guide voyage chili

Durée de séjour

Construire son itinéraire, une semaine, deux semaines, trois semaines.

Exemples d’Itinéraires pour un Road Trip au Chili

• par Nathalie
• 11 mars 2024

On a réalisé une grande enquête auprès de 645 voyageurs qui ont visité le Chili. On leur a demandé combien de temps ils sont restés au Chili et quelle note ils donneraient à leur expérience de road trip dans ce pays. En savoir plus sur notre méthodologie

Les répondants à notre enquête sont restés en moyenne 30 jours au Chili.

Satisfaction en fonction de la durée de séjour :

• 8 % des répondants ont voyagé 2 semaines ou moins , ils ont donné une note moyenne de 7,8 / 10
• 37 % des répondants ont voyagé 3 ou 4 semaines , ils ont donné une note moyenne de 8,0 / 10
• 40 % des répondants ont voyagé 5 à 8 semaines , ils ont donné une note moyenne de 8,3 / 10
• 15 % des répondants ont voyagé plus de 8 semaines , ils ont donné une note moyenne de 8,7 / 10

Lors d’un voyage au Chili, les trajets prennent du temps. Les distances entre les principaux centres d’intérêt se révèlent immenses. Il est important d’en avoir conscience lorsque vous préparez votre itinéraire. Cela implique souvent de devoir faire des choix parmi les destinations. Pour optimiser au maximum vos trajets lors de votre voyage, pensez aux bus de nuit. Le réseau est extrêmement bien développé. Pour en savoir plus, consultez notre article sur les bus au Chili . Un mois s’avère être le minimum si vous souhaitez découvrir l’essentiel du pays du nord au sud.

La Patagonie

Vouloir visiter la Patagonie sur un court séjour nécessite d’effectuer plusieurs vols internes. Vous pensez peut-être au ferry comme alternative à l’avion, mais sachez que ce moyen de transport prend du temps et que c’est l’un des pires du point de vue des émissions de CO2. Pour une alternative plus respectueuse de l’environnement, vous pouvez rejoindre cette région par voie terrestre en passant par l’Argentine. La solution la plus logique pour découvrir au mieux la Patagonie semble donc de coupler ces deux pays sur un même itinéraire.

Itinéraire 1 : L’île de Pâques

Si vous n’avez qu’une semaine à passer au Chili, on vous conseille d’ opter pour l’île de Pâques . Il s’agit de LA destination favorite des voyageurs d’après notre enquête. Ce choix s’avère d’autant plus judicieux qu’à cause de la géographie du Chili, il semble très compliqué de visiter plusieurs points d’intérêt sur le continent en un temps si court. Vous pouvez ainsi découvrir quasiment l’intégralité de l’île et vous imprégner de l’atmosphère unique qui y règne.

Vous trouverez un exemple d’itinéraire dans notre dossier complet sur l’île de Pâques.

Itinéraire 2 : Autour de Santiago

• Santiago, 1 jour
• Valparaiso, 2 jours
• Vicuna, 3 jours

Jour 1 1 Santiago

Si vous n’avez qu’une semaine, il vaut mieux rester sur le continent. Vous pouvez passez une journée à Santiago .

🛏️ Nos lecteurs vous conseillent l’ Hostal Vitalia et le Ventana Sur Hostal à Santiago.

Jours 2, 3 2 Valparaiso

Rejoignez le littoral. Découvrez Valparaiso , ses funiculaires et ses maisons colorées.

🛏️ Nos lecteurs vous conseillent le Casa Volante Hostal et le Maki Hostel à Valparaiso.

Jours 4, 5, 6 3 Vicuna

Direction maintenant Vicuna , un peu plus au Nord, pour découvrir une partie de la région viticole du Chili. Profitez de la fabuleuse vallée de l’Elqui lors d’une promenade à vélo.

Laissez-vous émerveiller par les nuits étoilées. Apprenez-en davantage sur la Voie lactée lors d’une soirée dans un des centres astronomiques.

S’il vous reste du temps, programmez une excursion vers la réserve nationale Pingüino de Humboldt.

🛏️ Nos lecteurs vous conseillent l’ Hostal Michel et l’ Hostal El Colibri à Vicuna.

Jour 7 Retour à Santiago

Temps de trajets et transports.

Source : ADEME. Voir notre article sur les émissions de CO2 en voyage .

Si vous n’accordez que deux semaines au Chili, vous devrez choisir entre découvrir le Nord ou le Sud . Dans le nord, des paysages désertiques et surnaturels s’offriront à vous. Vous pourrez observer des flamants roses, des vigognes ou encore des lamas dans les réserves et parcs nationaux de l’Altiplano. Si vous choisissez de partir vers le sud, vous plongerez au cœur d’une région où se côtoient forêts, lacs, volcans, montagnes et glaciers.

Itinéraire 1 : Le Nord

• Santiago, 2 jours
• Valparaiso, 3 jours
• San Pedro de Atacama, 4 jours
• Putre, 3 jours

Jours 1, 2 1 Santiago

Une fois arrivés à Santiago , vous pouvez y passer deux jours afin de vous remettre du voyage. Visitez succinctement la ville et profitez surtout de son confort.

