Discover the longest country in the world. We’ve selected 16 of the most beautiful places to visit in Chile!
At 4,300 km long, Chile lends itself to a long road trip, taking you from the desert expanses of the Atacama to the icebergs of Cape Horn. Visiting Chile means crossing multifaceted landscapes and discovering new civilizations, still unknown to Europeans four hundred years ago. We invite you to discover the most beautiful places on this thin strip of land, nestled between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean. To get around, we recommend comfortable buses, domestic flights and, occasionally, a rental car.
It’s hard to rank all these spectacular sites, so we’ll simply follow the route from north to south.
1. Lauca National Park
In the far north-east of Chile, this natural park, located in the administrative region of Arina and Parinacota, was declared a « biosphere reserve » in 1981.
You’ll find nature in its raw state, with high peaks, volcanoes, high-altitude lakes and a wide variety of wildlife. To really appreciate it, it’s best to gradually get used to the altitude, as you’ll be operating at over 3,200 m. For example, you can rent a car in Arica and drive slowly up to Putre.
2. Iquique – Humberstone
Beach and surf fans? Head for Chile’s largest fishing port: Iquique. The return of the colorful fishing boats is a sight to behold, along with the ballet of sea lions, pelicans and seals, eagerly awaiting the scraps of fish thrown to them by the fishermen. Here you’ll find some of the finest beaches in the country. They are ideal for surfing, as are the high dunes that dominate the town, this time for sandboarding.
Fifty kilometers away, don’t miss the ghost village of Humberstone. This former village, created in 1872 to house nitrate miners, was abandoned in 1960, but its infrastructure has been preserved. See the houses, the school, the swimming pool, the theater… which bear witness to life at the beginning of the last century.
3. San Pedro de Atacama
You can’t visit Chile without going to San Pedro de Atacama!
This former farming village, located in an oasis in the Atacama desert at an altitude of 2,438 m, has become a must for travellers wishing to explore its surroundings. The El Tatio geysers, the Atacama Salar, the Cejar and Ojos del Salar lagoons, the red stones and the thermal baths are just some of the sites to marvel at. However, the highlight of the show is undoubtedly the Valley of the Moon(Valle de la Luna). If you’ve ever dreamed of going to the moon, this is the place to start – you’ll really feel like you’re on another planet. Next door, and no less interesting, is the Valley of Mars(Valle de Marte), often mistranslated as Death Valley.
4. Cerro Paranal
If you missed the sky-watching in San Pedro de Atacama, or if it made your mouth water, head south of Antofagasta to Cerro Paranal. This mountain, in the heart of the desert, has been chosen by the European Organization for Astronomical Research (ESO) for its exceptional stargazing qualities. This is where you’ll find the best views of the stellar universe, thanks to the VLT (Very Large Telescope).
5. Elqui Valley and La Serena
A big leap south and you continue your tour of Chile in the Elqui Valley. The green becomes more and more present, and this is where the Chilean wine route begins. Stop off in La Serena, a beautiful colonial town. The center is easily accessible on foot. From the Plaza de Armas, you can choose between twenty-nine churches and a cathedral, not forgetting the Recova craft market and the archaeological museum. In the valley, visit a vineyard or a pisquera, and taste the famous pisco – in moderation! The valley is also a great spot for stargazing.
6. Valparaiso
If you land in Santiago, take a quick tour of the capital and then head for Valparaiso, about an hour and a half’s drive away. Chile’s second-largest city and port owes its charm to its street art.
Wander through its colorful alleyways and admire the work of street artists. Take the stairs or one of the funiculars for a breathtaking view from the hills on which it’s built. Taking a break? Extend your discovery of Viña del Mar ‘s cultural life and enjoy its beautiful white sandy beaches without moderation.
7. The 7-cup park (radal siete tazas)
The landscape, hitherto rather desert-like, begins to turn green on the outskirts of Curico. A two-hour drive from this town, via a ripio (gravel) road, takes you to the Parc Radal Siete Tazas, the park of seven cups. These are waterfalls that flow into each other. Before reaching them, you can admire an impressive waterfall: the bride’s veil. The cups were somewhat damaged by the 2010 earthquake, but four or five remain perfectly visible. The park is set in woodland, and pink and orange flowers line the path to a final waterfall: the saltos de la Leona, where you can take a dip.
8. Lake District
Patagonia begins with the Lake District. The Andes round off and reveal their most emblematic volcanoes: Calbuco, Osorno and Villarrica, which you can climb when they’re not erupting!
