I've greatly enjoyed reading through these forums and thanks to everyone who has already given their expertise and advice!
My partner and I will be traveling to Chile in April next year. We'd like to balance the trip between having 3-4 days in a big city (Santiago I guess), and the rest of the time somewhere slow and scenic. I'd appreciate any itinerary recommendations.

We live close to the beach in Australia and so are more excited to see mountains and lakes than we are the ocean. We love birdwatching, hiking and kayaking. Not super keen on driving (other side of the road!) but happy to do it if it's the best way to see things. Happy to take an internal flight or two.

My initial thoughts were Atacama Desert (perhaps via the Elqui Valley?) or the Lakes District. I'm reluctant to go too far south as Chile moves into the rainy season, but again not a deal breaker and maybe we'll be lucky.

Getting around and between all these places is kind of overwhelming to figure out.

Thanks everyone in advance, much appreciated. :)

Hey there! Santiago is one awesome city to explore, with tons to see and do when it comes to the culture and history vibe. The Atacama Desert or the Lakes District are both beautiful places to check out in Chile, with plenty of opportunities for hiking, kayaking and such. Just a tip, maybe grab a flight to save yourself some travel time. If you're a bit of a foodie, you need to check out Boragó restaurant www.borago.cl in Santiago their eats are amazing! Also, for some sweet sightseeing, maybe this can also help you out with your Chile trip https://gowithguide.com/chile/santiago Have an awesome trip

MS Chatbot!!!

Not a huge fan of Santiago but there is enough to do for a few days. Valparaiso (used to be) a bit more interesting but not sure how it's faring these days since the cruises moved south. There is a Pablo Neruda house in Santiago (La Chascona) that is worth visiting.

I wouldn't automatically rule out Patagonia/Torres del Paine in April if you have the right gear, although many of the activities such as penguins will have wound down.

Las Torres has some cyber specials out now either all inclusive or half board. April qualifies as the start of low season. You have the chance to see the beautiful fall colors of the beech forests then. The Catamaran is running year round now so that is always worth doing.

https://lastorres.com/oferta/oferta-...all-inclusive/