Jours 3, 4, 5 2 Valparaiso

Ensuite, direction Valparaiso . Déambulez dans les rues, empruntez un vieux funiculaire pour atteindre un des points de vue sur la ville depuis le haut d’une colline. Le Cerro Artilleria surplombe le port, le Cerro Carcel offre une vue imprenable sur la baie et le Cerro Baron domine les maisons colorées du centre. Pour en savoir plus sur le street art qui fait la popularité de la ville, joignez-vous à un Free Walking Tour. Le soir, appréciez l’ambiance festive qui règne dans la « vallée du paradis ».

Jour 6 2 → 3 Trajet de Valparaiso à San Pedro de Atacama

Jours 7, 8, 9, 10 3 san pedro de atacama.

Prenez la route vers le nord. Depuis San Pedro de Atacama , organisez différentes excursions : la Valle de la Luna, les Geysers del Tatio et la réserve Los Flamencos font partie des incontournables. Explorez le désert le jour et le soir profitez du magnifique ciel étoilé et du charme du village.

🛏️ Nos lecteurs vous conseillent l’ Aji Verde Hostel , l’ Hostel Laskar et l’ Hostal Siete Colores à San Pedro de Atacama.

Jours 11, 12, 13 4 Putre

Poussez l’expérience jusqu’à la frontière péruvienne. À Putre , vous aurez la chance de découvrir le parc national Lauca, sauvage et encore peu fréquenté. Trois jours permettent de prendre le temps et de s’acclimater à l’altitude.

🛏️ Nos lecteurs vous conseillent le Pachamama Hostal à Putre.

Jour 14 Retour à Santiago

Alternatives.

• Si l’altitude vous déplaît et pour un itinéraire comportant moins de route, n’allez pas jusque Putre. Vous pouvez faire un arrêt de trois jours dans le parc national Pan de Azucar avant de rejoindre San Pedro de Atacama. Cette pause idéale dans le trajet vous permettra découvrir la côte et ses plages. Campez pour profiter au maximum du parc.
• Depuis San Pedro de Atacama, vous pouvez aussi organiser une excursion de trois jours vers la Bolivie, le Salar de Uyuni et la région du Sud Lipez . À ne pas rater si la Bolivie ne fait pas partie de vos futures destinations !

Itinéraire 2 : Le Sud

• Pucon, 3 jours
• Île de Chiloe, 3 jours
• Torres del Paine, 3 jours

Jours 6 2 → 3 Trajet de Valparaiso à Pucon

Jours 6, 7, 8 3 pucon.

En route vers le sud. Direction Pucon , dans la région des lacs. Effectuez une des belles marches du parc national Huerquehue ou l’ascension du volcan Villarica. Vous pouvez aussi choisir parmi les nombreuses activités proposées depuis la ville (escalade, rafting, kayak, équitation, vélo).

🛏️ Nos lecteurs vous conseillent l’ French Andes Apart Hostel et le Chili Kiwi Lakefront à Pucon.

Jours 9, 10, 11 4 Île de Chiloe

Vous prendrez ensuite la direction de l’ île de Chiloe . Depuis Castro, vous pouvez rayonner sur toute l’île. Prenez le temps de vous imprégner de sa culture particulière, d’apprécier son architecture et de goûter le plat traditionnel : le Curanto.

Depuis Ancud, partez pour une excursion vers Punihuil et faites la rencontre des manchots.

🛏️ Nos lecteurs vous conseillent le 13 Lunas Hostel à Chiloe.

Jours 12, 13, 14 5 Torres del Paine

Poursuivez encore plus loin vers le sud pour rejoindre le parc national Torres del Paine , véritable condensé des paysages que la Patagonie peut offrir. Ne ratez pas les points incontournables : les tours de granit, la vallée Frances et le glacier Grey. Vous pouvez organiser la visite depuis Puerto Natales

🛏️ Nos lecteurs vous conseillent la Puma House , l’ Hostel Last Hope et El Patagonico à Puerto Natales.

Jour 15 Retour à Santiago

• Vous pouvez visiter le parc national Conguillio depuis Temuco et vous arrêter un peu moins longtemps à Pucon.
• Si vous avez plus de temps, le ferry entre Puerto Montt et Puerto Natales peut être une belle expérience. Le trajet dure un peu plus de de trois jours à travers les fjords de l’Araucanie et de la région Magallanes.
• Si vous souhaitez réaliser le trek W du parc Torres del Paine sur cinq jours, rejoignez Puerto Natales directement après votre séjour à Pucon.

Combinez l’un des circuits sur deux semaines (“le Nord” ou “le Sud”) avec celui d’une semaine sur l’ île de Pâques .

Itinéraire 1 : Le Nord et l’île de Pâques

• Île de Pâques, 5 jours

Jour 14, 15 4 → 5 Trajet de Putre à l’île de Pâques via Santiago

Jours 16, 17 5 hanga roa & ana kakenga – île de pâques.

Sur l’ île de Pâques , visitez et profitez tout d’abord de l’ambiance de Hanga Roa : son église, ses marchés, son petit port de pêche et bien sûr, familiarisez-vous avec les Ahu, ces plates-formes sur lesquelles s’érigent les statues Moai. Apprenez-en davantage sur l’histoire de l’île au musée Sebastian Englert. Une marche de quatre kilomètres vous conduira jusqu’à Ana Kakenga , la “grotte aux deux fenêtres”. C’est un point de vue parfait pour profiter du coucher du soleil.

