Fodor's Essential Chile
Written by local experts, Fodor's travel guides have been offering advice and...
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-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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Santiago

Easter Island

Valparaiso

Valdivia

Temuco

Pucon

La Serena

Puerto Varas

Viña del Mar

Coyhaique

Castro

San Pedro de Atacama

Puerto Montt

Iquique

Arica

Puerto Natales

Ancud

Santa Cruz

Vicuña

Rancagua

Villarrica

Antofagasta

Copiapo

Talca

Frutillar

Calama

Pisco Elqui

Algarrobo

Osorno

Maitencillo

Parque Nacional Torres del Paine

Futaleufu

Quellon

Chaiten

Ovalle

Concon

San Fernando

Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos

Curico

Lago General Carrera and Nearby

Bahia Inglesa

Lican Ray

Cochamo

Puerto Chacabuco and Puerto Aisen

Papudo

Hanga Roa

Mamiña

Parque Pumalin

Parque Nacional Vicente Perez Rosales

Dalcahue

Zapallar

Chonchi

Quintay

Parque Nacional Lauca

Isla Quinchao

Puerto Puyuhuapi

Ensenada

Alto Maipo

Parque Nacional Puyehue

Parque Nacional Chiloe

Juan Lopez

Curacautin

Isla Negra

Parque Nacional Conguillio

Pica

La Junta

Pisagua

Puerto Octay

Quemchi

Parque Nacional Villarrica

Lago Vichuquen

Parque Nacional Laguna San Rafael

Queilen

Geysers del Tatio

Quicavi

Parque Nacional Pan de Azucar

Chacabuco

Reserva Nacional Pampa del Tamarugal

Huilo Huilo

Parque Nacional Bosques de Fray Jorge

Reserva Nacional Las Vicuñas

Gigante de Atacama

Parque Nacional Huerquehue

Parque Nacional Laguna del Laja

Salar de Surire

Chepu

Isla Lemuy

Parque Nacional Queulat

Reñaca

Colbun

Santiago

Valparaiso

Valdivia

La Serena

Pucon

Temuco

Viña del Mar

Puerto Varas

Coyhaique

Castro

San Pedro de Atacama

Puerto Montt

Iquique

Arica

Puerto Natales

Santa Cruz

Ancud

Vicuña

Villarrica

Copiapo

Rancagua

Antofagasta

Frutillar

Talca

Algarrobo

Pisco Elqui

Calama

Maitencillo

Osorno

Futaleufu

Quellon

Chaiten

Concon

Ovalle

San Fernando

Curico

Bahia Inglesa

Lago General Carrera and Nearby

Lican Ray

Cochamo

Hanga Roa

Puerto Chacabuco and Puerto Aisen

Mamiña

Papudo

Zapallar

Quintay

Puerto Puyuhuapi

Chonchi

Dalcahue

Alto Maipo

Ensenada

Juan Lopez

Lago Vichuquen

Curacautin

Quemchi

Pica

Pisagua

Puerto Octay

La Junta

Chacabuco

Geysers del Tatio

Queilen

Quicavi

Chepu

Huilo Huilo

Salar de Surire

Gigante de Atacama

Colbun

Reñaca

The Lake District

El Norte Grande

The Central Coast

El Norte Chico

Chiloe

Southern Chilean Patagonia

The Southern Coast

The Central Valley

Side Trips from Santiago

The Southeastern Circuit

The Western Circuit

Parque Nacional Torres del Paine

Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos

Parque Nacional Vicente Perez Rosales

Parque Pumalin

Parque Nacional Lauca

Parque Nacional Chiloe

Parque Nacional Puyehue

Parque Nacional Villarrica

Parque Nacional Conguillio

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
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Written by local experts, Fodor's travel guides have been offering advice and...