A first trip to Chile pairs two very different worlds. In Santiago, below the Andes, you ride up city hills, visit Pablo Neruda's houses and eat seafood at the central market. In San Pedro de Atacama, an adobe oasis in the world's driest desert, you watch sunset over the Valle de la Luna, float in salt lagoons and see geysers steam at dawn. Valparaíso's painted hills are about 90 minutes from Santiago, and the desert is a two-hour flight to Calama, then about 100 km by road.
Below are our ranked picks for a first trip, best first, each with a practical tip. After them comes every sight we cover in Santiago, Valparaíso and San Pedro de Atacama, city by city, with opening notes and checked fees where we have them, then common questions.
The 18 best things to do in Chile
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- 1San Pedro de AtacamaBook ahead
Watch the sunset over the Valle de la Luna
The Valle de la Luna, in the Cordillera de la Sal less than 20 km from San Pedro de Atacama, is a landscape of salt and clay formations, eroded rock and giant dunes that looks like another planet. It is part of the Los Flamencos National Reserve, run by CONAF together with Lickanantay communities. Visitors enter in small groups and walk short marked trails, such as the Duna Mayor viewpoint, Mina Victoria and the Tres Marías rock formation, before the last stop, the Mirador de Ckari, where the ridges turn from ocher to crimson as the sun goes down. You cannot enter on foot, so come by car, by bike or with a registered tour, and leave food and alcohol behind.
Tip: Buy your ticket online at least a day ahead, and check the entry hours for your dates, since they start and end an hour earlier from April to early September.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); CONAF (Corporación Nacional Forestal); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur)General: CLP 10,800 (about $11) · Buy online a day aheadLast verified
- 2San Pedro de Atacama
See the Tatio Geysers steam at dawn
El Tatio is a geothermal field more than 4,300 m up in the Andes, the third largest in the world. It is at its best at sunrise, when the freezing air makes the columns of steam rising from the ground stand out. Tours leave San Pedro de Atacama around 4 to 5 AM for the 80 km drive on gravel Route B-245, about 1 hour 30 min, to arrive between 6 and 7 AM. Many include a light breakfast at the field, and on the way down they stop at wetlands where vicuñas graze and Andean birds feed. Before dawn the temperature can fall as low as minus 20°C, so this is a trip for warm layers, gloves and a hat.
Tip: Save the geysers for after a day or two at San Pedro's lower altitude, since the field is almost 2,000 m higher than the town.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur)CLP[fee] at the entrance - 3Valparaíso
Ride El Peral up to Paseo Yugoslavo in Valparaíso
Valparaíso was the first and most important merchant port on South America's Pacific coast in the late 1800s, and its historic quarter has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2003. To climb its steep hills, the city began building elevators, really funiculars, in 1880; there were once 31, and 16 still run. El Peral, opened in 1901, rides an almost exact 45-degree slope from Plaza de la Justicia, across from Plaza Sotomayor, up to Paseo Yugoslavo, a promenade over the bay beside the Baburizza Palace, home of the city's fine arts museum. From there, follow the street art to Paseo Dimalow and the top of the Reina Victoria elevator. Buses from Santiago's Alameda and Pajaritos terminals take about 90 minutes to 2 hours.
Tip: Carry cash for the elevators, since many of them do not take cards.
Search tours on TiqetsSources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre; Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur)Free to visit - 4Valparaíso
Wander Cerro Concepción to Paseo Gervasoni
Cerro Concepción and its neighbor Cerro Alegre form one hillside neighborhood, planned and built largely by German and English immigrants in the 19th century, with cobbled streets, colorful houses, galleries, stairways and viewpoints. Look for the Lutheran Church of the Holy Cross and the Anglican church of San Pablo, then walk to Paseo Gervasoni, a promenade known for its views and art galleries, and on to Paseo Atkinson. The Concepción funicular, the oldest in the city, links Gervasoni with the flat lower town. The hill is a good place for a seafood lunch with views of the port, and both hills fill with bars and restaurants with bay views as evening falls.
Tip: Wear comfortable shoes for the stairs and cobbles, and after dark keep to lit, busy streets or take a taxi between the hills and the center.
Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre; Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur)Pay as you go - 5Santiago
Ride up Cerro San Cristóbal for city views
Cerro San Cristóbal rises inside Parque Metropolitano, Santiago's great green lung, and its summit gives one of the best views of the city and the Andes behind it. There are two ways up. Teleférico Santiago, the cable car, runs from Avenida El Cerro 750 in Providencia, near Pedro de Valdivia Metro, and on a newer line from Avenida Pío Nono in Bellavista. The funicular, a Historic Monument since 2000, carries up to 40 people over the 500 m between its Pío Nono station and the summit, where the statue of the Virgin watches over the city. Up top, stroll to the Japanese Garden and the Mapulemu Garden, and allow at least a whole morning.
Tip: The cable car runs Tuesday to Sunday, so plan the hill for any day but Monday and buy funicular tickets on the funicular's own official site.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Teleférico Santiago; Teleférico Santiago; Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur)Ride the cable car or funicular - 6San Pedro de Atacama
Float in Laguna Cejar, then watch sunset at Tebenquiche
Out on the Salar de Atacama, Laguna Cejar's turquoise water is so salty that you float without any effort, with the desert all around you. An afternoon trip usually goes on to the Ojos del Salar, the Eyes of the Salt Flat, and ends at Laguna Tebenquiche, a wide mirror of water that reflects the Andes as the sun sets. As with most desert trips, go with a tour operator registered with SERNATUR, Chile's tourism service.
Tip: Keep your head out of the water, since the salt is strong, and bring sunglasses and sunscreen for the glare off the salt flat.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur)CLP[fee] at the entrance - 7San Pedro de Atacama
Spot flamingos at Laguna Chaxa
Laguna Chaxa lies in the Soncor sector of the Los Flamencos National Reserve, on the Salar de Atacama, one of the salt flat's lagoons where flamingos live. The reserve is home to all three flamingo species that nest in Chile, out of six in the world: the Andean, James's and Chilean flamingos. The visitor center is run by the Atacameño community of Toconao, with two easy paths: an interpretive trail of 771 m, about 45 to 60 minutes, and a 429 m walk to the main viewpoint. Opening hours run later in summer, with last entry at 7 PM, and an hour earlier in winter.
Tip: Tickets are sold in the Ckapin Ticket app, which also posts the current hours, and drones and loud noise are not allowed anywhere in the reserve.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: CONAF (Corporación Nacional Forestal); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur)Buy in the Ckapin Ticket app - 8San Pedro de AtacamaBook ahead
Visit the Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons
High on the Altiplano, about 115 km from San Pedro de Atacama and 4,300 m above sea level, the Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons are deep blue lakes at the foot of the two volcanoes that share their names, inside the Los Flamencos National Reserve. On the drive up you may see flamingos, foxes, Andean gulls and groups of vicuñas. A 1.6 km trail along Laguna Miscanti takes about 90 minutes, and a 538 m path links the two lagoons. Tickets are reserved on the Socaire community's website and checked in at the control post in Socaire, the village where many trips stop for lunch. Trails can close for electrical storms or snow.
Tip: Pair the lagoons with Piedras Rojas on one long day, and walk slowly, since you are well above the height of San Pedro.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); CONAF (Corporación Nacional Forestal); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur)Foreign adult, 18 to 60: CLP 8,000 (about $8) · Book online, check in at SocaireLast verified
- 9San Pedro de Atacama
Drive on to the red rocks of Piedras Rojas
Piedras Rojas, at the Salar de Talar, is one of the most striking landscapes around San Pedro de Atacama. Its rocks are stained deep red by iron oxide, set against the white crust of the salt flat and the dark blue of the Altiplano lagoons. Old caravan routes and traces of temporary camps show how Andean peoples crossed and lived in this harsh country long before the Spanish arrived. It sits about 150 km southeast of San Pedro on Route 23, a drive of about 2 hours 30 min, and above 4,000 m so it fits on the same day as the Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons and a lunch stop in Socaire.
