Chile travel guide

Overview

Most first trips spend three days in Santiago, one of them on a day trip to Valparaíso, about 1 hour 30 min to 2 hours away by bus. Flights from Santiago reach Calama in about 2 hours, and San Pedro de Atacama is a further 100 km, about 1 hour 30 min by road. Torres del Paine in Patagonia is a separate trip: fly to Punta Arenas in about 3 hours 25 min, then ride a bus about 3 hours to Puerto Natales.

Summer runs from December to March, the warmest and best time for walking Valparaíso's hills; the Atacama is busiest then, so book tours and park tickets early. In the desert, days are hot and nights freezing all year, and in winter the nights get much colder, which matters for the dawn tour to the geysers above 4,300 m.

When to go

BestGo with a plan

janBusyfebBusymarBestaprMildmayMildjunColdjulColdaugColdsepMildoctMildnovBestdecBest

Valparaíso's New Year fireworks over the bay draw crowds on 31 December. Many museums close for Chile's national holidays, the Fiestas Patrias, on 18 and 19 September.

Every month in detail: weather and recent fares

Itineraries

[Photo: San Pedro de Atacama]

San Pedro de Atacama in 3 daysValle de la Luna, Laguna Chaxa, Miscanti and Miñiques, Piedras Rojas, Toconao, Tatio Geysers, Laguna Cejar, Laguna TebenquicheBalanced pace

[Photo: Santiago]

Santiago in 3 daysLa Moneda, Plaza de Armas, Pre-Columbian Art Museum, Mercado Central, Cerro San Cristóbal, La Chascona, Valparaíso, La SebastianaBalanced pace

[Photo: Chile]

Chile in 7 daysSantiago, Cerro San Cristóbal, Valparaíso, San Pedro de Atacama, Valle de la Luna, Miscanti and Miñiques, Tatio Geysers, Laguna CejarBalanced pace

Where to stay

San Pedro de AtacamaThe historic center for first-timers, close to restaurants and tour pickups; Quitor for a quieter stay north of town; Calama only for a late arrival or an early flight.Best areas to stay in San Pedro de Atacama Hotels in San Pedro de Atacama

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SantiagoProvidencia for first-timers, central and on the Metro; Lastarria for cobbled streets near the historic center; Bellavista for nightlife below Cerro San Cristóbal; Barrio Italia for food and design shops.Best areas to stay in Santiago Hotels in Santiago

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Getting around

Flights: Flights from Santiago reach Calama, the airport for San Pedro de Atacama, in about 2 hours, and Punta Arenas, for Patagonia, in about 3 hours 25 min.
To San Pedro de Atacama: From Calama airport, transfers and buses cover the 100 km to San Pedro de Atacama in about 1 hour 30 min.
To Valparaíso: Frequent buses from Santiago's Alameda and Pajaritos terminals reach Valparaíso in about 1 hour 30 min to 2 hours.
In Santiago: The Metro is the fastest way across the city, with stations such as La Moneda, Plaza de Armas and Baquedano.
In the desert: Local tour operators run trips to the valleys, lagoons and geysers; you can also rent a car, ideally a 4x4 for the high roads.

Before you go

Travel insuranceHealth insurance from home often doesn't cover care abroad. Check what your plan includes, then compare travel cover for your dates. Make sure it covers high-altitude trips such as the Tatio Geysers.

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Phone dataMobile data keeps park tickets, tour pickups and Metro routes at hand, though signals can be unreliable out in the desert.How a travel eSIM works

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