Fodor's Essential Chile (Fodor's Travel Guide)
For over 80 years, Fodor's Travel has been a trusted resource offering expert travel...
At the southwestern edge of South America, Chile feels a world away. Mountains, glaciers, deserts and a rugged coastline are just some of Chile’s charms but there’s also a rich native culture and bustling cities to discover along its long, thin 4,270-km expanse.
The entry point for most is through the capital city, Santiago, where the major international airport connects this far-flung country to the rest of the world. Glistening skyscrapers stand out against the snowy frame of the Andes mountains but Santiago also boasts old world charm in the bohemian neighbourhoods of Lastarria and Bellavista. Plaza de Armas is Santiago’s hub, which is just a stone’s throw from the Central Market and La Vega, where you’ll find all of Chile’s exotic fruits and sea creatures on display. Well-hee...
Read MoreAt the southwestern edge of South America, Chile feels a world away. Mountains, glaciers, deserts and a rugged coastline are just some of Chile’s charms but there’s also a rich native culture and bustling cities to discover along its long, thin 4,270-km expanse.
The entry point for most is through the capital city, Santiago, where the major international airport connects this far-flung country to the rest of the world. Glistening skyscrapers stand out against the snowy frame of the Andes mountains but Santiago also boasts old world charm in the bohemian neighbourhoods of Lastarria and Bellavista. Plaza de Armas is Santiago’s hub, which is just a stone’s throw from the Central Market and La Vega, where you’ll find all of Chile’s exotic fruits and sea creatures on display. Well-heeled city folk dine in the upmarket neighborhoods of Providencia and Las Condes, where some of the country’s best restaurants and bars hide.
Just on the doorstep of Santiago are the wine regions of Aconcagua, Maipo, and Casablanca which offer perfect day trips in wine country. It’s well worth spending a night drinking wine under the stars and between the vines in one of Chile’s award-winning winery accommodations in the Central Valley. It’s here, especially in Colchagua, where avant-garde architecture and fine wine-paired dining experiences meet.
Although there’s plenty of ways to relax and unwind in Chile, most voyage here for the excellent outdoor adventures. There are few places in the world with four natural borders like Chile. To the north, the country is hemmed in by the world’s driest desert, the Atacama. Unparalleled star-gazing have attracted the likes of NASA to set up base here, but San Pedro de Atacama is just as popular with nomads drawn to the special energy of this high-altitude desert plain. Geysers, volcanoes, and salt-crusted valleys are just some of the natural wonders found within.
To the east, the Andes mountains run down the spine of the country, separating Chile from Argentina. Fishing in the lake district and river rafting in Pucón are highlights, while skiing, climbing and hiking attract visitors to the mountains year-round. In the south is the holy grail for hikers, the W around the Torres del Paine. The remarkable spires of ancient granite make one of the world’s most beautiful natural sculptures rising from the vast Patagonian steppe. Pumas, condors, and guanacos will catch your gaze, if you can manage to pull your eyes away from the creaking glaciers, stunning fjords, and milky glacial lakes that extend through Chile’s southern border and the gateway to Antarctica.
The final frontier is to the west, Chile’s Pacific coast. From the white pebble beaches of the north, down to the volcanic black sands of the south, Chile’s coastline is unarguably photogenic. The mysterious islands of Chiloé and Easter Island might pull you away from the mainland, but almost everyone is lured back by the calm waves at Viña del Mar and the chaos of color and culture that is Valparaíso city. Chile may be slim but it’s diverse to discover.
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Top Destinations
Top Destinations