Tip: Go in a 4x4 or with a registered tour, carry plenty of water, avoid hard effort at this altitude and take all your litter back with you.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur)Reached by 4x4 or on a tour - 10Santiago
Step into Neruda's world at La Chascona
Pablo Neruda began building La Chascona in 1953 for Matilde Urrutia, then his secret love, on a steep plot at the foot of Cerro San Cristóbal in what is now Bellavista. He named it after his nickname for her, for her mass of red hair, and turned the plans around so the house faced the Andes rather than the city. Inside are his dining room with its original tableware, a collection of paintings including Diego Rivera's two-headed portrait of Matilde, African wood carvings and objects by the designer Piero Fornasetti. Vandalized around the 1973 coup, the house was repaired by Matilde, who lived there until 1985. Audio guides come in six languages, including English, and a visit takes at least an hour.
Tip: There is no booking, so arrive well before closing: entry is first come, first served, Tuesday to Sunday, and the posted closing time is the last entry.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Fundación Pablo Neruda; Fundación Pablo Neruda; Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur)General admission: CLP 11,000 (about $11) · No booking neededLast verified
- 11Valparaíso
See the bay from La Sebastiana, Neruda's Valparaíso house
In 1959 Neruda asked two friends to find him a quiet house in Valparaíso, and they found an unfinished building left by the Spanish builder Sebastián Collado. The poet bought the upper floors and the tower, finished and furnished them over three years, and opened La Sebastiana, named after Collado, with a party on 18 September 1961. Windows shaped like ship portholes look over the bay, and the rooms hold old maps, sea paintings, a portrait of Lord Cochrane, music boxes and a carved carousel horse. Neruda liked to watch the port's New Year fireworks from here. The house is at Ricardo de Ferrari 692 on Cerro Bellavista.
Tip: Like La Chascona, it opens Tuesday to Sunday without reservations, so plan your Valparaíso day for any day but Monday.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Fundación Pablo Neruda; Fundación Pablo Neruda; Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur)General admission: CLP 11,000 (about $11) · No booking neededLast verified
- 12Santiago
Start at La Moneda and the Plaza de Armas
Santiago was founded in 1541, and its historic center is the place to start. Begin at La Moneda Palace, the seat of Chile's government, where the large Bicentennial flag flies in front and the Centro Cultural La Moneda below ground holds exhibitions all year, with free galleries open Tuesday to Sunday. Then walk up Paseo Bandera, a pedestrian street with a splash of color, to the Plaza de Armas, the heart of the city. Around the square stand the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Central Post Office building, the National History Museum and a statue of Pedro de Valdivia. La Moneda and Plaza de Armas Metro stations serve both ends.
Tip: Keep valuables out of sight in the busy center, and come Tuesday to Sunday if you want to see the free galleries under La Moneda.
Sources: Chile Travel (official tourism site of Chile, Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Centro Cultural La Moneda; Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur)Free to view from outside - 13Santiago
See ancient American art at the Pre-Columbian museum
The Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art sits at the corner of Bandera and Compañía, one block from the Plaza de Armas, and grew from the private collection of Sergio Larraín García-Moreno. Two permanent exhibitions fill it. America Precolombina en el Arte shows the art of peoples across the Americas, grouped by cultural area, while Chile antes de Chile traces the country's story from the earliest groups of fishers to the Indigenous peoples of today. It makes a good primer before you visit Atacameño sites in the desert. Audio guides in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese can be downloaded from its website.
Tip: The museum closes on Mondays, so visit it on another day and download the English audio guide before you go.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino; Museo Chileno de Arte PrecolombinoForeign visitors: CLP 8,000 (about $8) · Pay at the doorLast verified
- 14Santiago
Eat seafood at the Mercado Central
Santiago's Mercado Central, by Cal y Canto Metro station near the Mapocho River, is the classic lunch stop in the center for fresh seafood dishes cooked the Chilean way. Its stalls also sell fresh fruit, empanadas and local handicrafts, and La Vega market is close by for more produce. After lunch, the city's suggested walk continues past the National Theater and the National Library to the National Museum of Fine Arts, a public museum with free entry for everyone, open Tuesday to Sunday. Together they make an easy afternoon between the Plaza de Armas and Cerro Santa Lucía.