Jour 18 5 Ana Kai, Rano Kau & Orongo – Île de Pâques

Continuez votre découverte des grottes, l’autre grande attraction de l’île. Vous pouvez rejoindre celle d’ Ana Kai Tangata à pied ou à vélo. Elle se situe au Sud de Hanga Roa. Profitez de la vue sur le volcan Rano Kau et visitez le site d’ Orongo , un ancien village cérémoniel.

Jour 19 5 Ahu Tongariki & Rona Raraku – Île de Pâques

Louez une voiture ou un vélo pour les plus sportifs et longez la côte sud de l’île jusqu’à Ahu Tongariki . Avec ses quinze statues Moaï alignées dos à l’océan, l’imposante plate-forme de cent mètres de long représente pour beaucoup le point d’orgue d’un voyage à l’île de Pâques. Le plus grand Moaï mesure 8,7 mètres et pèse 86 tonnes. Sur le trajet, vous trouverez de nombreuses autres plates-formes plus ou moins bien conservées. Chacune porte un nom avec une signification particulière. Attardez-vous sur le volcan Rano Raraku , sa colline et sa carrière. Vous y découvrirez la plupart des figures Moaï les plus célèbres.

Jour 20 5 Ahu Akivi, Ana Te Pahu, Anakena, Terevaka & Poike – Île de Pâques

Au centre de l’île, visitez le site archéologique Ahu Akivi et la caverne Ana Te Pahu pour comprendre comment l’île s’est formée. Prenez ensuite la direction du nord pour une dernière après-midi détente sur la plage d’ Anakena . Pour les randonneurs, deux ascensions offrent des points de vue exceptionnels sur l’île. Depuis le sommet du mont Terevaka , le point culminant, vous aurez un vue à 360°. Pour une vue sur la côte Nord et Sud-Ouest, sur le Ahu Tongariki et le volcan Ranu Raraku, il faudra atteindre le sommet du volcan Poike . Vous pouvez parcourir ces sentiers à cheval si vous le souhaitez. Comptez une demie-journée pour ces excursions. Choisissez un jour de temps clair et évitez les heures les plus chaudes.

Jour 21 Retour à Santiago

Itinéraire 2 : le sud et l’île de pâques.

Jour 15 5 → 6 Trajet de Puerto Natales à l’île de Pâques via Santiago

Jours 16, 17 6 hanga roa & ana kakenga – île de pâques, jour 18 6 ana kai, rano kau & orongo – île de pâques, jour 19 6 ahu tongariki & rona raraku – île de pâques, jour 20 6 ahu akivi, ana te pahu, anakena, terevaka & poike – île de pâques, itinéraire 1 : la carretera austral et la patagonie.

Pour mettre ce mois à profit, lancez-vous dans un road trip hors des sentiers battus le long de la mythique route numéro 7 : la fameuse Carretera austral. Vous pourrez ainsi profiter au maximum des paysages magiques de la région des lacs avant de découvrir le meilleur de la Patagonie côté chilien et argentin.

• Puerto Varas, 2 jours
• Chaiten, 1 jour
• Futaleufu, 1 jour
• Puyuhuapi, 2 jours
• Coyhaique, 1 jour
• Villa Cerro Castillo, 2 jours
• Puerto Rio Tranquilo, 2 jours
• Cochrane, 3 jours
• Caleta Tortel, 2 jours
• El Chalten (Argentine), 2 jours
• El Calafate (Argentine), 2 jours
• Ushuaïa (Argentine), 1 jour
• Puerto Williams, 3 jours

Jours 1, 2 1 Arrivée à Santiago et trajet vers Puerto Varas

Une fois arrivé à Santiago , prenez le temps de vous remettre du voyage. Visitez succinctement la ville, profitez surtout de son confort et filez vers le sud.

Jours 3, 4 2 Puerto Varas

Votre road trip débute au cœur de la région des lacs, à Puerto Varas . Depuis cette charmante petite ville, vous pourrez vous promener le long des lacs, visiter les chutes de Petrohue ou encore réaliser l’ascension du volcan Osorno.

🛏️ Nos lecteurs vous conseillent le MaPatagonia Hostel et l’ Hostal Compass del Sur à Puerto Varas.

Jours 5, 6, 7 3 Île de Chiloe

Ensuite, prenez la direction de l’ île de Chiloe . Accordez-vous trois jours pour réellement vous imprégner de la culture et de l’atmosphère unique qui y règne. Depuis Ancud, partez à la rencontre de la faune marine lors d’une excursion vers Punihuil.

Jour 8 4 Chaiten

Il est temps de rejoindre la route australe. Longue de 1240 km, elle donne accès à plus de 18 réserves et zones naturelles protégées. Pour démarrer cette aventure, empruntez le ferry entre Quellon et Chaiten . Depuis là, vous pouvez accéder au parc national de Pumalin, à ses fjords et ses forêts.

Jour 9 5 Futaleufu

Pour plus d’adrénaline, vous pouvez, un peu loin, tenter le rafting sur la rivière de Futaleufu .

Jours 10, 11 6 Puyuhuapi

Continuez sur la route jusque Puyuhuapi , où vous attend le majestueux glacier suspendu du parc national Queulat.

Jour 12 7 Coyhaique

Après ces dix premiers jours remplis de découvertes, faites si besoin le plein de fournitures et/ou confort à Coyhaique avant de reprendre la route.

Jours 13, 14 8 Villa Cerro Castillo

Direction Villa Cerro Castillo . Depuis là, vous pouvez atteindre en une journée de marche un beau point de vue sur le sommet aux pointes basaltiques du Cerro Castillo.

