confessional tapes.

Pro tip: We used shuttle company TransVIP to take us from the airport to our apartment in the city. We booked this at their airport counter upon arrival for a more than reasonable fee and didn’t have to wait more than ten minutes. 

Mercado Vega Chica

In pure Gump fashion, we read an article on places to eat in Santiago on the plane ride over, written by weird-food-eater Andrew Zimmern, and thought no more on the subject. Before we knew it, we were bumper to bumper inside Mercado Vega Chica being shouted at and careened like cattle through a dark maze of food stalls and miscellaneous vendors of fish heads and pig parts.

We chose a food stall pretty much at random and ordered lunch like strangers on a newly discovered planet. (There was a lot of pointing and a lot of head-scratching.)

We spoke what we thought was Spanish yet received a whole buncha’ mystery foods, some of them in multiples, and finally landed on the two words that transcend all language barriers— Coca-Cola .

Amazing Chilean food

We ended up with what you could only describe as the Chilean version of shrimp and grits (is good) and something called Pastel de Choclo which is, to the surprise of everyone who thinks he/she speaks Spanish, not a chocolate cake.

What it is , is a kind of shepherd’s pie consisting of ground beef, a chicken leg, olives, a hard boiled egg, and other miscellaneous things all cooked into a loaf of corn bread. Don’t even act like that doesn’t sound amazing. 

After lunch we walked around our new neighborhood, the whole time grappling with the summer-in-March, Southern Hemisphere dilemma of “Should I be wearing shorts or pants? SHORTS OR PANTS!?”

We stopped by the market to pick up much needed supplies (read: beer, wine, and water) then spent most of the evening hanging out on our balcony drinking said supplies. After all the members of Real Blogging World: Chile showed up, we grabbed dinner at the only open place we could find , a Peruvian restaurant serving seafood in big seashells so, good news everyone, I’ve got a new sea bra.

One week in Chile: Day 2

We started the second day of our week in Chile with cappuccino and avocado toast at Vilapert (#BasicBrunch) and then our group split up.

Half headed over to the Museum of Memory and Human Rights , because apparently breakfast wasn’t heavy enough, and the rest of us opted for a lighter afternoon of pretty flowers, sunshine, beautiful views, and other things that wouldn’t make us weep for humanity.

Santa Lucía Hill

Santa Lucía Hill is a small hill in the center of Santiago—what’s left of an ancient volcano, actually—and is a cornucopia of many pretty things.

In Santa Lucía Hill you’ll find:

• a large park
• gravel pathways
• what looks like just pieces of castles here and there
• some huge fountains and grand staircases
• pretty tiled floors
• a small chapel
• a breezy hilltop lookout
• and what appears to be an intact castle-like building that looks like a game of Jumanji was played there but is also used for private events? I don’t know.

Regardless of what sense this place makes, she sure does look good for her 15 million years.

Why include Santa Lucía Hill in your one week in Chile?

I’m a sucker for viewpoints so I admit that the breezy hilltop lookout was what drew me to Santa Lucía Hill. Besides that, it’s a pleasant way to spend the avocado-toast-digesting period between breakfast and beer.

The cacti-covered winding pathways and countless random historical finds are enough to keep you interested and venturing ever higher until it’s a socially acceptable time to booze it up. What? I may travel for a living but I still treat every day like a vacation.

La Moneda Palace

From Santa Lucía Hill we walked through downtown Santiago acquainting ourselves with Chile’s capital city, drooling over the street art, eventually stopping at La Moneda Palace.

La Moneda occupies an entire city block and is the palace of Chile’s president. The building and property are extremely understated but still interesting to see just hanging out right there in the middle of the city. A lot like another huge, white house we all know and… have questions about.

Why include La Moneda Palace in your one week in Chile?

The leader of an entire nation lives and works here—so the building is worth a swing-by. Like would you spend a few days in Washington DC and not walk by the White House to see what kind of crazy is brewing over there today? Methinks not.

Also, La Moneda hosts a traditional changing of the guard ceremony every other day—on odd-numbered days in odd-numbered months, and on even-numbered days in even-numbered months.

So obviously we were in Chile during an even-numbered month and visited the palace twice… on odd-numbered days. Sometimes things just don’t work out. Even Forrest Gump got shot in the buttocks. (But look at all the ice cream he got!)

Plaza de Armas

After La Moneda, we wandered over to Plaza de Armas—Santiago’s central square. Here at the Plaza de Armas you’ll find some important historical buildings, excellent people watching, and relaxing places to drink beer in a beautiful, palm-laden park setting.

We wound our way through the park, dodging pigeons and a shouting man with a briefcase and an agenda, strolled through Santiago’s Metropolitan Cathedral, eventually landing at Comedor Central for beers and various pickled food items. 

Before my trip to Chile I read Culture Smart! Chile and can’t recommend these guidebooks enough. They really are the best travel guidebooks for culturally aware travelers . Check out my review in that link.

Barrio Lasterria

Of the many interesting and lovely neighborhoods within Santiago, Barrio Lasterria is one of the interesting-and-loveliest.

The area is mostly pedestrian traffic offering adorable sidewalk cafes, unique architecture, street vendors, local art, but keeping it all balanced with some weird shirtless guy dancing to the Backstreet Boys on a street corner that was just too embarrassing not to watch.

After the Plaza and our beer fix satisfied, we set off in search of empanadas, the way you do when you’re anywhere south of the U.S. border. We wound up at Mulato for our first taste of Chile’s signature empanada: empanada pino.

Heladería Emporio La Rosa

A one-minute walk just around the corner from Mulato is Heladería Emporio la Rosa— the place to get ice cream in Santiago. And since it was summer there in the South Hemi (that’s what we’re calling it now), stopping here took little convincing.

You could’ve told me it was the place to get fricasseed crickets and I’d have been all up in that. I’m an easy sell, especially where snacking after beer drinking is concerned.

Why include Heladería Emporio La Rosa in your one week in Chile?

Heladería Emporio la Rosa is supposedly one of the top places to get ice cream in the world . So naturally I got sorbet because I pay all the attention. However, it was delicious. Though I admit I haven’t met a sorbet I’d kick outta bed… just sayin’.

Cerro San Cristóbal

Because getting high first thing in the morning wasn’t enough—we had to get even higher in the afternoon. Obviously I’m talking about taking the funicular to the top of Santiago’s second highest hill, Cerro San Cristóbal. Wait a minute, second highest? Does that mean we’re getting even higher later? Actually that would explain a few things… *cough/terremoto/cough*

On the top of Cerro San Cristóbal sits a sanctuary dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, complete with a super huge statue of the Virgin Mary, a chapel, and an amphitheater. Chances are there’s also a dog that’s way better at climbing stairs than you are.

Why include Cerro San Cristóbal  in your one week in Chile?