The Lake District

Santiago

The Central Coast

El Norte Grande

El Norte Chico

Chiloé

Southern Chilean Patagonia

The Southern Coast

The Central Valley

Valparaiso

Easter Island

Hanga Roa

Pucon

Valdivia

Puerto Varas

Viña del Mar

San Pedro de Atacama

Temuco

Castro

La Serena

Puerto Montt

Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine, Chile

Iquique

Coyhaique

Santa Cruz

Arica

Side Trips from Santiago

Ancud

Talca

Antofagasta

Vicuña

Villarrica

Calama

Osorno

Copiapo

Frutillar

Rancagua

Futaleufu

Pisco Elqui

Maitencillo

Algarrobo

Quellon

Concon

Ovalle

Chaiten

The Southeastern Circuit

Bahia Inglesa

San Fernando

Lican Ray

Curico

The Western Circuit

Cochamo

Lago General Carrera and Nearby

Puerto Chacabuco and Puerto Aisen

Parque Nacional Torres del Paine

Parque Nacional Vicente Perez Rosales

Puerto Puyuhuapi

Ensenada

Zapallar

Juan Lopez

Papudo

Pica

Mamiña

Isla Quinchao

Parque Nacional Puyehue

Quemchi

Dalcahue

Quintay

Chonchi

Parque Nacional Lauca

Parque Nacional Villarrica

Parque Nacional Conguillio

Parque Nacional Chiloe

Parque Pumalin

Puerto Octay

Alto Maipo

Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos

Reñaca

Curacautin

Lago Vichuquen

Pisagua

Isla Negra

La Junta

Isla Lemuy

Colbun

Geysers del Tatio

Queilen

Parque Nacional Pan de Azucar

Quicavi

Parque Nacional Laguna San Rafael

Huilo Huilo

Chacabuco

Reserva Nacional Pampa del Tamarugal

Parque Nacional Huerquehue

Parque Nacional Queulat

Parque Nacional Bosques de Fray Jorge

Parque Nacional Laguna del Laja

Gigante de Atacama

Reserva Nacional Las Vicuñas

Salar de Surire

Chepu

Santiago

Valparaiso

Hanga Roa

Pucon

Valdivia

Puerto Varas

Viña del Mar

Temuco

San Pedro de Atacama

Castro

La Serena

Puerto Montt

Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine, Chile

Iquique

Coyhaique

Santa Cruz

Arica

Ancud

Talca

Antofagasta

Vicuña

Villarrica

Calama

Osorno

Copiapo

Rancagua

Frutillar

Futaleufu

Pisco Elqui

Maitencillo

Algarrobo

Concon

Chaiten

Ovalle

Quellon

Bahia Inglesa

Lican Ray

San Fernando

Puerto Chacabuco and Puerto Aisen

Lago General Carrera and Nearby

Curico

Cochamo

Zapallar

Puerto Puyuhuapi

Ensenada

Juan Lopez

Papudo

Mamiña

Pica

Quemchi

Dalcahue

Chonchi

Quintay

Lago Ranco and Nearby

Puerto Octay

Alto Maipo

Lago Vichuquen

Curacautin

La Junta

Reñaca

Pisagua

Queilen

Quicavi

Chacabuco

Geysers del Tatio

Colbun

Huilo Huilo

Chepu

Salar de Surire

Gigante de Atacama

Parque Nacional Torres del Paine

Parque Nacional Vicente Perez Rosales

Parque Nacional Lauca

Parque Nacional Puyehue

Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos

Parque Pumalin

Parque Nacional Chiloe

Parque Nacional Conguillio

Parque Nacional Villarrica

Parque Nacional Pumalín Douglas Tompkins

Parque Nacional Laguna San Rafael

Parque Nacional Pan de Azucar

Reserva Nacional Pampa del Tamarugal

Parque Nacional Laguna del Laja

Parque Nacional Queulat

Parque Nacional Huerquehue

Parque Nacional Bosques de Fray Jorge

Reserva Nacional Las Vicuñas

Reserva Nacional Pingüino de Humboldt

Parque Nacional Patagonia
All Destinations
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The Lake District
- Cochamo
- Curacautin
- Ensenada
- Frutillar
- Huilo Huilo
- Lago Ranco and Nearby
- Lican Ray
- Osorno
- Parque Nacional Conguillio
- Parque Nacional Huerquehue
- Parque Nacional Puyehue
- Parque Nacional Vicente Perez Rosales
- Parque Nacional Villarrica
- Pucon
- Puerto Montt
- Puerto Octay
- Puerto Varas
- Temuco
- Valdivia
- Villarrica
Top Experiences
Top Experiences
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Shop NowFodor's Essential Chile (Fodor's Travel Guide)
For over 80 years, Fodor's Travel has been a trusted resource offering expert travel...
Fodor's Essential Chile
Written by local experts, Fodor's travel guides have been offering advice and...