Jours 15, 16 9 Puerto Rio Tranquilo

Puerto Rio Tranquilo et sa cathédrale de marbre bleue constitueront votre prochaine étape. Ici, vous pouvez aussi décider de chausser les crampons pour une randonnée sur le glacier Exploradores.

Jours 17, 18, 19 10 Cochrane

Toujours sur la Carretera Austral, suivez la rivière Baker sans manquer l’intersection qui mène au parc Patagonia . Vous pouvez aisément passer trois jours à l’intérieur du parc pour prendre le temps de parcourir les différents sentiers.

Jours 20, 21 11 Caleta Tortel

Pour terminer cette expérience sur la route australe, rendez-vous à Caleta Tortel où vous pourrez vous reposer avant le prochain trajet. En effet, comptez au moins 24 heures pour rejoindre votre point d’entrée en Patagonie.

🛏️ Nos lecteurs vous conseillent l’ Hospedaje y Cabañas Mary à Tortel.

Jour 22 11 → 12 Trajet de Caleta Tortel à El Chalten

Jours 23, 24, 25, 26 12 13 el chalten et el calafate – argentine.

À El Chalten , en Argentine, vous aurez un premier aperçu de cette région sauvage qu’est la Patagonie avec le Fitz Roy, puis avec le fabuleux glacier du Perito Moreno à El Calafate .

🛏️ Nos lecteurs vous conseillent le Rancho Grande Hostel et l’ Hostería El Pilar à El Chalten.

Jour 27 13 → 14 Trajet de El Calafate à Ushuaia

Jours 28, 29, 30 15 puerto williams.

Vous pouvez maintenant vous rendre dans la partie la plus australe de la Patagonie. Une fois arrivés à Ushuaia , traversez en bateau le canal de Beagle pour atteindre la Isla Navarino. Depuis Puerto Williams , mettez-vous dans la peau d’un explorateur lors d’une croisière jusqu’au Cap Horn ou d’une randonnée sur l’île.

🛏️ Nos lecteurs vous conseillent le Los Calafates Hotel , le La Posta Apart et le Hosteria y Restaurante America à Ushuaia.

Jours 31, 32, 33 16 Torres del Paine

En remontant vers le nord, vous concluez cet itinéraire par un dernier arrêt, mais pas des moindres. Puerto Natales vous donne en effet accès à l’incontournable parc national Torres del Paine .

Jours 34 Retour à Santiago

• Adaptez cet itinéraire en fonction des randonnées de plusieurs jours que vous aurez choisi de réaliser. Comptez par exemple quatre jours pour le trek du Cerro Castillo, cinq jours pour le circuit W de Torres del Paine. Vous pouvez aussi combiner les différents chemins du parc Patagonia. Pour les aventuriers, le trek de cinq jours Los Dientes sur la Isla Navarino n’attend que vous !
• Si vous avez plus de temps, le ferry entre Puerto Williams et Puerto Natales peut être une belle expérience. Le trajet dure 32 heures à travers les fjords de l’Antarctique chilien.

Pour réaliser cet itinéraire, vous pouvez louer une voiture à Puerto Montt (possibilité de la rendre à Coyhaique) pour suivre la route australe, puis continuer en bus à partir de Chile Chico. Avoir son propre véhicule offre une certaine liberté, mais le coût de la location peut peser dans le budget. Vous pouvez aussi effectuer tout le circuit en bus, ce qui est plus économique et écologique, mais le réseau sur la Carretera austral est moins développé que dans le reste du pays. Cela demande un peu plus d’organisation.

Itinéraire 2 : L’essentiel du Chili

Cet itinéraire réunit huit destinations parmi les favorites des voyageurs selon notre enquête. Pour réaliser ce circuit, il vous faudra parcourir plus de 20 000 kilomètres.

Jour 1, 2, 3 1 Santiago

Une fois arrivés à Santiago , vous pouvez y passer deux jours afin de vous remettre du voyage. Visitez succinctement la ville et profitez de son confort avant de vous envoler directement pour l’île de Pâques.

Jours 4, 5 1 Hanga Roa & Ana Kakenga – Île de Pâques

Jour 6 1 ana kai, rano kau & orongo – île de pâques, jour 7 1 ahu tongariki & rona raraku – île de pâques, jour 8 1 ahu akivi, ana te pahu, anakena, terevaka & poike – île de pâques, jour 9 2 → 3 trajet de l’île de pâques à valparaiso, jours 10, 11 3 valparaiso.

De retour sur le continent, rejoignez le littoral. Découvrez Valparaiso , ses funiculaires et ses maisons colorées.

Jours 12, 13, 14 4 Vicuna

Jours 15, 16, 17, 18 5 san pedro de atacama.

Continuez la route vers le nord. Depuis San Pedro de Atacama , organisez différentes excursions : la Valle de la Luna, les Geysers del Tatio et la réserve Los Flamencos font partie des incontournables. Explorez le désert le jour et le soir profitez du magnifique ciel étoilé et du charme du village.

Jours 19, 20, 21 6 Putre

Jour 22 6 → 7 trajet de putre à puerto natales, jours 23, 24, 25 7 torres del paine.

Commencez votre découverte de la Patagonie avec le parc national Torres del Paine , véritable condensé des paysages que la région peut offrir. Ne ratez pas les points incontournables : les tours de granit, la vallée Frances et le glacier Grey. Vous pouvez organiser la visite depuis Puerto Natales .