Being that it’s one of the highest spots in Santiago (2,790 feet above sea level to be exact), the views of this vast city and the surrounding mountains are phenomenal. The sun is glorious, the breeze is life-giving, and there’s a hat-wearing llama at the bottom. A llama. That wears a hat. C’mon.

Dinner at Casa Lastarria

We ended the second night of our week in Chile with a delicious dinner on the rooftop patio of Casa Lastarria .

Yes, there’s a rooftop. You won’t know this at first. You and your entire party will get comfortable at a sidewalk table and just before being served, you’ll catch wind of the type of elevated dining platform irresistible to American millennials.

You’ll pack up your group and head skyward three stories to continue your night while looking down (heh) on all the sidewalk diners. You’ll regret nothing.

Make sure to try such Chilean staples as empanadas pino (empanadas filled with a mixture of ground beef, olives, onions, raisins, and hard boiled eggs) and machas (clams covered in Parmesan cheese).

One week in Chile: Day 3

In the spirit of covering all the bases, I like to include a country’s capital, as well as another one of its popular cities in my travel itineraries. And in the spirit of seeing everything in a week, we woke up on Day Three of our week in Chile and hopped a bus to the port city of Valparaiso.

Getting to Valparaiso from Santiago is a quick and easy bus ride.*

*Unless you lose your bus ticket sometime during the process of ordering your morning empanada and not realize it until you try to board moments before the bus pulls away. **  

**Also if you don’t lose your luggage claim ticket mere seconds after stowing your suitcase in the undercarriage. This is what happens when you try to do things before eating. (is not good)

Otherwise your bus ride will cost no more than the equivalent of 5 USD and take just about an hour and fifteen minutes. Buses to Valpo from Santiago run, I kid you not, every five to ten minutes or so.

Valparaiso, Chile

Valparaiso is Chile’s third largest metropolitan area, one of the country’s most important seaports, and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s also apparently where all of South America’s dogs go to breed.

We spent two days just legit wading through dirty street mongrels. I know I sound like Cruella de Vil but it’s weird there. I can’t explain it. Plus, none of them would make great coats.

Valparaiso is famous for its winding labyrinth of a street pattern, colorful buildings, seemingly endless hills that, to my utter surprise, were not covered in heart attack victims, and its street art. Just about every inch of this city is covered in color—beautiful, large-scale murals, pointless graffiti, mosaics, and the little sprays and nuggets left behind by the city’s most populous inhabitants. AARROOOOOOO!

Valparaiso reminded me—all too much—of: if Lisbon, Portugal and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico had a baby. And if you know how I feel about both of those cities…    

Why include Valparaiso in your one week in Chile?

Valparaiso is nothing like Santiago—so much so that you don’t even feel like you’re in the same country. It’s good to get out of the capital and experience the many different facets of life in a foreign country and if you’re into eclectic art, vicious street puppies, and interesting city views, this is the side trip for you. Four out of five personal trainers also recommend it for its cardio benefits. (Probably.)

After settling into our insane rental home situation (details to follow), our group simply walked around Valparaiso aimlessly—taking it all in and dodging land mines* like our lives depended on it.

*I’m talking about poop here.

Eventually we opted for a late lunch at a random find: Hotel Fauna . As you’ll see is a common theme during our week in Chile, the food and service were both superb and those views ! Have mercy!

After dinner we spent the rest of the night passing the time on (now you gotta say this next part like the upper-class-citizen you were always meant to be or, because it totally works here, Cruella de Vil) our terrace .

One week in Chile: Day 4

After a quick breakfast at Panini Café (they have eggs, yo!), our group headed back to the bus station to catch a ride into Chile’s Casablanca valley—famous for its Chardonnays and Sauvignon Blancs. (Spent an entire day there, drank all the things, still had to Google this.)

The fourth day of our week in Chile we spent sampling (craploads of) Chilean wines and I’m going to do my best to describe that briefly here.

First stop: Viña Emiliana

Viña Emiliana was my favorite winery of the whole week in Chile (there were many wineries, you’ll see). We participated in a formal wine (and cheese) tasting then self-toured the property. And by that I mean we made a beeline for the alpaca pen and never looked back. Before we knew it four hours had passed and I’d purchased a new Patagonia fleece jacket. Don’t ask.

Not gonna lie, I gave no craps about wine by the time we got to Bodegas RE . However, I started with a glass of rosé and told them to keep the cheese comin’! They were not amused.

Viña Casas del Bosque

Our last formal tasting of the day. So… much… wine. Need… mas… alpacas.

What I do remember is that the Casas del Bosque property was beautiful and they had the best dirt, so there’s that. No joke, the dirt here was so soft. I found a ton of photos of dirt on my phone the next day. You now what else is no joke? Wine. Day drinking wine.

It was around the time I fired the gate attendant at Viña Casas del Bosque and began operating the lift gate myself that we decided it was time to head back to Valparaiso.

After trying a number of restaurants that were, for one reason or another, not open that day, we found ourselves back at Hotel Fauna, same amazing views, same exact table. We had another fabulous dinner and I finally got to sleep the kinda sleep you can only get from a spell cast by an evil witch on your 16 th birthday oooooooooooooorrrr day drinking wine.

I actually wrote an entire post on my couple of days wine tasting in Chile (check out it in that link). I spent two days tasting wines in two very different ways.

One week in Chile: Day 5

Because I’m about as good at staying in one place as chicken pox at a daycare, Day Five of our week in Chile saw us renting a car and heading north along the Pacific coast. In my search for things to do in Chile, I came across an island of penguins and suddenly nothing in my life mattered anymore .

We picked up our car and headed out for the hour or so drive, stopping first at Tio Mario—a middle-of-absolutely-nowhere restaurant we found serving up fresh empanadas, questionable cutlery choices, and the Ray Charles Grammy winner Hit the Road Jack on repeat and at full volume.

I like to think it was just an unfortunate coincidence of a faulty iPod and not a subtle hint for the gringos taking pictures of the bathrooms to get the $%^& out.

Playa Cachagua

Just off the coast of Playa Cachagua in the northern part of the Valparaiso region is Isla de Cachagua – that’s Spanish for a whole island of adorable penguins all to myself! Back to reality, Isla de Cachagua is a protected natural monument and an important home/nesting ground for Humboldt penguins.

We spent a few hours walking the coastal walk between Cachagua and Zapallar (sounds like Futurama space-talk if you ask me) spying on the penguins, sea lions, and otters, exploring the tide pools, and really pressing our luck when it came to big waves crashing into big rocks.

Puente de los Deseos / Horcón 

On the way back to Valparaiso from Cachagua, we made the snap decision (there was a lot of swerving off the highway that day) to visit the town of Horcón to see the Puente de los Deseos .

