Chile — Tour Highlights and Travel Tips
Finding adventure, diversity, and closeness to nature are the three pillars of a trip to Chile. Chile is one of the few countries where you would actually want to take a wrong turn because you never know where it might take you—a hidden oasis that few tourists have ever discovered.
The unique configuration of Chile's mountains and sea ensures that it offers some of the clearest night skies in the world. You will have the ideal place to spend long nights cuddled up next to your special someone, stargazing and naming stars as you take in the breathtaking natural beauty. A 3700-year-old tree is located in the Torres del Paine National Park, one of many national parks in Chile. Other sights to see are Moon Valley in the Atacama Desert and the strange stone statues on Easter Island. In conclusion, taking a tour of Chile is an experience you won't soon forget.
Tour Highlights
- See the Moai on Easter Island
- Drive through the Atacama Desert
- Take in the view of Santiago from San Cristóbal Hill
- Explore the blue glaciers of Torres del Paine National Park
- Visit the end of the world in Tierra del Fuego
- Take a selfie with a Guanaco
Travel Tips
- There are hot deserts and beaches in Chile, but there are also mountains and glaciers. For a holiday in Chile, pack for all types of weather and try to dress in layers for long days out.
- Many bank machines in Chile will not accept foreign bank cards. Do your research before the trip to find out which banks will work for you, and be sure to exchange money before you travel.
- Colourful Chilean sunrises and sunsets are some of the most beautiful in the world. Take some siestas during the day so you get to experience both.
- When dining in Chile, be prepared to eat slightly later than you are used to. Lunch in typically served around 2pm, while dinner is not eaten until anywhere from 8pm to 10pm. Chileans also have a snack time called 'once' - a light dinner of hot drinks and cakes. Chile is rich in food culture, so know what you must not miss to eat in Chile.
- Earthquakes are very common in Chile, but there's no need to be alarmed. While you may feel a tremor or two during your visit, the country is built to withstand even large earthquakes.
Popular tour types in Chile
- Chile luxury tours: Relish Patagonia's serene peace from the comfort of opulent seaside resorts or go on thrilling expeditions like a wildlife excursion around Cape Horn. Explore Torres del Paine National Park by zodiac boat and take a luxury cruise tour to Punta Arenas. Our Chile luxury tours will take you to the farthest end of the planet while creating the most authentic experiences.
- Chile private tours: Walk among sea lions and penguins, and watch whales in Peninsula Valdes. Stargaze in the Atacama Desert or traverse the city of colorful cliff-top homes, Valparaiso. Whether it is Isla Negra or Torres del Paine, experience the best of Chile at your own pace with one of our Chile private tours.
- Chile guided tours: Jump on one of our Chile-guided tours to discover the hidden treasures of the country. As you tour Puerto Natales, Puerto Varas, Patagonia, and Santiago, you will come across Chile’s unparalleled range of landscapes. Hopping on and off at cultural, religious, and historic sites, you will grasp the whole of Chile under the guidance of fun-loving, friendly guides.
- Chile budget tours: Our Chile budget tours will take you to all the popular spots you wish to see at the lowest market cost. Hike through Guatin Canyon and visit the mysterious Easter Island and the wineries of the Colchagua Valley. Go easy on your wallets and keep your tour to a single destination like Torres del Paine O Circuit or the Atacama Desert while still getting a wonderful experience.
- Chile customized tours: Your itineraries to Chile can be altered and personalized to fit your pace and preferences. Indulge in activities and visit the highlights of Chile that you find the most enticing. Contact our local travel experts in Chile to design your customized tour and satisfy your expectations.
- Chile group tours: Join those in accord on a Chile group tour for an adventure of geysers, fertile valleys, vineyards, and lakes. Cruise Lagos Todos Los Santos and cycle through the Lake District. Take your time on the excursions to the Atacama salt flats and Altiplano lagoons, with travelers just like you.
Activity-based Chile tours
- Adventure tours: From a safari tour through the world's driest desert, the Atacama, to cycling through Chile's Lake District's renowned Andean Lakes, explore adventure tours to Chile, packed with distinct experiences. You can even sign up for a long trip that includes trekking, catamaran rides, cruise tours, and more.
- Trekking tours: From Patagonia's beautiful mountains and gigantic blue glaciers to the Atacama Desert's singular moon-like rocks, you can fully experience Chile's distinct geography and biodiversity on the country's hiking routes. There are plenty of trekking tours in Chile that would leave the most experienced trekker in awe of the terrific landscapes such as the famous Torres del Paine National Park or the Dientes de Navarino.
- Sightseeing tours: Besides the famous stone sculptures of Easter Island and museums and galleries in Santiago, Chile is blessed with a wealth of world-class wineries, active volcanoes, and dramatic coastlines. Our sightseeing tours to Chile, in destinations such as Patagonia, Casablanca Valley, and Isla Negra, will give you an in-depth insight into the country.
- Hiking tours: With the world's driest desert, the Atacama, in the far north, and glacier-carved valleys and fjords in the far south in Patagonia, Chile is a visual feast for travelers. From the Lake District and the Andes to Torres del Paine National Park and Tierra del Fuego National Park, join hiking tours that will take you through popular trails in Chile.