Jours 26, 27, 28 8 Île de Chiloe

Jours 29, 30, 31 9 pucon.

Un peu plus au nord, arrêtez-vous à Pucon , dans la région des lacs. Effectuez une des belles marches du parc national Huerquehue ou l’ascension du volcan Villarica. Vous pouvez aussi choisir parmi les nombreuses activités proposées depuis la ville (escalade, rafting, kayak, équitation, vélo).

Jour 32 Retour à Santiago

Autres dossiers sur le chili.

• Où nous trouver ?
• Espace client
• Notre vision du sur-mesure
• Nos services pour vous faciliter le voyage
• Nos spécialistes par pays et par régions
• Notre engagement écologique
• Éditions pays : partir bien inspiré
• Journal Voyageurs : notre magazine annuel
• Livre : Une croisière sur le Nil
• Mag Web : le blog Voyageurs
• Guides destinations : bien préparer son voyage
• Qui sommes-nous ?
• L’interview de Jean-François Rial, pdg de Voyageurs du Monde
• Carrières : rejoignez-nous !
• Bosnie-Herzégovine
• Pays baltes
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• Afrique du Sud
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• Corée du Sud
• Philippines

• Azerbaidjan
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• Antilles françaises
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• Île de Pâques
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• Rép. Dominicaine
• Saint-Barthélemy
• Sainte-Lucie
• Saint-Martin
• Saint-Vincent & Grenadines
• Turks & Caicos

• Arabie Saoudite
• Dubaï & les Émirats

• Nouvelle-Calédonie
• Nouvelle-Zélande

Guide de voyage Chili

• Tous les pays
• Algérie
• Antarctique
• Arabie saoudite
• Arménie
• Azerbaïdjan
• Bosnie-Herzégovine
• Brésil
• Corée du Sud
• Dubaï & les Emirats
• Géorgie
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• Ile Maurice
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• Indonésie
• Irlande du Nord
• Israël
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• La Réunion
• Macédoine
• Monténégro
• Nigéria
• Norvège
• Nouvelle-Calédonie
• Nouvelle-Zélande
• Ouzbékistan
• Polynésie
• République dominicaine
• République tchèque
• Saint Barthélemy
• Saint Martin
• Sainte Lucie
• Sao Tomé et Principe
• Sénégal
• Slovénie
• Taïwan
• Thaïlande
• Turks et Caïcos
• Vénézuela
• Voyage Chili
• Ile de Pâques
• L'Atacama & le Nord
• Patagonie Chilienne
• Au coin du feu
• Croisières
• Déconnecter
• Je voyage en solo
• Les grands voyages
• L'Esprit Voyageurs
• Nature et art de vivre
• Noël & Réveillons
• Partir à deux
• Sous le soleil exactement
• Vacances de février
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• Voyages de noces

Le Chili en bref

Temps de vol, décalage horaire, quand partir au chili.

Février

Décembre

5 bonnes raisons de partir au Chili

Vivre le rite initiatique de la patagonie

Se perdre dans santiago

Prendre le funiculiare a valparaiso

Boire un mate dans le desert d’atacama

Voguer d’ile en ile

Carnet Pratique

• Infos Pratiques

Mieux comprendre Le Chili

• Infos pratiques
• A savoir avant de partir

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L’âme du Chili

Chili : Carnet pratique

L’île de Pâques et son peuple de pierre

San Pedro de Atacama, la vie du vide

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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 .

Click to navigate this article:

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 :)

Ultimate CHILE Travel Guide

Chile is a country located in South America .  Santiago is the capital and it is a country known for its culture, natural wonders, and diversity. Our Chile travel guide is here to help you see the best it offers.

Don’t let the skinny strip of Chile on the map fool you into thinking there isn’t much there. If you love adventure and wild landscapes, Chile delivers that and so much more.

The most famous area is Patagonia and if you like hiking, Torres del Paine is world-famous. Nearby Punta Arenas offers glaciers and penguins too.

For elevation, salt flats, flamingos, geysers and volcanoes, head north to the Atacama Desert. This area blew our minds and we couldn’t believe we had overlooked it on previous trips to South America.

Also, if you didn’t know, Easter Island is politically part of Chile. While we classify it as part of Oceania, the best way to access this intriguing place is from Santiago.

Destinations

Chile travel: quick tips, don’t visit chile without:.

UNIVERSAL TRAVEL ADAPTER

GET A GUIDEBOOK

REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE

START PLANNING YOUR TRIP!

Where to stay in chile.

Below you will find some of the places we have stayed during our travels in Chile. These are individual properties that we enjoyed and would recommend to other travelers.

HOW TO GET AROUND IN CHILE

Anyone looking to travel to Chile will likely fly into Santiago and connect to the other airports across the country. From any city connected by airplane, it is possible to use public transportation to see the city or take buses further afield.

Many people choose to engage in group tours or day tours to get around and see things in Chile. It is also possible to rent a car and plan a road trip that takes you further afield and out of the city.

TOP CHILE TOURS

HIGHLIGHTS OF CHILE

9 Days Santiago to Buenos Aires Visits: Santiago, Valparaiso, Pucon, Bariloche & Estancia

TORRES DEL PAINE – W TREK

6 Days from Puerto Natales Visits: Fully catered trek on the famous W route in Patagonia

EASTER ISLAND INDEPENDENT

4 Days from Hanga Roa Visits: Hanga Roa & Rapa Nui National Park

PLAN YOUR TRIP LIKE A SEASONED PRO!