This Bridge of Wishes sits over the ocean all covered in brightly colored ribbons. You’re supposed to write your wish on a ribbon then tie it to the bridge. And since I had just spent the morning with wild penguins, I had nothing left to wish for.

Instead, we just took infinity+1 pictures (a freaking dog fell asleep on the bridge) then stopped for ice cream in this adorable, tiny seaside town.

After dropping off the rental car in Valparaiso, we hopped on the next bus to Santiago where I kept track of all my tiny papers ! In Santiago, we had just enough time to swing by our house, change out of our ocean-scented clothes (sea hair, don’t care), and make it to Bocanáriz for our 8:00 pm reservation.

Guess what? It’s time for more wine . In Chile, it’s always wine o’clock and not a minute later. But…! Nope. More wine it is.

However, instead of a winery this time, we found ourselves back in Barrio Lastarria at Bocanáriz , Santiago’s premier wine bar. According to their website, “Bocanáriz is a Meeting Place for tourists and locals who love wine.”*

*…and their friends who are beer drinkers but are still DTF – down to freaking drink more wine because, whatever, it’s still alcohol.

Bocanáriz as a wine-amateur

As a non-wine drinker, I particularly love Bocanáriz because they offer a menu of wine flights so you can taste a variety. I chose the Chilean Heritage flight because I’m a history lover and I just really didn’t care. But guess what else? I learned something awesome! About wine and about myself.

My favorite wine of the night was a variety called País—the first grape brought over to South America from Europe. I was very excited about my new favorite (yay history!) and when I told our unbelievably wineducated server he responded, “Ah yes, that is the least sophisticated wine in all of Chile!”

To say this surprised no one at the table would be the biggest understatement since Forrest Gump said “I decided to go for a little run.” Also, País is the wine they serve in church so I think we know where I’m headed in the afterlife.

Besides the wine, the food at Bocanáriz was both delicious and adventurous. I mean, what more could you want from a dinner than to constantly ask, “And what part of the animal do you think this is from?”

Bocanáriz is one of the most popular restaurants/bars in Santiago and for good reason. If a night here is in your plans, be sure to make a reservation ahead of time.

Chipe Libre

Conveniently located next door to Bocanáriz was our next stop: Chipe Libre , the undisputed authority on all things pisco. If you don’t know about pisco… well don’t ask me—I have the least sophisticated taste in all of Chile.

According to Wikipedia, pisco is a brandy produced in the winemaking regions of Peru and Chile. It’s mostly consumed in the “sour” form—as in, Pisco Sour. I had a few of these during my week in Chile and I can definitively say… I like them a lot more than I like wine.

At Chipe Libre you can have a pisco tasting (which we did) and order drinks from a huge menu of piscocktails. (which we also did).

I chose Saludo a la Bandera : pisco, homemade pineapple and sweet potato syrup, triple sec, lemon juice, basil, raspberries and blueberries. Life is like a box of chocolates drinking in Chile—you never know what you’re gonna get!

One week in Chile: Day 6

I’m gonna be honest here, Day Six was the day I was most looking forward to during my whole week in Chile. It would be the day we left the city life behind and made for the mountains. It would also be the only day during my week in Chile that not even a single wine glass would graze my lips. It’s the little things, you guys.

Cajón del Maipo 

There was zero question that this trip would include mountains, trails, glaciers, and dirt that was not Charmin soft in the least bit.

Given Santiago’s location just outside the Andes mountain range, it’s quite easy to have yourself a merry little day hike. There are tours available if you don’t want to plan on your own (see below), but doing so self-guided is simple, rewarding, and requires very little planning. Because Tim did it all. I really am living a life of luxury here.

Our self-guided hike

We rented a car (4×4 mandatory) and headed into the Maipo Canyon in the direction of El Glaciar el Morado… and drove until we literally couldn’t drive anymore. The rest of the journey into them thar hills would be on these here feet.

We hiked for miles and miles, hours and hours, to an elevation of over 10,500 feet—the highest I’ve ever been. And that includes that time I found myself accidentally at a Cypress Hill concert.

The scenery was unreal and the hike was just challenging enough to earn myself a beer at the bottom, but not so challenging I needed to be emergency airlifted. The mountains were some of the most unique I’ve seen and I spent the entire day searching for mountain goats only to eventually find so many mountain goats ! All in all, the perfect day.

I’d like to take this opportunity to apologize to our driver Tim for all the times I shouted, “STOP THE CAR! GOATS!” and “STOP THE CAR! HORSES!” and even that one time, “STOP THE CAR! A GOAT-HERDING COWBOY!”

Hiking tours in Maipo Canyon

Full-Day Trip to Maipo Canyon with Empanadas & Wine! – Spend one awesome day hiking the beautiful Maipo Canyon with a small group. Hotel pick up and drop off, a professional guide, water, food and wine included.

Cajon del Maipo 8km Hiking Day Tour in the Andes from Santiago – This 12-hour guided hike includes hotel pickup and dropoff, lunch, and all at a “medium” difficulty. 

See all Maipo Canyon tours here – There are actually tons more for all different kinds of travelers.

If you’d like to copy our exact hike, well, we copied this blogger’s exact hike . So you should just go ahead and copy her too.

La Calchona

On the way back to Santiago, we did what had become the norm at that point and pulled off the highway into the parking lot of a middle-of-nowhere, random restaurant—La Calchona.

It was beautiful and peaceful and the service was fantastic and I was so high on life from our hike that Tim overheard the staff making fun of how amazing I thought everything was. I regret nothing!

La Piojera and the Terremoto

After showering about three pounds of just regular ol’ dirt off, we found ourselves at La Piojera—apparently one of “the” places you need to go when in Santiago, Chile.

This… I’mma just say it… shitty-ass dive bar in Santiago somehow consistently finds itself on lists of bars you need to visit. It’s apparently one of the city’s oldest and “most beloved” dive bars. One article even says, “This bar may have sticky tables and the odour of a frat house on a Sunday morning, but it’s something of a rite of passage.” Y tho.

I don’t understand. I’m no stranger to dive bars but, La Piojera , I don’t think they mean “dumpster dive.”

We showed up around midnight and were instantly blinded by fluorescent lights turned up all the way. An employee was dragging a couple of fully loaded trash bags through the bar, leaving a path of thick, white, sticky liquid in his wake.

And because it was as bright as, well, from now on I’m going to say “La Piojera at midnight” in there, we could see every chunky bit. This was the first of many times I almost flat out barfed. There was a cat sitting on an elevated stage behind us, watching the whole thing go down.

The trash thing happened, not once, but twice more while we were there. Someone sprinkled something similar to sawdust over the mess—ya know, that stuff teachers use to cover up when a kid pukes in the hallway at school?

A bartender filled a full size plastic cup to the rim with red wine. It wasn’t until after we left that we learned La Piojera means The Fleahouse . Guys, this place has a food menu. They serve beef casserole. If there was any moment the entire day I risked needing to be emergency airlifted, this was it.