- Wine tasting tours: If you love wine, a wine tasting tour in Chile is an excellent way to broaden your knowledge of wine-making while opening your palate to new experiences. Grab a drink and stroll in Valparaiso and Santiago, or head to the Chilean valleys of Casablanca, Maipo, and Colchagua to locate famous vineyards that create some of the world's best wines.
Popular durations for Chile trips
To get the best of Chile, it is recommended that you spend at least 10 days in Chile. This way, you can combine a trip to Santiago with active explorations of the Atacama Desert and Torres del Paine National Park, fine dining experiences and wine tastings in Chile's wine regions, and even trace the poet Pablo Neruda's steps in Valparaiso.
Chile tours — Top destinations to visit
- Tour the Patagonian Fjords and glaciers: Patagonia is a breathtakingly beautiful region. In addition to hiking and trekking trails in parks like Torres del Paine, it is home to mountains, glaciers, rivers, and lakes. It has a land area of roughly 1,000,000 square kilometers and extends across Chile and Argentina in the southernmost regions of South America. You can travel to Patagonia on a small ship, stopping at some of the world's most southerly cities along the way and possibly even landing at Cape Horn, the geographical "end of the earth" that marks the continent's southernmost point. Visitors can expect a lot from Patagonia, which stretches from the farthest northern reaches of its Lake District to its farthest southern point in Tierra del Fuego.
- Discover the cosmopolitan Santiago: Located in the Maipo Valley, bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the snowy Andes to the east, Santiago enthralls visitors with its breathtaking vistas, neoclassical architecture, and inventive cuisine. Explore Santiago's thriving neighborhoods by dining in the Barrio Italia, shopping with style-conscious Santiguenos in Bellavista, or taking in the view from Santa Lucia Hill. After that, stroll around Plaza de Armas to see the Metropolitan Cathedral or the Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art's exhibit of Pre-Columbian antiquities. Experience the vibrant nightlife scenes of Barrios, Brazil, and Lastarria. With a burgeoning economy, revitalized arts exhibits, and plenty of exhilarating activities, Santiago is an old-guard city on the edge of a contemporary reawakening.
- Explore the distinct landscapes of the Atacama Desert: Travel to the Atacama Desert the driest desert on earth, is far from lifeless. Rather, it is a region brimming with energy thanks to its hospitable indigenous cultures and the oases that provide life in the desert. Ascend the Andean Altiplano's more than 4,000 meters in elevation to discover tiny towns that uphold their traditions amidst breathtaking scenery. Discover unique landscapes in San Pedro de Atacama, which include deep blue lagoons, geysers, and salt flats. Also, stop by one of the many astronomical observatories in the Elqui Valley.
- Mingle with wildlife in Torres del Paine National Park: Prepare your hiking supplies and set out to explore the sizable Torres del Paine National Park. While the Las Torres and French Valley rank among the best day hikes in the world, the W and O Treks are among the best multi-day hikes in Chilean Patagonia. Navigate Lake Gray while keeping an eye out for foxes, huemuls, and guanacos, or be patient and wait for the majestic puma to make its showy entrance. Torres del Paine is one of those wonderful places that you do not get to visit every day. It is home to four distinct ecological zones, including the Andean Desert, Magellanic Subpolar Forest, Pre-Andean Shrubland, and Patagonian Steppe.
- Unveil the hidden adventures of Puerto Natales: The tranquil seaside community of Puerto Natales, which serves as the entrance to Torres del Paine National Park, has gained appeal among those travelers seeking breathtaking and amazing adventures while taking in the slow-paced eclectic local way of life, varied history, and distinct culture of Southern Patagonia. Get a closer view of Serrano and Balmaceda glaciers by taking a catamaran tour of Última Esperanza Sound. Go kayaking in Bernardo O'Higgins National Park, examine countless fossils in Milodon Caves; and enjoy horseback riding on the Sierra Dorotea Trail.
Peak season and low season tours in Chile
- Peak season tours in Chile: The peak season to visit Chile is between December and February when the pleasant weather beckons travelers for outdoor ventures and beach getaways. Summer is the best time to visit Chile to explore the country’s well-known sights, including Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia and La Moneda Palace in Santiago. The famous Tapati Rapa Nui event, which honors Easter Island culture, also takes place during the summer.
- Low season tours in Chile: Low season in Chile falls between June and August, when the nights can be freezing, even in the Atacama Desert. This is not the ideal time to travel to Chile unless you intend to go skiing or snowboarding. Winter is an excellent season to go down the Carretera Austral and experience Chilean Patagonia's northernmost regions.
Popular Chile trip travel guide
If you are planning a trip to Chile, you will want to know about the best time to visit Chile as well as check out all the available Chile tours. You may also wish to learn more about the top things to do in Chile. Once you are sure about some of the activities you wish to experience in Chile, along with the destinations you want to visit, you may want to consider how many days to stay in Chile. We generally recommend staying at least 7 days in Chile, but recommend 10 days in Chile or more, to get the most out of your trip to Chile.
Next, we recommend you start thinking about the money you can allocate to the trip to know whether you should be looking for a budget tour, a luxury tour, or perhaps a completely customized tour to Chile. If you are in doubt, check out all our Chile tours at the top of this page.
Chile is an amazing country to visit, and there may be other key factors that you wish to consider before traveling there. Please check our "Chile travel guide" which will give you a lot of relevant information about traveling to Chile.