Chile travel: booking resources, chile travel guide: related articles.

Looking for more info? Check out all the articles we’ve written on travel to Chile and start planning your dream trip.

How to Visit Easter Island: Essential Planning Guide

9 things to do & places to visit in san pedro de atacama, rapa nui national park: moai of easter island, explora atacama: salta to san pedro de atacama travesia.

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Your Trip to Chile: The Complete Guide

• Best Time to Visit
• Weather & Climate
• Airports in Chile
• Best Santiago Hotels
• One-Week Itinerary for Chile
• 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

South America’s skinniest country spans a volcano-fringed desert, fertile wine valleys, pristine fjords, and glacier stippled mountain ranges making it the ultimate destination for adventure travelers. This guide to Chile is a one-stop-shop for planning, covering everything from must-see places, tantalizing local cuisine, and money-saving tips to help you squeeze the most out of your trip.

Planning Your Trip

• Best Time to Visit: Most trips are timed to make the most of fine weather in Patagonia in the south, with the austral spring, summer, and early autumn (October through April) good months for clear, warm days.
• Language: Chileans speak Spanish but thanks to their penchant for slang and dropping constants at the end of words, bringing a phrasebook is recommended even for advanced Spanish speakers. Most tourist-fronting businesses have good English, as do younger Chileans residing in Santiago.
• Currency: The Chilean peso ($ CLP) is the official currency of Chile.  
• Getting Around: Chile has an extensive infrastructure of increasingly low-cost flights that connect most cities across the country and, if booked in advance, are often significantly cheaper than buses. However, most inter-city flights are indirect and pass through the capital, so expect to spend plenty of time in Santiago’s domestic terminal. For local travel, affordable and comfortable bus services cater to short and overnight journeys, while Santiago’s excellent Metro/subway system is an easy and cheap means of exploring the capital. Hiring a rental car is an excellent option in Chile, particularly for exploring Patagonia.
• Travel Tip: Chile is a vast country packed with far more than you can see in a short period of time. We know it’s tempting to cram a whole month’s worth of activities into a far shorter time period, but we strongly recommend stripping your trip down to just a small number of destinations. You’ll spend far fewer hours on flights or overnight buses and come away wowed by the deep and unforgettable moments you’ve had the time and space to experience.

Things to Do

Chile’s remarkable diversity of landscapes and culture means you’re guaranteed to find plenty to fill an action-packed vacation. The north is home to the Atacama Desert, with its world-class stargazing and otherworldly landscapes; Santiago brims with fine museums, trendy new restaurants, and a burgeoning street art scene; the Central Valley is a place of rolling vineyards and classy boutique hotels; while the Lakes region is volcano country, where the intrepid can summit a fiery giant. In the far south, Patagonia is a place of pristine national parks and outdoor adventure, while west across the Pacific brings you to Rapa Nui (Easter Island), a UNESCO World Heritage site dotted with statues of long-lost ancestors.

On a first trip to Chile, don’t miss the following:

• Spend a day exploring coastal Valparaíso ’s tumbling, street art daubed hills, dining on freshly-caught fish in its trendy eateries, and learning about the life and loves of the much-adored Chilean Nobel Prize-winning poet, Pablo Neruda.
• Strap on your hiking boots and discover Patagonia’s most striking wildernesses in Torres del Paine National Park . Clamber up to glassy lagoons or paddle a kayak across icy waters filled with bobbing icebergs to admire vast glaciers. Head out by boat to visit chattering Magellanic penguin colonies or learn how to be a cowboy at a sheep ranch before dining on local specialties of spit-roasted lamb and king crab.
• To appreciate a completely different side to Chile, take the six-hour flight across the Pacific to Rapa Nui—a Polynesian island home to almost 900 moai (stone statues)  —to tour these sacred sites, dive into warm, crystalline waters, and sample tuna ceviche.

Get more inspiration with our guide to the top destinations to visit in Chile , the best things to do in Chile , and the best things to do in Santiago .

What to Eat and Drink

Chile might not be known for its dining scene, but prepare to be surprised. This is a country with a tradition of asado (barbecue) and expertly-cooked seafood, while growing indigenous culinary influences promise truly inventive flavors.

Santiago is a hub of increasingly fine dining, with a handful of restaurants that showcase unusual Chilean ingredients now on the world’s best restaurant lists. But it’s not all fancy: traditional markets and no-frills food trucks in the capital are great places for classic Chilean meat and fish stews and savory empanadas. In the south, Chiloé Island is proud of its traditional seafood dishes including curanto (a seafood stew cooked underground), while Patagonia lays claim to juicy lamb roasted for hours over an open fire.  

Chile is home to two main alcoholic drinks: wine and pisco. A large proportion of the Central Valley is stippled with vineyards, with Colchagua and Casablanca the most sought after, for their red carménère and white sauvignon blancs respectively, and both offering tours, tastings, and even top dollar dining. Further north in the Elqui Valley, moscatel grapes are fermented to become the grape brandy, pisco, which is best sampled in the zingy cocktail, pisco sour, which any self-respecting bar across the country can whip up.  

Learn more about what to eat with our list of must-try Chilean foods .

Where to Stay

Chilean accommodations run the whole gamut of basic campsites to exclusive five-star hotels, with plenty of family-run B&Bs, boutique hotels, and rental cabins in between.

