South America
Desert, glaciers, volcanoes and vineyards stretched along the Pacific, with Easter Island far offshore.
Chile is a ribbon of land about 4,300 kilometres long and rarely more than 180 wide, squeezed between the Andes and the Pacific. That shape gives it extreme variety: the driest desert on Earth in the north, Mediterranean vineyards in the middle, lakes and volcanoes in the south and glaciers and granite peaks in Patagonia.
Santiago is the capital and the usual starting point, a modern city beneath the Andes. From there, most visitors head north to the Atacama for stargazing and salt flats, or south to the Lake District and Patagonia for volcanoes, forests and the Torres del Paine trekking circuit. Easter Island, a Polynesian outpost 3,700 km offshore, is a destination of its own.
Chile is safe, well organised and easy to travel in, with excellent food and wine. The long distances mean flights are often the best option, so choose a few regions rather than trying to see everything. Seasons are reversed from the northern hemisphere, so plan for December to February as summer.
Where to go
Ordered roughly by how strongly we would recommend them for a first visit.
Santiago Metropolitan Region
Chile's capital and gateway: Plaza de Armas, La Moneda, Mercado Central, bohemian barrios, hill-top parks and Maipo Valley wineries within an hour.
Don't miss Looking out from Cerro San Cristobal as the Andes glow pink at dusk.
Explore Destination — SantiagoValparaiso Region, central coast
A UNESCO-listed port with 42 hills, cable-car lifts, street art, the Neruda house and the seaside resort of Vina del Mar nearby.
Don't miss Riding a century-old funicular up a hillside of painted houses.
Explore Destination — ValparaisoAntofagasta Region, northern Chile
A small oasis town in the Atacama Desert at 2,400 metres, base for the Valle de la Luna, El Tatio geysers, flamingo lagoons, salt flats and astronomy tours.
Don't miss Stargazing in one of the driest places on Earth after a day of salt lakes and geysers.
Explore Destination — San Pedro de AtacamaMagallanes Region, Chilean Patagonia
A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in southern Patagonia, famous for the W Trek, the O Circuit, Grey Glacier, guanacos and pumas.
Don't miss Hiking to the base of the three granite towers at sunrise, when they glow red.
Explore Destination — Torres del PaineValparaiso Region, Pacific Ocean
One of the most remote inhabited islands on Earth, a UNESCO site with nearly 900 moai, crater lakes, beaches and Rapa Nui culture.
Don't miss Watching the sun rise behind fifteen giant moai at Ahu Tongariki.
Explore Destination — Easter Island (Rapa Nui)Los Lagos Region, southern Chile
An island archipelago with 16 UNESCO-listed wooden churches, palafito stilt houses, Chilote cuisine, penguin colonies and folklore.
Don't miss Eating curanto cooked in an earth pit, then watching penguins from a boat.
Explore Destination — ChiloeLa Araucania Region, Lake District
A lakeside adventure town with a volcano climb, rafting, hot springs, araucaria forests and Mapuche culture.
Don't miss Climbing the active Villarrica volcano at dawn and sliding down on your boots.
Explore Destination — Pucon and VillarricaCoquimbo Region, northern Chile
A green valley in the Andean foothills with pisco distilleries, observatories, the village of Pisco Elqui, Gabriela Mistral's home and stargazing.
Don't miss Sipping pisco in a village under one of the clearest night skies in the world.
Explore Destination — Elqui ValleyAysen Region, Patagonia
One of the world's great road trips, from Puerto Montt to Villa O'Higgins, passing Queulat, Marble Caves, Cerro Castillo and the Northern Patagonian Ice Field.
Don't miss Drifting by boat through blue marble caves on Lake General Carrera.
Explore Destination — Carretera AustralLos Lagos Region
A relaxed lakeside base for Petrohue Falls, Lake Todos los Santos, Vicente Perez Rosales National Park and kuchen cafes.
Don't miss Watching Osorno volcano turn pink at sunset over Lake Llanquihue.
Explore Destination — Puerto Varas and the Lake DistrictExperiences
The experiences that recur across the country and are worth planning around.
Torres del Paine and the Carretera Austral offer some of the best trekking in the world.
Tip Book refugios and campsites months ahead.
Some of the clearest skies on Earth, with observatory tours.
Tip Book tours in advance.
Visit the Maipo, Colchagua or Casablanca valleys.
Tip Try Carmenere.
Villarrica near Pucon is the classic.
Tip Go with a guide.
Easter Island's giant statues.
Tip Buy the park ticket on arrival.
Funiculars, street art and views.
Tip Wear sturdy shoes.
Fresh fish and shellfish along the coast.
Tip Try curanto on Chiloe.
Food and drink
Chilean food is built on seafood, beef, corn and good wine, with regional specialities from the desert to Chiloe.
A baked pastry filled with beef, onion, olive and egg.
Where to try it Bakeries and markets nationwide.
A corn pie baked over beef and chicken.
Where to try it Traditional restaurants.
A loaded hot dog with avocado, tomato and mayonnaise.
Where to try it Fast-food stands in every city.
Pisco with lime and sugar, the national cocktail.
Where to try it Bars and restaurants.
A feast of seafood, meat and potatoes cooked in a pit.
Where to try it Chiloe restaurants.
Carmenere, Cabernet and Sauvignon Blanc.
Where to try it Wine bars and valley estates.
Before you go
The essentials, current for 2026. Chile is straightforward for most visitors, but check official sources before you travel.
Excludes international flights. Figures are typical rather than absolute — cities and peak season run higher.
When to go
Southern summer, from November to March, is best for Patagonia, the Lake District and Chiloe.
Long days and open trails in the south.
Autumn colours, wine harvest and fewer crowds.
Spring, with the Atacama and Santiago at their best.
Ski season in the Andes, but cold and wet in the south.
Worth planning around: Winter in Patagonia, when trails, refugios and ferries close.
Trip length
Chile is long, so be selective. Two regions plus Santiago is enough for most.
Getting around
Flights are the practical way to cover the long distances. Buses are comfortable for shorter routes.
Sample route
Santiago, the Atacama, Patagonia and the Lake District.
Culture
Chileans are polite, warm and a little formal, and family and conversation matter. Greeting and farewell customs are important, and punctuality is relaxed socially.
A handshake in business, a single cheek kiss in social settings.
Use senor and senora until invited.
Dinner is often after 8:30 pm.
Lingering after meals is normal.
Social events start late.
Follow Leave No Trace in parks.
Travel tips
The things that most often catch visitors out in Chile.
FAQ
Yes, it is one of the safest countries in South America.
Ten to fourteen days for a good trip.
Many nationalities do not for stays up to 90 days, but check.
November to March for Patagonia, and March to May or September to November for the north and centre.
It is moderately pricey, especially Patagonia and Easter Island.
No, choose two or three regions.
The full travel guide covers routes, budgets, regional differences and how to string these ten destinations into a trip that actually works.
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