The region is dotted with a chain of lakes as far as Puerto Montt. You can take up residence in Pucon or Villarica, on the shores of the lake of the same name, unless you prefer the more confidential and authentic shores of Lake Calafquen. In Frutillar, near Lake Llanquihue, you’ll feel like you’re in a quaint German village. Drive along the lake past Puerto Varas to the Petrohué waterfalls, where you’ll be struck by their intense blue-green hues.
9. Chiloé
The Great Island of Chiloé is renowned for its wooden churches. South America’s second-largest island after Tierra del Fuego, it offers lush nature, charming fishing villages and colorful houses and churches.
Ride a bike or kayak to discover its mysteries, or take a boat to explore one of the archipelago’s many small islands. Go as far as Quellon, where the famous Pan-American Highway from Alaska ends. Everything about Chiloé invites you to take a stroll.
10. Chaitén and Pumalin Park
Route nationale n° 7, or Route Austral, links Puerto Montt to Villa O’Higgins in a distance of some 1,200 kilometers. Sometimes paved, sometimes a simple dirt road, it crosses enchanting landscapes that will leave you breathless. If you’re in the fjord region, you may have to take a ferry to reach the next village.
If you’ve been to Chiloé, you can join this route directly at Chaitén, gateway to the Pumalin Park. Dense forests, snow-capped peaks, volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls, lakes, a wealth of flora and fauna – we’re not far from paradise!
11. General Carrera Lake and the marble chapels
Still on the Carretera Australe, another beautiful spot in Chile: Lake General Carrera and its marble chapels (capillas de marmol). This lake, shared between Argentina (where it is known as Lake Buenos Aires) and Chile, is difficult to access, but well worth the trip. The natural formations of calcium carbonate, blue to black in color, create caves that look as if they were made of marble. The cathedral and chapel can be reached by boat or canoe.
12. Bernardo O’Higgins Park
Patagonia never ceases to amaze. Located around the 50th parallel, Bernardo O’Higgins National Park covers the Chilean part of the Patagonian South Icefield (Campo de Hielo Patagónico Sur), the third largest ice cap in the world. A boat trip from Puerto Natales, Punta Arenas or Puerro Montt is an opportunity to admire the fjords and some of the most beautiful glaciers: Balmaceda, Serrano, Pio XI and the O’Higgins. Plan a stopover in this park, to enjoy nature in its raw state, far from the noise of civilization.
13. Torres del Paine National Park
Visiting Chile without visiting the Torres del Paine Park is quite simply inconceivable. If you’re a good hiker, you’ll try the famous O or W treks, but there’s much more to the park than that. Even if you’re not much of a walker, you won’t remain insensitive to its beauty.
Rent a car in Puerto Natales, enter through the south gate and drive to the edge of Lago Grey, from where you can see the glacier of the same name. Continue along the road (or rather track), stopping in front of magnificent lagoons, taking short walks to admire the jagged peaks of Los Cuernos (the horns) and those of the famous Torres. Admittedly, it’s a bit expensive, but don’t hesitate to break your piggy bank to stay in the park and admire the sunrise over these unforgettable towers.
14. Punta Arenas and Magdalena Island
Punta Arenas, on the shores of the Strait of Magellan, is the region’s largest port and the starting point for southern excursions to Ushuaïa and Cape Horn. The city is very sprawling, but the downtown area and its superb Plaza de Armas are not to be missed. Just a kilometer away is the cemetery, a wonderful invitation to stroll among the cypress trees and the most extravagant funerary monuments. Stop off at the tomb of the Unknown Indian (Indiecito), always abundantly decorated with flowers.
From Punta Arenas, we reachMagdalena Island, a sanctuary for a colony of Magellanic penguins numbering over 100,000.
15. Puerto Williams and Navarino Island
The southernmost village in the world, Puerto Williams is gradually opening up to travellers. Located on Navarino Island, it can be reached from Ushuaïa by zodiac (very random) or from Punta Arenas by plane or cruise ship. Once there, you’ll discover this charming village and its welcoming inhabitants. Plan to stay for several days, to explore the island in depth, especially the » Dientes de Navarino » circuit and its famous Dents, including Pico Navarino, the island’s highest peak.
16. Easter Island
Lost in the middle of the Pacific, equidistant from French Polynesia and Santiago de Chile,Easter Island is nonetheless a Chilean possession. We go there for its Moais (large statues), of course, but also for its landscapes: volcanoes, beaches, hiking trails… and the charming village of Hanga Roa.
Map of hotels and accommodation – Chile