Santiago is home to a wealth of affordable B&Bs and small hotels located right in the heart of the tourist districts of Lastarria, Bellavista, and Italia, granting quick access to the metro, as well as excellent restaurants, bars, and shops on your doorsteps. In more rural parts and in national parks across the country you'll find increasingly stylish chalet-style cabins. They are a hallmark of Chile and a great option for self-catering, with many built to include hot tubs. In Chiloé, you’ll want to stay in an oceanside palafito (a traditional fisherman’s dwelling on stilts) for the best sea views.

In the south, long-distance treks through isolated national parks mean lodgings in campsites or hostel-style accommodation, although many parks are now home to at least one five-star hotel, generally tucked deep into the wilderness and offering outstanding, lavish accommodation. In more remote parts of Patagonia, sheep and cattle ranches, many of which are still operational, also provide comfortable, sometimes rustic lodgings—all with the opportunity to enjoy a traditional Patagonian barbecue feast. 

Getting There

Santiago’s one international airport, Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez, is the hub for all flights into the country with a record-setting 24.6 million people passing through the airport in 2019.   Most U.S. airports have connections with Santiago, with many offering direct flights in the summer months. These include American Airlines, Delta, and United Airlines.

If flying from within South America, budget companies including Sky Airlines and Jet Smart, as well as regional mainstay LATAM, provide the most frequent connections from hubs such as Lima in Peru and Buenos Aires in Argentina.

Rickety buses also provide an overland connection to Chile from Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina, although adventure cruise ships from Ushuaia to Punta Arenas in Patagonia in the south are a far more daring means of crossing the border.

For domestic travel, aim for budget carriers Jet Smart and Sky Airlines where possible and plan to book at least a few months in advance for the cheapest fares. If you do, you’ll often find that three-hour flights between cities are the same price, if not cheaper, than 12-hour bus journeys.

Culture and Customs

• Chileans greet family, friends, and visitors alike with a kiss on the right cheek (for women greeting women and men greeting women) or a brief one-arm hug (for men greeting men).
• Much the same as other South American countries, punctuality is not a national strength, and Chileans are known for arriving to social occasions late—although most tour operators and all transport companies pride themselves on their punctuality, so be sure to arrive on time for paid excursions or risk being left behind.
• In restaurants, a 10 percent tip is added to your bill though you’re under no obligation to pay it if the service doesn’t meet your expectations.
• Uber and other ridesharing apps are illegal but widely used in Chile with 85,000 Uber drivers across the country in 2019.   Despite the technical illegality, rideshares are a convenient means of getting around and avoiding being scammed by yellow taxi cabs (an unfortunately common occurrence in the capital). Avoid using an Uber from Santiago’s airport to the city, however; police regularly impound Ubers operating here, so you’re better off arranging an official airport shuttle instead.

Money-Saving Tips

• In popular destinations such as Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and Patagonia, prices rise considerably in January and February, so avoid these months for a chance to secure cheaper deals on airfare, hotels, and tours.
• Santiago’s excellent Metro is the fastest and cheapest means of exploring the capital - just keep a close eye on your belongings as pickpockets do operate here.
• Book domestic flights at least a few months in advance to secure the best deals. This is particularly the case for Rapa Nui (Easter Island), where prices can triple closer to the departure date.
• If traveling to Patagonia, take plenty of US dollars with you. Paying in this currency at hotels and tour agencies can save you up to 10 percent off the advertised price.
• Bringing US dollars to switch at exchange houses will also save plenty of cash as ATMs can charge up to US$10 per withdrawal, and these can often be capped at a maximum of US$150 each.
• Request small bills where possible when receiving change. Most national parks accept cash only and may refuse to change large, 20,000 peso notes. If hiring a car, you’ll also want small bills for toll booths on the highways.

Chile Travel. " Currency. "

History.com. " Easter Island ." February 28, 2020.

Arturo Merino Benítez Airport. " Santiago Airport Projects Passenger Traffic to Drop From 24.6 Million to 9 Million by 2020. " September 8, 2020.

Reuters. "Chilean Bank Ordered to Open Uber's Accounts to Taxman." October 15, 2019.

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Voyager et en prendre plein les mirettes , visiter le chili – guide pratique.

Huitième pays sur l'itinéraire de notre tour du monde: le Chili!  Nous y sommes restés pendant 8 jours ! A vrai dire il n'était pas du tout prévu dans l'itinéraire de notre tour du monde ! Mais quelle surprise ! Le Chili est un magnifique pays ! On vous laisse découvrir !

Vous trouverez en fin de page notre Guide Pratique pour préparer votre voyage au Chili ! Le décalage horaire, la sécurité, la santé dans le pays. Mais aussi notre itinéraire et quelques petits conseils !

Infos Chili

Capitale: Santiago Langue: Espagnol Monnaie: le peso chilien (1 peso chilien = 0,00094 euros en Mars 2024) Visa: Non.  Passeport valable durant toute la période du séjour.

Tous les articles sur notre voyage au Chili

Bilan, itinéraire et budget chili.

On vous détails tout ! Notre budget pour ces 8 jours au Chili ! Mais aussi notre itinéraire, nos bons plans, nos coup de coeurs et nos déceptions !

San Pedro de Atacama

Notre gros coup de coeur du Chili ! Nous avons passé 4 jours dans cette région au Nord du Chili simplement magique ! Des paysages uniques et incroyables !