After leaving, Valerie read an article on La Piojera—no doubt trying to solve the mystery—and came across a page that said women should not go to the restroom alone at La Piojera. No explanation.

So do with that what you will. Regardless of it all, we came for the terremoto—one of Chile’s “signature” drinks and now I know where all the sawdust-covered barf came from.

The terremoto (“earthquake”) is young white wine called pipeño + pineapple ice cream + fernet + grenadine. What is fernet, you ask? Well, before sampling my terremoto it was described to me as “a toothpaste-y liqueur.”

The terremoto can trace it roots back to the 1980s when a German visitor referred to it as an earthquake for the stomach. WHY WOULD SOMEONE WANT TO DRINK THIS? YES IT TASTED AS BAD AS IT SOUNDS.

Half our group somehow finished theirs (but didn’t feel so great about that). I took a few sips then spilled mine all over the table. The last person in our group was unfairly allergic to pineapple. Some people have all the luck!

One week in Chile: Day 7

Day Seven would be the last full day of our week in Chile. So what do you think we did, class? More wine tasting! That’s right. Today our group booked spots on the Maipo Valley Little Wine Bus .

So within a short distance of Santiago are two of Chile’s most popular wine regions. We already covered Casablanca, so now we’re doing the Maipo Valley, famous for Cabernet Sauvignons and other red things.

I go into more detail in my Chile wine tasting post , but basically the Maipo Valley Little Wine Bus is an all-day small group tour of various wineries in the region, combined with some intimate local experiences, all while being shuttled around on a small bus with a never ending supply of wine.

Maipo Valley Little Wine Bus itinerary:

• Got picked up at our apartment in Santiago by our guide in our Little Bus
• Started the day with brunch (and wine) at the home of a local Maipo Valley artist
• Visited a handful of wineries around the Maipo Valley area, drinking wine all the live-long day
• Had lunch in the backyard of… not really sure where we were. This was after like two hours of drinking. There were cats and peacocks and geese, that’s all I have to say about that.
• More wineries
• A place we thought was a winery but wasn’t. But they grew grapes. Beats me. I spent most of the time lying down in the grass.
• The day ended in the garage of our tour guide’s house where he introduced us to various varieties of homemade hooch we were told were “100% alcohol.” It came out of jugs that had had their labels peeled off. I felt really great about it.

Book the Maipo Valley Little Wine Bus here

One week in Chile: Day 8

Day Eight just so happened to be the saddest day of our entire week in Chile. For it was the last day. A day without penguins or alpacas.

After checking out of our rental, we started the morning with an awkward-as-hell breakfast and coffee in the Plaza (just become fluent in Spanish, okay?) then spent the waning hours of our week in Chile at the Pre-Colombian art museum. 

So what did we do with our luggage all day? We stored it securely at a local hostel via a service called Airkeep . It’s like Airbnb for your luggage… when your Airbnb won’t actually hold your luggage.

Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino

The Museum of Pre-Colombian Art has some of my favorite kind of art… the Pre-Colombian kind, was that not obvious? The museum displays pieces spanning 10,000 years of history from Central and South America and is located in the center of town, just a couple blocks from both Plaza de Armas and La Moneda.

A few of my favorites:

The chemamülles

These wooden statues were placed on top of tombs in ancient Mapuche ceremonies. They’re meant to reflect the spirit of the deceased and assist them in their journey to the afterlife.

According to the display, “Chiefs and great warriors were sent to the East to roam among the volcanoes. All others went to the West to eat bitter potatoes beyond the sea.” Just how bitter were the potatoes in Pre-Colombian times? Dayumm.

Incan Excel, if you will. The Inca used these knotted cords to keep track of their data. The type of knot, position on the string, length of the cord, and many other characteristics all signified different pieces of information.

This particular quipu holds 15,024 pieces of data, believed to be demographic data for Inca subjects but they’re not completely sure. Meanwhile, we have to be told not to use “password123” to keep our data on lock.

The mummies

Did you know mummies in Northern Chile predate those of the Egyptians by more than 2,000 years? True story. They’re the world’s oldest mummies. The more you know…

Rapa Nui Wood Spirits

Very different statues but the only Easter Island carvings I’ve seen with my own eyes! (Easter Island is a Chilean territory – not sure if you knew that or not?)

This cutie from Colombia circa AD 1-500

I’ve never wanted to hug a statue so much in my life. Ok that’s not true. There were all those times in front of Michelangelo’s David. And by that I really mean behind.  And by hug I really mean squeeze dat ass . 

The museum has collections from Mesoamerica, the Caribbean, the Amazon, the Andes, Easter Island, and an awesome exhibit on textiles. I realize saying things like “awesome exhibit on textiles” makes you want to cut all ties with me for good, but don’t knock it until you’ve viewed it in a guarded, temperature-controlled room, okay!?

After spending a decent amount of time in the children’s area (with mostly other adults btw, creating this ⇣)…

…we picked up our luggage and grabbed an Uber to the airport. And just like that our week in Chile was over and our airport lounge fresh fruit binge was about to begin.

Where to stay in Chile

While in Santiago, the five of us stayed in two different apartment rentals, properties of the same owner. For the first few nights we stayed at:

Furnished Apartment Forestal Park 18

Great apartment, clean, amazing views from an awesome balcony. The building is in a great location–walkable to everywhere–and safe, clean, and with a lobby attendant and lots of dogs to pet.

This apartment is no longer listed but you can still find many amazing Santiago rentals here .

Awesome view, Valparaiso Terrace – In Valparaiso, we stayed at an Airbnb often referred to as a “museum house.” The house was enormous, eclectic, and has the best terrace with the most amazing views in Valpo. You have to see these pictures.

Vacation rentals are a great option when visiting Chile and we had some really cool experiences. When planning your trip, don’t hesitate to check out these Santiago rental listings .

Typically, I’m more of a hotel-stayer myself, but when traveling with larger groups it’s always fun to rent a big house. If you’re also more interested in traditional hotels, here are some helpful links:

Santiago | Read hotel reviews on Tripadvisor then go ahead and book your room here ! Valparaiso | Read hotel reviews on Tripadvisor then go ahead and book your room here !

What would you add to your one week in Chile? Let me know below!

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About Ashley Smith

Ashley is a historian and Oktoberfest expert & tour guide. She has traveled to 39 countries and specializes in quick trips throughout Europe and the Americas that prioritize hiking adventures, museums of all kinds, cultural experiences, and jam-packed itineraries. She hails from Memphis, TN and currently lives in Boston with her husband and two feline sidekicks.