Tip: Keep your belongings close in the crowded market, and save the free Fine Arts museum for any day but Monday.
Sources: Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (Servicio Nacional del Patrimonio Cultural); Chile Travel (official tourism site of Chile, Sernatur)Pay as you go - 15Santiago
Climb Cerro Santa Lucía, then dine in Lastarria
Next to the National Library, Cerro Santa Lucía is an easy climb through gardens to views over the city center, and a good place to try mote con huesillo, a traditional Chilean drink. Walk down into Barrio Lastarria, one of the city's historic neighborhoods, between the hill and Plaza Baquedano. Its cobbled streets and European architecture hold specialty cafés, pubs and restaurants serving Chilean and international food, with street music, exhibitions and craft stalls, and the GAM cultural center and the Fine Arts museum close by. Santa Lucía, Universidad Católica and Bellas Artes Metro stations are all a short walk away.
Tip: Follow the classic order: climb the hill in the afternoon, then walk down into Lastarria for dinner.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur)Check access at the gate - 16Santiago
Look over Santiago from Sky Costanera
Sky Costanera fills floors 61 and 62 of Gran Torre Costanera, the tallest skyscraper in South America, with a 360-degree viewpoint 300 m above the city. From the top you see the whole valley Santiago sits in, its modern towers and the line of the Andes beyond. The tower rises over Costanera Center, one of the city's best-known malls, in Providencia, near Tobalaba and Los Leones Metro stations. The viewpoint opens every day, with the last elevator up at 9 PM, and a bar and café on the top floors serves drinks and food. It pairs well with an evening in Providencia, a district many visitors choose as a base.
Tip: Check the weather before you go, since clear days show the Andes best, and aim for sunset to see the city lights come on.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Sky Costanera; Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur)Adult (13 and over): CLP 25,000 (about $26) · Sunset entry, 6 to 8 PM: CLP 30,000 (about $31) · Buy at the ground-floor ticket officeLast verified
- 17San Pedro de Atacama
Stargaze under the Atacama's clear night skies
Extreme dryness, low light pollution and high altitude make San Pedro de Atacama one of the best places on Earth to look at the night sky, which is why large observatories such as ALMA stand nearby. Astronomical tours drive out of town into the dark desert, where guides set up telescopes, point out planets, constellations and the center of the Milky Way, and share the Andean view of the cosmos. Some include an outdoor dinner under the stars. Nights get very cold even after warm days, so bring a warm jacket, and plan this for your first or second evening, when you are still resting from the altitude by day.
Tip: Book well ahead with a SERNATUR-registered operator, which you can find at the Sernatur office facing San Pedro's main square.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Chile Travel (official tourism site of Chile, Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur) - 18San Pedro de Atacama
Walk through 2,800 years at Aldea de Tulor
About 10 km southwest of San Pedro, on the road to the Valle de la Luna, Tulor is one of the oldest settlements in northern Chile, lived in from around 400 BC by the Atacameño, or Lickanantay, people, who farmed and raised llamas and alpacas. Dunes slowly buried it until 1956, when the Jesuit archaeologist Gustavo Le Paige spotted walls poking out of the sand. A 778 m trail, about 45 to 60 minutes, passes some of its roughly 30 round adobe enclosures, linked by corridors and shaped against wind, heat and sun, plus replica dwellings. It is 15 to 20 minutes by car, or 30 to 45 minutes by bike on a mostly flat road.
Tip: Tulor opens Monday to Friday only and needs a reservation by email, so arrange it before you set your San Pedro plans.
