Discover
Chile
A sliver of land stretching from the driest desert to the end of the world.
Top Destinations
Explore our curated selection of landmarks and cities you must visit.
Torres del Paine National Park
Torres del Paine is the crown jewel of Chilean Patagonia, renowned for its soaring granite peaks, turquoise glacial lakes, and sweeping steppes. This UNESCO Biosphere Reserve offers some of the most dramatic mountain scenery on earth, dominated by the iconic Cuernos and Torres towering over the landscape. Wildlife enthusiasts can spot guanacos, Andean condors, and elusive pumas roaming freely across the vast wilderness.
Best Time
October to April (Southern Hemisphere spring to autumn)
Insider Tip
Book accommodations and campsite permits...
Atacama Desert
The Atacama Desert is one of the driest places on Earth, characterized by a surreal landscape of salt flats, steaming geysers, and otherworldly rock formations. Stretching across northern Chile, its high altitude, arid climate, and zero light pollution make it a premier destination for astronomy. Visitors can explore moon-like valleys, float in hypersaline lagoons, and witness striking high-altitude flamingo habitats.
Best Time
September to November and March to May
Insider Tip
Take time to acclimatize to...
Easter Island (Rapa Nui)
Easter Island, locally known as Rapa Nui, is one of the most remote inhabited islands on the planet, famous for its enigmatic moai statues. These colossal stone figures, carved by the island's Polynesian ancestors, stand silently over volcanic craters, pristine beaches, and grassy rolling hills. The island offers a deeply mystical atmosphere, steeped in an ancient and vibrant indigenous culture that continues to thrive today.
Best Time
October to April (February for the Tapati Rapa Nui festival)
Insider Tip
Hire a local Rapa Nui...
Valparaíso
Valparaíso is a vibrant, bohemian port city built on dozens of steep hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Known for its chaotic, colorful architecture and sprawling street art, the city is a labyrinth of winding staircases, historic funiculars, and hidden alleyways. Its historic quarter is a UNESCO World Heritage site, reflecting its late 19th-century glory as a major maritime hub.
Best Time
December to March (Summer)
Insider Tip
Explore the hills of Cerro...
Chiloé Island
Chiloé Island is a place of deep-rooted myths, distinctive wooden architecture, and lush, rolling landscapes. Famous for its palafitos (colorful houses on stilts) and 16 UNESCO-listed wooden churches, the island has a culture distinct from mainland Chile. The western coast is battered by the Pacific and features dense, temperate rainforests and remote national parks.
Best Time
December to March
Insider Tip
Rent a car to explore...
Valle de la Luna
Situated in the Cordillera de la Sal, the Valley of the Moon is a striking geological formation that closely resembles the lunar surface. It features a dazzling array of sand dunes, jagged rock formations, and dry lakes covered in white salt that sparkle in the sun. Over millennia, wind and water have sculpted this barren landscape into spectacular, surreal shapes.
Best Time
Year-round, but sunset visits are essential.
Insider Tip
Instead of joining a large...
Marble Caves (Puerto Rio Tranquilo)
The Marble Caves are a series of stunning, water-sculpted caverns located on the shores of General Carrera Lake in remote Patagonia. Over thousands of years, the glacial waters have eroded the calcium carbonate cliffs, creating smooth, undulating walls of solid marble. The reflection of the turquoise and azure lake waters illuminates the cave interiors, creating a mesmerizing visual display.
Best Time
December to March (Summer) for the best weather, though early spring offers lower water levels exposing more of the caves.
Insider Tip
Opt for a kayak tour...
Villarrica Volcano
Villarrica is one of Chile's most active and iconic volcanoes, renowned for its perfect conical shape and constantly smoking crater. Standing over the adventure hub of Pucón, its snow-capped peak contrasts dramatically with the surrounding deep blue lakes and lush native forests. At the summit, climbers can peer into the crater to see a bubbling lava lake, a rare phenomenon worldwide.
Best Time
November to April for hiking; July to September for skiing.
Insider Tip
Always climb with a reputable...
Lake District (Puerto Varas)
Puerto Varas, known as the 'City of Roses,' is a picturesque town sitting on the shores of Llanquihue Lake, offering sweeping views of the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes. The region is heavily influenced by German settlers, visible in its distinctive wooden architecture, craft breweries, and delicious kuchen (cakes). The surrounding Lake District is a lush paradise of deep blue lakes, emerald forests, and roaring waterfalls.
Best Time
December to March (Summer)
Insider Tip
Drive or cycle around Lake...
El Tatio Geysers
El Tatio is the largest geyser field in the Southern Hemisphere and the third-largest in the world, situated at a staggering altitude of 4,320 meters (14,170 feet). The field features over 80 active geysers, hundreds of fumaroles, and bubbling thermal pools set against a backdrop of towering Andean peaks. The steam columns are most dramatic in the freezing temperatures of early morning.