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In One Week in Chile

Plenty of travelers head to Chile for 1 week only on a ski vacation, but it's a shame to come all this way and not experience anything other than the snowy Andean peaks. If you're not skiing and really only have 1 week to see Chile, your best bet is to pick one destination only: Patagonia, the Central Region, or San Pedro de Atacama. These three destinations offer the most "Chilean" experiences. For the Atacama or Patagonia, tailor your own journey to fit the confines of 1 week; it's very doable in this time frame, and you'll be able to fit a night in Santiago on your first or last night. The following itinerary is centered on the Central Region, because here you'll be able to pack the most diverse activities possible into 7 days. You might consider renting a car and striking out on your own when following this itinerary.

Day 1: Santiago

Arrive and get settled in Santiago. Chances are your flight arrived early in the morning; once you've rested and freshened up, head to Cerro San Cristobal and its Metropolitan Park for sweeping views of the city and to get your bearings. Afterward, take a stroll around the bohemian Barrio Bellavista and pay a visit to La Chascona ★★★, the former home of Pablo Neruda and now a museum. Head to the Mercado Central for a typical Chilean seafood lunch and watch fishmongers shuck and fillet. Once refueled, walk to the Plaza de Armas to visit the city's best museum, the Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino . Take a peek at the Palacio de la Moneda , at Plaza de la Constitución, before heading over to the streets of Bellavista , where you can peruse the artists' galleries and shops before enjoying an afternoon cocktail at one of the area's bars. Later that evening, order a frosty pisco sour and dine on traditional Chilean bistro food at Bar Liguria .

Day 2: The Andes

During the summer, there's no shortage of adventurous activities, especially in the mountain valley Cajón de Maipo, located between 45 minutes and 2 hours (depending on how far up the valley you travel) from Santiago. Raft the Class III and IV rapids on the Maipo River; pretend you're Butch Cassidy or the Sundance Kid and horseback ride along Andean ridges that open out to sweeping views; or put on a pair of hiking boots and trek to a glacier in El Morado National Park . Oenophiles will enjoy a scenic drive, perhaps stopping off at one of the region's gorgeous wineries. If it's winter, grab a shuttle and head high into the iconic Andes Mountains to one of the three ski resorts, for a day of skiing or snowboarding. Valle Nevado , La Parva , and El Colorado all lie within 1 to 1 1/2 hours from the city, and you can rent gear when you get there.

Whatever you decide to do during the day, head back to your hotel in Santiago to indulge in an exquisite dinner at one of the city's finest restaurants, such as Astrid y Gastón or Europeo .

Days 3 & 4: Wine Country

The Colchagua Valley is shaping up as Chile's version of Napa Valley, and what better way to get a taste of Chile than through its wine? Head out early from Santiago for the scenic 2 1/2-hour drive following the jagged Andes south. Before entering Santa Cruz, stop at one of the region's oldest wineries, Casa Silva , where you can sample excellent wines paired with a delicious lunch. Or, aspiring vintners can enroll in Viña Viu Manent 's "Winemaker for a Day" program". Check into your room at the Hotel Santa Cruz Plaza ★★, and spend the afternoon strolling around the typical rural town of Santa Cruz ; dine that night in the hotel. If you really want to splurge, stay at the luxurious Clos Apalta , one of the world's most talked about wineries, and revel in the luxurious facilities and fabulous array of activities on offer. The next day, don't miss the breathtaking Clos Apalta , have lunch at Pan Pan Vino Vino , then visit Montes winery for a tour, tasting, and carriage ride.

Days 5 & 6: The Central Coast

This day involves driving north and then west from Santa Cruz to Valparaíso , a 3 1/2- to 4-hour drive. Along the way, you have the option of stopping just outside of San Fernando for a wine tasting at Casa Silva . Spend the afternoon getting lost along the kooky, twisty streets of Valparaíso, soaking up the old port town ambience, and reveling in sublime views over a light lunch at Café Turri . Then visit La Sebastiana , the former home of Pablo Neruda. If it's the weekend, have dinner at the city's best restaurant, Pasta e Vino , or otherwise enjoy a romantic meal with dazzling panoramas at Montealegre . If you are enticed by the notion of a lively beach scene, you will want to spend you next day in Viña or even spend the night at the fabulous Hotel Del Mar .

Day 7: Valparaíso or Viña to the Airport

The last day, rest up for your flight back at the beach in Viña, take a scenic coastal drive, or, if you haven't already had your fill of Chilean wine, stop at the Viñedos Orgánicos Emiliana and House of Morandé wineries on the road back to the airport. Arrive in time for your evening flight out of Santiago.

Note : This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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3 Days in Santiago Itinerary: The Best Things to See & Do

Have you ever thought of planning a trip to Chile? Even among adventurous travelers, Chile is often overlooked for more popular countries like Peru, Brazil, or Argentina. If you’ve made it to this post, you’re smarter than that – you want to know how to visit Santiago, and I’m here to help.

Santiago is the capital of Chile, the biggest city which is home to 7 million people. It is in the interior, away from the Pacific Coast, and near the Andes on Chile’s western border. It’s a great base for exploring more of Chile or making a stop on a multi-city tour of South America .

I spent five days in Santiago, traveling with friends and fellow travel bloggers. We explored the best Santiago has to offer, including top neighborhoods, fascinating museums, and strolling through the city’s green spaces. In this post you’ll find everything you need to know to plan a three-day itinerary in Santiago, and I’m happy to answer any questions you have in the comments.

The Best Things to See & Do in Santiago

Obviously, this list isn’t meant to be a comprehensive list of everything you can do in Santiago – it’s a select list of what I think you shouldn’t miss.

Plaza de Arma

The Plaza de Armas is the central square in Santiago. It has a very European vibe, a symmetrical set of paths and benches with palms and leafy trees that provide shade to different areas throughout the day. Around the square, there are administrative buildings, restaurants and cafes, and the Metropolitan Cathedral. You can also stop at the STGO letters for a selfie.

Metropolitan Cathedral

The Metropolitan Cathedral is the most auspicious building on the Plaza de Armas, and it’s worth a stop in even if you aren’t a practicing religious person. The Metropolitan Cathedral is much like European cathedrals, with a beautifully painted ceiling, statues, and alcoves throughout the church.

The Cathedral is a vital part of life for many Santiaguinos and it’s one of the top sights in the city. The Metropolitan Cathedral is open to the public and free. If there’s a mass going on, you can only access the side aisles of the cathedral and should be respectful and quiet.

San Cristóbal Hill

San Cristóbal Hill is the biggest hill in central Santiago; it’s easy to walk here and explore the hill for a whole day if you choose to. Some of the most popular spots in the city are on San Cristóbal Hill, including the popular funicular which takes you up and down the hill. You can visit the Chilean National Zoo and a Japanese-style garden which are also on the hill. It can get quite hot on San Cristóbal Hill in the afternoons, so this is a great place to start the day, or to watch sunset.

