Chile covers an extraordinary range of landscapes across its 4,300-kilometer length. Each region has its own climate, culture, and reasons to visit.

Santiago

Chile's capital and gateway city. Seven million people in a valley framed by the Andes. Neighborhoods worth wandering, world-class restaurants, and wine valleys within an hour's drive. Most international flights arrive here.

Atacama Desert

The driest desert on earth. Salt flats, geysers at 4,300 meters, and the clearest night skies on the planet. Base yourself in the adobe town of San Pedro de Atacama and take day trips to the surrounding landscape.

Patagonia

Granite towers, glaciers, and wind. Torres del Paine National Park is the main draw — multi-day treks through some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in South America. The gateway town of Puerto Natales is a three-hour bus ride from Punta Arenas.

Valparaiso

Chile's colorful port city, 90 minutes from Santiago. Steep hills covered in street art, connected by century-old funicular elevators. Pablo Neruda's house La Sebastiana overlooks the bay. A UNESCO World Heritage Site with a rough-around-the-edges charm.

Lake District

Volcanoes, glacial lakes, and temperate rainforest between Temuco and Puerto Montt. Pucon is the adventure hub — climb an active volcano, raft, soak in hot springs. Puerto Varas offers a quieter base with German colonial architecture and views of two snow-capped volcanoes.

Easter Island

Rapa Nui — 3,700 kilometers out in the Pacific. Nearly a thousand moai statues carved from volcanic rock, a living Polynesian culture, and one of the most remote inhabited places on earth. Five-hour flight from Santiago.

More Destinations

Northern Chile

  • San Pedro de Atacama — the desert base for everything in the Atacama
  • Arica — Chile's northernmost city, near the Peruvian border
  • Iquique — coastal city with desert hinterland and paragliding
  • La Serena — gateway to the Elqui Valley and astronomical observatories
  • Elqui Valley — pisco, stargazing, and vineyards

Central Chile

Southern Chile

  • Villarrica and Pucon — adventure capital with an active volcano
  • Puerto Varas — German colonial lakeside town
  • Puerto Montt — gateway to the Carretera Austral and Chiloe
  • Seven Lakes — scenic route between Chile and Argentina
  • Chiloe — island of wooden churches and unique culture
  • Cochamo — Chile's Yosemite, granite walls and river valleys

Patagonia and the Far South