Best Time
September to November and March to May
Insider Tip
Tours depart San Pedro at...
Santiago (San Cristobal Hill)
Cerro San Cristóbal is a prominent hill rising in the center of Santiago, forming part of the immense Metropolitan Park, the largest urban park in South America. Topped by a towering 14-meter statue of the Virgin Mary, the hill offers an expansive green sanctuary above the bustling metropolis. Visitors can ascend via a historic funicular, a modern cable car, or by hiking its numerous forested trails.
Best Time
Spring (September-November) or Autumn (March-May) for clear skies.
Insider Tip
Try the traditional 'mote con...
Pumalin Park
Pumalín Park is a massive, pristine nature reserve spanning hundreds of thousands of hectares of Valdivian temperate rainforest. Originally a private conservation project by Douglas Tompkins, it is now a national park celebrated for its ancient Alerce trees, some over 3,000 years old. The park features a stunning array of fjords, waterfalls, and steep, forest-covered mountains.
Best Time
December to March (Summer), as this region receives heavy rainfall year-round.
Insider Tip
Hike the Sendero de los...
Cape Horn
Cape Horn is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago and represents the end of the world before the icy expanse of Antarctica. Historically known as a sailor's graveyard, it is where the Atlantic and Pacific oceans violently collide, creating legendary storms and massive swells. The rugged, treeless promontory features a famous albatross monument honoring the thousands of mariners who perished there.
Best Time
November to March (Summer is the only time cruises operate here).
Insider Tip
The only reliable way to...
Magdalena Island (Penguins)
Magdalena Island is a small, windswept island in the Strait of Magellan that hosts one of the largest and most important Magellanic penguin colonies in southern Chile. During the breeding season, an estimated 120,000 penguins inhabit the island, covering the landscape in burrows. The island is entirely protected, with a designated walking path leading up to a historic red-and-white lighthouse.
Best Time
November to March (when the penguins are present for breeding).
Insider Tip
Book a morning tour when...
Cochamo Valley
Often dubbed the 'Yosemite of South America,' the Cochamó Valley is a spectacular, remote valley characterized by massive, U-shaped granite domes. The valley is accessible only by foot or horseback, preserving its pristine rivers, dense temperate rainforests, and natural water slides. It is a haven for rock climbers and trekkers seeking untamed, dramatic wilderness.
Best Time
December to March. Access is heavily restricted or closed during winter due to mud and rain.
Insider Tip
Reservations for campsites in La...
Lauca National Park
Lauca National Park is a breathtaking high-altitude reserve in the extreme north of Chile, bordering Bolivia. Situated in the Andean altiplano, it features perfectly snow-capped twin volcanoes reflecting perfectly in the deep blue waters of Lake Chungará. The park is a vital sanctuary for altiplanic wildlife, including large herds of vicuñas, alpacas, and diverse flamingo species.
Best Time
September to November and March to May
Insider Tip
The park sits at an...
Altiplanic Lagoons
Located deep in the Andes at over 4,200 meters above sea level, the Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons are two vivid blue, high-altitude lakes. They are separated by a strip of volcanic rock and are flanked by towering, snow-dusted volcanoes bearing the same names. The stark contrast between the bright yellow puna grass, deep blue water, and arid mountains is visually spectacular.
Best Time
September to April
Insider Tip
Combine this trip with a...
Pucón
Pucón is Chile's premier adventure tourism capital, nestled beside Lake Villarrica and shadowed by the smoking Villarrica Volcano. The town itself is an upscale resort destination featuring boutique hotels, excellent restaurants, and vibrant nightlife. The surrounding landscape is a playground of ancient Araucaria (monkey puzzle) forests, raging white-water rivers, and luxurious natural hot springs.
Best Time
December to March for summer sports; July to September for skiing.
Insider Tip
After a day of extreme...
Osorno Volcano
The Osorno Volcano is widely considered the Mount Fuji of South America due to its striking, perfectly symmetrical, snow-capped cone. Standing prominently between Lake Llanquihue and Todos los Santos Lake in Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, it dominates the landscape of the Lake District. The lower slopes are covered in dense native forests, while the summit features pristine glaciers.
Best Time
December to March
Insider Tip
Take the chairlift up for...
Humberstone and Santa Laura
Humberstone and Santa Laura are abandoned saltpeter (nitrate) works located in the harsh pampa of the Atacama Desert. Once bustling company towns in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, they now stand as sprawling ghost towns and UNESCO World Heritage sites. Visitors can wander through the eerie, remarkably well-preserved ruins of theaters, markets, worker housing, and industrial machinery.
Best Time
Year-round, but mornings are best to avoid the intense midday desert heat.
Insider Tip
Bring plenty of water, a...
Travel Tips for Chile
- 1.
Chile is very long – domestic flights save time
- 2.
Try empanadas and pisco sours
- 3.
The currency is Chilean peso