Riding the funicular up San Cristóbal Hill is an easy way to get a panoramic view of Santiago, too. You’ll need to queue up at the bottom of the hill to access the funicular, and tickets are 1500 CLP ($2.25) per person one way.

Also on San Cristóbal Hill, you can visit the Sanctuary and statue of the Immaculate Conception. This open-air church is nearby the statue to the Virgin Mary which is visible atop the hill from around Santiago.

Santa Lucía Hill

Santa Lucía Hill is the other hill in the Santiago area; it’s actually an ancient, dormant volcano! This is an easy hill to walk up from several sides, and there are good views and some fascinating buildings atop the hill. You can climb to the tower at the fort atop the hill, or sit in the shade near the Neptune fountain listening to the water playing. There’s also a Japanese garden.

It can also get pretty warm on Santa Lucía Hill too, so plan accordingly if you’re going to climb the hill.

La Moneda Palace

La Moneda is the presidential palace which was rebuilt after the previous one was bombed in the 1973 coup. The building is a neoclassical-style building with a plaza on one side and a massive water pool on the other. Underneath the pool, you can visit the cultural center , which houses exhibits on Chilean and South American history. If you don’t want to pay to go inside La Moneda, it’s worth walking around as part of a stroll through central Santiago.

Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino

The Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino isn’t large, but it’s filled with the most extensive collection of Southern and Central American indigenous art I’ve ever seen. The exhibits are also presented in a respectful and elegant way; it treats these pieces as art despite their diversity and age.

My favorite exhibit by far was Chile ante Chile (Chile Before Chile) which is located on the underground floor. The low lighting and glass cases create a somber ambiance that underscores how these artifacts tell the stories of Chile. The upper level has a series of galleries from different regions of the Americas, which demonstrate the different materials and styles of craft. There’s also an open court with some special exhibits off to the side, including one for children and families.

Admission is 7000 CLP ($10.60) for non-Chilean nationals.

Museo de la Memoria y Derechos Humanos

Santiago is home to many museums, and the Museo de la Memoria y Derechos Humanos (Museum of Memory and Human Rights) is the other one I consider a must-visit if you’re making a trip. Be warned: this isn’t a museum that will necessarily make you feel cheery when you leave.

The Museo documents the victims of human rights violations during the Pinochet regime between 1973 and 1990, and as you might imagine, it’s heavy material. You’ll walk away with a much deeper understanding of a dark chapter in Chilean history, and the museum serves as a way of holding the country accountable to never let that happen again.

Vega Markets

If you love food or local markets, the Vega markets – Vega Central and La Vega Chica – should definitely be on your list. Vega Central is a massive traditional market, full of food and goods stalls. You can buy fresh produce, meat cut by the butchers before your eyes, spices and ingredients, and a variety of homegoods. There’s also a small food market with a couple restaurants and a seating area.

La Vega Chica has more food vendors, if you’re willing to weave through the narrow walkways to choose one that catches your eye. Andrew Zimmern lists it among his top recommended food spots in Santiago, and I have to agree – this is a top place to find traditional, homestyle Chilean dishes.

My advice? Wander past the stalls, pick one that catches your eye, and point out what you want on the menu. Be prepared to try whatever arrives!

Wine Tasting

Chile is one of the great wine countries in the world, even if it doesn’t typically make the list with places like California and France. While they have different standards for winemaking and even some different varietals than you’ll find elsewhere in the world, Chile’s long narrow shape and diverse geography (mountainous to coastal) means they can produce many different types of wine in close proximity.

As such, it’s possible to enjoy a lot of different types of wine that are all made in Chile. The best bar by far is Bocanariz . You’ll need a reservation to get a table, but every server is a sommelier who can walk you through the different tasting flights and bottles available. They have tasting plates and a full menu as well, so you can sample some Chilean dishes or have dinner depending on your own itinerary (and how much wine you plan to drink!).

If you have the time or an extra day, consider booking a wine tour out of Santiago. The Little Wine Bus is a full-day tour that takes you to the Maipo Valley where you can try small and family vineyards and learn more about the vine-to-bottle process and Chilean wine regions.

La Piojera is considered one of Santiago’s best bars, though it’s not the ‘best’ in most of the categories people usually consider (cleanliness, ambiance, quality of drink).

What makes La Piojera special is that it’s the place to try Terremoto, the earthquake. This unusual cocktail has pipeño (fermented wine), piña (pienapple) ice cream, fernet, and grenadine, and is one of the weirdest things I’ve ever tasted. I’d call it a “Vegemite experience” – you either love it or you hate it!

Where to Stay in Santiago

Hotels in Santiago

Here are a few hotels that caught my eye in Santiago. All of these are under $200 per night, and I went for those that had some personality – and pools!

• Luciano K Hotel – I’m obsessed with the rooftop spaces, and the rooms look so luxe. From $197 per night; Read reviews on TripAdvisor and book on Booking.com .

• Casa Bueras Boutique Hotel – Located in a great spot within easy walking distance of everything I think you need to see in Santiago. From $159 per night; Read reviews on TripAdvisor and book on Booking.com .

• ICON Hotel – This might be an accident, but I found rooms here as low as $107 per night – and you’ll have stunning views from this high-rise hotel. Read reviews on TripAdvisor and book on Booking.com .

Airbnbs in Santiago

I know there’s controversy around Airbnbs, but I personally prefer them. I do my best to stay with local hosts rather than companies listing their vacation rentals on the site. After staying in so many over the years, I’ve got a good eye for them. Here are some worth considering:

• Furnished Apartment Near Recoleta – This is the first flat we stayed in, and it was perfect for our group. The view was great, the apartment was spacious, and everything went smoothly. This host has a lot of other properties, so we booked a second one with him later in the trip – it was not good, so only book this one if you like it! I can’t vouch for any of his others! Sleeps 6, from $24 per night; book on Airbnb.

• Espacioso Loft Étnico en el Barrio Bellavista – I’m obsessed with Airbnb Plus, and this is the first one that catches my eye. It’s in Bellavista, right near one of the centers of nightlife. Sleeps 3, from $53 per night; book on Airbnb .

• Sophisticated Condo in the Center of Santiago – This is a great affordable option in the heart of Santiago’s business core and near most of the major sights. Sleeps 2, from $21 per night; book on Airbnb .

Getting Around Santiago

Getting around Santiago is downright easy, between the transit system and the technology we now have available.

Public Transit in Santiago

For public transit in Santiago, you have two main options: the Metro de Santiago and the micros (buses). These two are a single transit system, which is handy because you can transfer between them. There are five metro lines and dozens of bus routes, so it’s possible to get almost anywhere within central Santiago using public transit.

The cheapest way to use public transit is with a Tarjeta bip! (beep card). The card costs 1550 CLP (about $2.50) and you can reload in denominations of 750 CLP (around $1.15); most rides are around 660 CLP (around $1).