2 jours à Valparaiso !

Que faire pendant 2 jours dans la belle ville de Vapo ?! On vous parle de cette ambiance si particulière qui règne dans cette ville ! Et on vous fait bien évidement découvrir son Street Art !

Santiago du Chili en 2 jours !

On vous parle de notre City Trip de 2 jours dans la capitale Chilienne! De belles découvertes ! 

Eviter le mal des montagnes

On vous explique tout ! Ce qu'est le mal des montagnes et comment l'éviter grâce à de petits gestes au quotidien !

Organiser son voyage au Chili - Guide Pratique

Pour bien préparer votre voyage au Chili, on vous a concocté un petit Guide pratique ! Vous y trouverez toutes les informations dont vous avez besoin pour préparer votre voyage sereinement et ne rien oublier !

Notre itinéraire

Santiago du Chili  ↠  Valparaiso  ↠ San Pedro de Atacama

Quand partir voyager au  Chili  ?

On peut partir au Chili  toute l’ année,  cela dépend aussi de l'endroit où vous souhaitez vous rendre ! Le Chili est tout en longueur et les conditions météorologiques ne sont pas les mêmes au Nord et au Sud !

Les mois les plus propices pour visiter le pays sont de décembre à Avril ! Ce qui correspond à l'été austral. Il faut savoir que les saisons sont inversées par rapport à chez nous !! Le mois qui est souvent déconseillé, c'est le mois de Juillet car très froid dans le Sud. Vous pouvez par contre vous rendre dans le Nord du pays toute l'année sauf en mars car il y a beaucoup de pluie ! La Patagonie est déconseillée de mars novembre car très froide !

Infos Pratiques

Se  déplacer au Chili

Le Chili est grand, très grand ! Il est surtout tout en longueur ! Vous allez donc en passer du temps dans les transports ! Mais, se déplacer au Chili est plutôt facile ! Il existe de nombreuses agences qui vous proposent des Bus de nuit pour faire les longues distances ! 

Les prix étaient vraiment très intéressants et cela nous faisait économiser énormément de temps ! D'ailleurs si vous vous rendez en Argentine, sachez que les billets d'avions sont vraiment moins chers au Chili ! Une belle excuses pour faire une petite virée au Chili !

On vous recommande Tur Bus. 

Santé  au Chili

En ce qui concerne les vaccins, le Chili ne demande pas de vaccination pour entrer dans le pays (sauf la fièvre jaune pour l'île de Pâques si vous venez d'une zone d'endémie) ! On vous conseille tout de même d’en parler avec votre médecin traitant ou un centre de vaccination !

Nous avions fait tous les vaccins pour notre tour du Monde donc nous étions à jour pour leChili ! Retrouvez tout les vaccins et leurs prix ! Les vaccins tout de même fortement conseillés pour visiter  le  Chili  sont DTCP, hépatite A et l’hépatite B ! Fièvre jaune (obligatoire si vous venez d'une zone d'endémie ). Il n'y pas de Paludisme au Chili !

Le mal qui sévit aussi au Chili est le mal des montagnes. En effet, vous serez notamment dans le Nord au dessus de 3000 mètres d'altitude ! On vous explique ce qu'est le mal des montagnes et comment l'éviter

Quoi qu’il en soit on vous conseille de prendre une assurance maladie pour voyager ! Pour notre voyage au Chili nous avons pris l'assurance  Cap Aventure car nous étions en tour du monde. Si vous voyagez moins de 3 mois alors on vous recommande Cap Assistance.

L'argent au Chili

➳ Monnaie: Le peso Chilien !  1€ = 903,75 peso (en novembre 2019). 

➳ Budget:  Le budget dépend surtout de votre mode de voyage ! Mais le Chili  n'est pas le pays le moins cher d'Amérique duSud! Les logements sont sont plutôt chers!  On vous laisse lire notre article  budget voyage au Chili où on vous détaille  notre budget total pour 8 jours au Chili!

➳ Ou retirer:  Vous pouvez   changer vos euros en  bureau de change ou dans les banques ! Vous pouvez payer avec votre carte de crédit directement surtout dans les grandes villes.

Vous pouvez bien sûr retirer de l'argent grâce aux distributeurs présent un peu partout. 

➳ Frais de retrait et bancaire:  vous aurez des frais de retrait aux distributeurs !  ! Vous aurez un  montant maximum de retrait  ! Vous ne pouvez pas retirer plus en une seule fois ! Une fois votre retrait effectué, vous pouvez bien évidement retirer une nouvelle fois mais vous devrez payer une nouvelle fois les frais de retrait !

En ce qui concerne les frais bancaires , ils dépendent de votre propre banque ! Nous avions un compte bancaire chez N26 ou les frais bancaires sont inexistants dans n’importe quelle pays ! Appelez votre banque avant de partir pour éviter les mauvaises surprises !

La Sécurité au Chili

Nous nous sommes jamais sentis en insécurité au Chili. C'est un des pays les plus sûrs d'Amérique du Sud !

Evidemment, on vous conseille de faire attention à vos affaires dans les transports en commun mais comme lorsque vous voyagez au quotidien !

Mais attention depuis le 18 octobre 2019, le Chili connait de nombreuses manifestations et l'état d'urgence à été déclaré !   On vous conseille donc de bien vous renseigner sur le site du ministère des affaires étrangères pour prendre toutes les informations nécessaires pour votre sécurité.