Chile Travel Guides

Chile Travel Guides

Practical guides to plan your trip through Chile: what to do, what it costs, when to go and how to book. Written from Puerto Varas, in southern Chile.

View from the Morro de Arica toward the east of the city, with the Azapa Valley in the distance

Arica

Urban beaches, the Azapa Valley, the world's oldest mummies and desert geoglyphs.

Arica and Parinacota Region ES PT
The Dragon Dune in the foreground and the city of Iquique behind

Iquique

Sandboarding and paragliding on the Dragon dune, Cavancha beach, the Zofri and the UNESCO saltpeter works.

Tarapacá Region ES PT
Valle de la Luna at sunset, near San Pedro de Atacama

San Pedro de Atacama

Geysers, altiplano lagoons and the cleanest sky on the planet.

Antofagasta Region ES PT
Pale-sand beach and turquoise water at Bahía Inglesa, near Caldera

Copiapó and Bahía Inglesa

Astro-tourism under clear skies, turquoise beaches by Caldera and the flowering desert of Llanos de Challe.

Atacama Region ES PT
Faro Monumental in La Serena, next to Avenida del Mar

La Serena and Coquimbo

Avenida del Mar beaches, the Cross of the Third Millennium, Punta de Choros and tourist observatories under clear skies.

Coquimbo Region ES PT
Domes of the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory above the mountains of the Elqui Valley

Elqui Valley

Observatories, the pisco route and Gabriela Mistral's hometown, under one of the world's clearest skies.

Coquimbo Region ES PT
Panoramic view of the colorful hills of Valparaíso above the bay

Valparaíso

Colorful hills, century-old funiculars and Chile's best street art, a stone's throw from Santiago.

Valparaíso Region ES PT
View of the Providencia skyline and the Gran Torre Santiago from San Cristóbal hill

Santiago

Historic downtown, San Cristóbal hill and the best day trips from the capital.

Santiago Metropolitan Region ES PT
Turquoise waters of the El Yeso reservoir surrounded by Andean mountains in Cajón del Maipo

Cajón del Maipo

El Yeso reservoir, hot springs and the El Morado glacier an hour from Santiago.

Santiago Metropolitan Region ES PT
Rows of vines in a Colchagua Valley vineyard, near Santa Cruz

Colchagua Wine Route and Pichilemu

Award-winning wineries and the Colchagua Museum in Santa Cruz, and the surf of Punta de Lobos on the O'Higgins coast.

O'Higgins Region ES PT
Aerial view of the turquoise pools of the Claro river in Radal Siete Tazas National Park

Radal Siete Tazas and Curicó

Pools and waterfalls of the Claro river, the Curicó valleys wine route and the Panimávida hot springs, in the Maule.

Maule Region ES PT
The snow-capped Chillán volcano seen from Valle Hermoso, near Termas de Chillán

Termas de Chillán

Snow at Chile's largest ski resort, volcanic hot springs and hiking by the volcano, in Ñuble.

Ñuble Region ES PT
El Campanil, the emblematic tower of the University of Concepción, in the University District

Concepción and Salto del Laja

A university city, Lota's mining legacy, nearby beaches and the Salto del Laja waterfalls, in the Biobío.

Biobío Region ES PT
The snow-capped Villarrica volcano seen from the Termas de Trancura, near Pucón

Pucón and Villarrica

An active volcano, natural hot springs and rafting on the Trancura river, on the shore of Lake Villarrica.

Araucanía Region ES PT
The Schuster pier over the Valdivia river, in the city center

Valdivia

Boat trips on three rivers, a river market with sea lions, the Kunstmann brewery and colonial forts at Niebla and Corral.

Los Ríos Region ES PT
Teatro del Lago in Frutillar, on the shore of Lake Llanquihue

Frutillar

German heritage, the Teatro del Lago and the most photogenic waterfront on Lake Llanquihue.

Los Lagos Region ES PT
The Saltos del Petrohué with the Osorno volcano behind

Saltos del Petrohué

Turquoise waters at the foot of the Osorno volcano. How to get there, tickets and what to combine.

Los Lagos Region ES PT
Sunset over Lake Llanquihue and the Osorno volcano in Puerto Varas

Puerto Varas

The capital of Lake Llanquihue: volcanoes, kuchen and the perfect base to explore the south.

Los Lagos Region ES PT
Colorful palafito stilt houses on the Castro waterfront, Chiloé

Chiloé

Castro, palafito stilt houses, UNESCO churches and curanto: the big island of the south.

Los Lagos Region ES PT
A gravel section of the Carretera Austral between mountains, Aysén region

Carretera Austral

1,240 km from Puerto Montt to Villa O'Higgins: sections, ferries and the highlights of Route 7.

Aysén Region ES PT
The Cuernos del Paine in Torres del Paine National Park

Torres del Paine

Patagonia's jewel: the base of the towers, the W trek and how to organize it hassle-free.

Magallanes Region ES PT
View of Puerto Natales and the Last Hope Sound from the Parque de las Cuatro Etnias

Puerto Natales

The gateway to Torres del Paine: the Milodón Cave, Puerto Bories and sailing the Last Hope Sound.

Magallanes Region ES PT
View of Punta Arenas by the Strait of Magellan

Punta Arenas

The capital of Patagonia: the penguin colonies of Magdalena Island and Seno Otway, Fuerte Bulnes and the Strait of Magellan.

Magallanes Region ES PT
The fifteen moai of Ahu Tongariki at dawn, on Rapa Nui

Rapa Nui

Easter Island: Ahu Tongariki, the Rano Raraku quarry, Orongo and Anakena beach, a 5-hour flight from Santiago.

Oceanic island, Valparaíso Region ES PT
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