Unfortunately, the airport is not part of the transantiago (Santiago transit system), you can easily book an airport transfer from other companies like this one or TransVIP (which is what friends and I used).

Other Transit Options

You can definitely catch Ubers or Taxis if you need to get somewhere that isn’t easily accessed on the Santiago Metro. You can also use the  hop-on hop-off bus which goes between all the major tourist attractions.

There are also airport transfer companies which you can arrange in advance or book to get to/from Santiago International Airport.

There’s also a number of bus companies that provide transport between major cities throughout Chile. These are called interurbanos, or intercity busses.

A 3-Day Itinerary for Santiago

Now you’re all set! You can put together the activities and sights you’re keen on, plus use transit to get around. Below I’ve detailed how I would put these together into a three-day Santiago itinerary.

Day 1: Exploring Santiago’s Best

Head to Bocanáriz for your reserved dining time. Enjoy Chilean wine, then a walk back to your hotel or Airbnb through the streets, which are usually quiet and peaceful after sundown.

Day 2: Wine Tasting Tour

Assuming you enjoyed last night’s wine, I recommend booking your spot on the Little Wine Bus to the Maipo Valley . This is a full-day tour (from around 9am to 6pm), so it takes most of the day.

You’ll set out from Santiago on the provided transport, and start the day with brunch at an artist’s garden. On our tour, we visited about 5-6 wineries, and had lunch at a small family restaurant and B&B, and ended the day at the guide’s home where he distills his own pipeño. (What’s pipeño? Read more here .)

Back in Santiago after the tour, you might do dinner at Sarita Colonia . I didn’t eat here during my trip, and some reviews say it is a bit overpriced, but it’s got a fun menu and good cocktails (if you need one last drink for the day!).

Day 3: Chilean Culture & Santiago Sights

For lunch, head to Vega Chica , the food market in Recoleta neighborhood. There are plenty of choices, but this is a great chance to try pasteles de choclo or porotos con riendas which are both offered at many restaurants in the market. You can then walk along the Río Mapocho toward the Belles Artes museum and Bellavista neighborhood.

For the last few hours of daylight, ascend San Cristóbal Hill using the funicular to see the city and sights atop the hill. Once the sun goes down, head back down and eat dinner on your way to La Piojera for a terremoto. (What’s terremoto? Find out here.) After one, you won’t want to do anything else for the night, and can call your trip to Santiago a success!

__ Valerie Stimac Bailey of Valerie & Valise grew up in Alaska, so it’s no surprise she loves sharing stories from there and the rest of the American West. On her blog, you can find resources to have unforgettable experiences throughout the western U.S. including California, Hawaii, and yes, The Last Frontier.

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Maps & Merlot

Your Perfect Itinerary: 4 Days in Santiago, Chile

Buckle up, fellow travelers, because this week you’re in for a treat. I just got back from a week in Chile with my lovely sister, and aside from some minor details (like freezing showers and cancelled flights), we had the most epic sister trip ever. We spent 2 days in San Pedro de Atacama and 4 days in Santiago, Chile and put together a pretty killer itinerary. You’re going to want to take notes.

We’re doing it a little differently this week, and my sister (Amy) will be helping me write the post. She’s quite the comedian, so enjoy!

Santiago, Chile is definitely worth a visit. With its vibrant streets, delightful food, and proximity to Chile’s jaw-dropping wine country, you cannot pass up a visit to Santiago, Chile. We had a jam-packed 4 days in Santiago, Chile; during our visit, we got a taste of the town, explored nearby nature, hopped over to wine country, and day tripped to Valparaiso, one of the most colorful cities I have ever visited.

This itinerary for 4 days in Santiago, Chile allows you to base yourself in Santiago for the duration of your visit, but you could also mix it up and road trip around if that is your preference. I hope this guide for 4 days in Santiago is helpful in planning your trip!

This post may contain affiliate links.

Overview: 4 Days in Santiago, Chile

Before we dive into the details, here is a quick overview of your 4 days in Santiago, Chile. In general, we used Santiago as a base to explore nearby areas so a lot of our time was spent on day trips. You can add or subtract day trips from your 4 days in Santiago to suit your traveling style!

Day 1: Bike Tour of Santiago, Chile Day 2: Cajon del Maipo Day 3: Casablanca Wine Valley Day 4: Viña del Mar & Valparaiso

Day 1 | Bike Tour of Santiago

(as written by my wonderful, sarcastic sister amy).

If you know my sister well, you should be aware that she has many wonderful qualities, but grace and coordination are definitely not two of them.  That being said, when I heard that we were going on a biking tour of Santiago , I feared that a South American emergency room visit was in our near future. Though biking probably doesn’t seem too dangerous to most, let me just tell you that one time I almost lost Melissa.

Recommended Tour : Santiago Bike Tour

Read about the time she nearly biked right off the edge of a Hawaiian volcano . If that isn’t enough evidence to convey her recklessness, I can also vividly remember a time that we were merely pedaling along the very flat Florida streets when she somehow managed to tip off her bike and lose a chunk of her chin. I was definitely hoping that this experience would end differently.

After arriving to the bike tour’s headquarters and inquiring about training wheels for Melissa (they didn’t have any, FYI) they geared us up with the sturdiest possible helmets, introduced us to our guide, and sent us on our merry way.

For three hours we pedaled around Santiago and learned about the history of the city and country as a whole. We even got to visit the local farmer’s market, which was by far the busiest farmer’s market I’ve ever attended! There we got a great taste of daily life, and it was an excellent way to kick off our first of 4 days in Santiago, Chile.

By the end of the tour I basically felt like a native and felt far better equipped to navigate the bustling city. I would definitely recommend that you go on this tour at the beginning of your time in Santiago, as the guide can show you museums, restaurants, and hidden gems that you must experience during your time there. And rest assured, if my sister can survive biking through the crowds and along the treacherous cobblestone streets, you can as well!

Day 2 | Cajon del Maipo

(this part is from me, melissa).

For day 2 of our 4 days in Santiago, Chile, we headed to Cajon del Maipo for the day. After packing into the van before the crack of dawn, we headed up toward the mountain, making scenic stops along the way.

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One of the first stops was an abandoned railroad track, and there were some cool ghost stories here…what are they, you ask? I’ll never know, because instead of sticking with our tour group, Amy bolted off running down the tunnel because it was cold outside that day. What’s an older sister to do but chase after her?

Recommended Tour : Cajon del Maipo

At the end of the tunnel, she looks back for the rest of our tour group…but they’re nowhere to be found (obviously, duh, because they actually listened to the tour!) In the early fog of morning, she claimed that she didn’t know it was an actual tour through the mine, she thought it was a DIY kind of tour!

Fortunately, we wisened up after that and stuck with the group the rest of the day to learn all the cool stories & history. So learn from our mistakes.

After some additional picturesque stops, we made it to Cajon del Maipo, and it was absolutely breathtaking…the views were to die for. Here, we took some time to hike around on our own, have ridiculous photo shoots, and ended the day with a wine picnic with views overlooking the lake .

For me, wine + pretty views = perfection. One important thing to note…there are no restrooms at Cajon del Maipo, but there is a very clean porta-potty you can pay to use…Amy and I both used it and lived to tell the tale, so you’ll be alright.

Day 3 | Casablanca Wine Valley

(that’s right, back to amy again here.).

Being a teacher of 8 year olds, a requirement of every vacation is finding an adult beverage hot spot. Luckily, in Chile there are many of these, as wine basically flows like water all throughout the country . Nearest to Santiago is the Casablanca region that features stunning (and delicious) wineries.

My sister and I could have stayed for 4 weeks in this region, but unfortunately did not so we had to make the most of our time there. Luckily, our guide was able to pick out one of the best wineries in the region, the Emiliana Vineyard, and organize a tour and tasting for us. This tour stops at multiple vineyards and allows you to enjoy guided tasting sessions and learn about the winemaking process.

Recommended Tour : Casablanca Wine Tasting

Upon arriving at the vineyard we learned that it was an organic vineyard fertilized by their very own adorable alpacas and chickens that produced not so adorable “black gold” aka droppings. We also learned that this was a biodynamic vineyard (didn’t even know that was even a real word), which is apparently a method of planting involving astronomical configurations.

After becoming wine experts, expanding our vocabulary, and attempting to get selfies with a few alpacas, we finally got to my favorite part—the tasting. As if our guide knew that our wine would taste better in a small group setting away from the main tour, he kindly arranged a separate tasting just for us!

Let me tell you—the wine did NOT disappoint. A few glasses of wine and a slight buzz later, my sister and I were headed with four newly purchased wine bottles in tow to the next stop on our journey. This was for sure a highlight of our 4 days in Santiago, Chile. 

Explore More Wine Tours Around the World:

• Portugal : Douro Valley Wine Tasting from Porto, Portugal
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Day 4 | Viña del Mar & Valparaiso

(and throwing it back to melissa for the finale.).

On your last day in Santiago, head on over to Viña del Mar & Valparaiso . Viña del Mar is more of a resort town, and is great for a quick stop and lunch overlooking the ocean. Make sure to check out the flower clock and moai statue while you’re in town.

Then drum roll for Valparaiso…one of the most colorful cities I’ve ever visited! And everyone knows when two sisters travel to a colorful place with awesome street art, you can’t help but have insanely fun photo shoots throughout the city . Hector (our guide) knew all the top murals around town, so we cruised up and down the hills, exploring Alegre, Bellavista, and Concepcion, to name a few.

Recommended Tour : Viña del Mar & Valparaiso

I actually wrote a whole post on the best places to take photos in Valparaiso because we loved it and had approximately 2 million pictures from the day. For now, I’ll leave you with a few of my fave pictures around the city…you’ll have to check out the Valpo post for my top 20!

If You Have Extra Time…

If you have spare time in Santiago, I have plenty of suggestions on what to do to fill your days.

• Mountain Horseback Riding – Gallop through the rugged mountains of Chile while experiencing views like no other.
• Santiago Markets Tour by Bike – One of my favorite things to do in a city is to do a biking food tour. Not only do you get a taste for the local cuisine, but walking helps make sure you still fit in your pants at the end!
• Santiago hop-on, hop-off bus – If you’re not in the mood to walk or bike the city, the hop-on, hop-off bus tour is an easy way to see a lot in a short period of time.
• Portillo Inca Lagoon – Last but certainly not least, is a day trip to a beautiful lagoon in the Andes Mountains. Best of all, this tour includes a stop at the San Esteban vineyard…and everyone knows wine only improves the experience!

Where to Stay in Santiago, Chile

Santiago has a little bit of everything, from quirky hostels to luxurious hotels and everything in between.

Luxury : You can’t beat the Ritz-Carlton, Santiago . This 5-star hotel offers a rooftop spa with stunning views of the snow-capped Andes and the Santiago skyline. Relax in the jacuzzi with a pisco sour in hand and soak in the white glove service.

Boutique Hotel : I love Hotel Boutique Le Reve for a unique hotel stay. You can feel the French tradition permeating the hotel’s décor and stylish courtyard. Not to mention, this charming hotel has an amazing location and is walking distance to 2 metro stops and a bus line, which makes your transport around Santiago extremely easy!

Mid-Range: I’d recommend   Hotel Solace Santiago .  The hotel has a great location in the Providencia neighborhood, and includes a sun terrace with views of the city!

Budget: For the backpacker option, check out  La Chimba Hostel in the Bellavista District.  The Bellavista district is super artsy and colorful. Plus the hostel is located a street away from one of the main party scenes in the city; it’s also cool just chilling in the hostel courtyard with a bottle of wine (the pic below is the hostel!)

Flights to Santiago, Chile

Finding cheap flights to Santiago is hit and miss, but you can sometimes stumble across great deals, particularly through the US. A lot of the US-based flights will connect in Miami.

I’d recommend searching for cheap flights through eDreams .  They scan tons of different travel discount sites and feature special flight deals. Note: I’d suggest avoiding LATAM if at all possible. We flew them down, and while it was cheap, it was an absolute nightmare, and ended up being a 54 hour journey door to door…save yourself the misery and fly literally any other airline.

Also, I’d recommend booking a private transfer to your accommodation in advance…navigating the metro looked impossible to my sleep-deprived self, and the taxi stand wasn’t much better.

And there you have it, an epic 4 days in Santiago, Chile, and the most fun-filled itinerary you could ever wish for! So have you been to Santiago? Hit me with your favorite things to do in the comments!

Chile : 2 Days in San Pedro de Atacama Chile : 4 day itinerary In Santiago, Chile Bucket List : 30 Dream Travel Destinations Around the World

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My mom and Amy would get along! She text me a picture in high school of a bloody towel over her nose (which was broken) after she flipped her mountain bike on a crazy trail. I am definitely more cautious! Santiago looks so beautiful, the views and the alpacas are the best 🙂 I can’t wait to adventure there one day!

Lol that’s so bad hahaha. And yes, I hope you make it to Santiago soon!!

I think doing a bike tour would be a lovely way to explore Santiago! I once did one in Barcelona and it was fun, though a bit crazy with the driving! #FeetDoTravel

Haha I know what you mean! This one mostly kept us on bike lanes and sidewalks so we felt pretty safe!

What a colorful place! So lively and fun. You and your sister remind me of when I’ve traveled with my daughter and had so many good times — girl trip! We’ve been to Europe, San Francisco, Disney World. When you have a great traveling companion, the trip is extra fun!

It sounds like you guys have had some fun trips too! Def agree on finding a good traveling companion!

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