Search tickets and tours on TiqetsSources: Chile Travel (official tourism site of Chile, Sernatur); CONAF (Corporación Nacional Forestal)Reserve by email
Every sight, city by city
San Pedro de Atacama
Things to do in San Pedro de AtacamaTours and tickets in San Pedro de AtacamaAldea de Tulor
An ancient village site in the Los Flamencos reserve, seen on a 778 m trail.Entry: Reserve by email. Closed Saturdays and SundaysSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsChurch of San Pedro de Atacama
The town's main church beside the plaza, one of the oldest churches in Chile.Entry: Check opening times at the doorSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsHistoric center
Adobe streets around the plaza where restaurants serve local dishes such as lamb with desert herbs.Entry: Pay as you goLaguna Cejar
A very salty lagoon in the Salar de Atacama where swimmers float without effort.Entry: CLP[fee] at the entranceSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsLaguna Chaxa
A lagoon in the Salar de Atacama, run by the Toconao community, where flamingos feed.Entry: Buy in the Ckapin Ticket appSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsLaguna Tebenquiche
A wide lagoon on the Atacama salt flat that mirrors the Andes at sunset.Entry: CLP[fee] at the entranceSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsMiscanti and Miñiques Lagoons
Two deep blue high-altitude lagoons at about 4,300 m below the volcanoes of the same names.Entry: Book online, check in at SocaireSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsPiedras Rojas
Red iron-stained rocks beside the white Salar de Talar and blue lagoons, over 4,000 m up.Entry: Reached by 4x4 or on a tourSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsPukará de Quitor
A pre-Inca hillside fortress about 3 km from the center of San Pedro de Atacama.Entry: CLP[fee] at the entranceSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsSocaire
Altiplano village on the lagoon route where tours stop for lunch and Miscanti visitors check in.Entry: Pay as you goTatio Geysers
A geothermal field above 4,300 m whose steam columns are strongest in the freezing cold at dawn.Entry: CLP[fee] at the entranceSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsToconao
Lickanantay village south of San Pedro that offers community tourism visits on local farming customs.Entry: Free to visitValle de la Luna
Salt and clay formations and giant dunes in the Cordillera de la Sal, famous at sunset.Entry: Buy online a day aheadSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsValle de la Muerte
Valley of rock formations just west of San Pedro, often paired with the Valle de la Luna.Entry: CLP[fee] at the entranceSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsBarrio Bellavista
Bohemian quarter below Cerro San Cristóbal with hundreds of cafés, bars and restaurants and Patio Bellavista.Entry: Pay as you goBarrio Italia
Santiago's hub for antiques and food, with restaurants, design shops and bookstores around Avenida Italia.Entry: Pay as you goBarrio Lastarria
Cobbled historic quarter near Cerro Santa Lucía, full of cafés, restaurants, pubs and cultural venues.Entry: Pay as you goCerro Concepción, Valparaíso
Historic hill of colorful houses where restaurants serve fresh seafood with views over the port.Entry: Pay as you goCerro San Cristóbal summit
Hilltop with the statue of the Virgin and wide views of Santiago, reached by funicular or cable car.Entry: Ride the cable car or funicularSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsCerro Santa Lucía
A green hill in the city center with parks, paths and lookouts over Santiago.Entry: Check access at the gateSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsChilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art
Pre-Columbian art from across the Americas and the peoples of ancient Chile, a block from the Plaza de Armas.Entry: Pay at the door. Closed MondaysSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsLa Chascona
Pablo Neruda's Santiago house, begun in 1953 for Matilde Urrutia, now a museum of his rooms and collections.Entry: No booking needed. Closed MondaysSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsLa Moneda Palace
Chile's government palace, with the La Moneda Palace Cultural Center and its exhibitions underneath.Entry: Free to view from outsideLa Sebastiana, Valparaíso
Pablo Neruda's Valparaíso house, opened in 1961, with his collections and views of the bay.Entry: No booking needed. Closed MondaysSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsMercado Central
Covered market by the Mapocho River, known for seafood dishes, fresh fruit, empanadas and handicrafts.Entry: Pay as you goMuelle Prat, Valparaíso
Valparaíso's pier by Plaza Sotomayor, where boats leave for tours of the bay.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on TiqetsNational Museum of Fine Arts
Chile's national art museum, a public museum with free entry for everyone, open Tuesday to Sunday.Entry: Free to visit. Closed MondaysSearch tours on TiqetsPaseo Gervasoni, Valparaíso
A promenade on Cerro Concepción known for its views over the bay and its art galleries.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on TiqetsPaseo Yugoslavo, Valparaíso
Promenade on Cerro Alegre above the 1901 El Peral elevator, beside the Baburizza Palace and its art museum.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on TiqetsPlaza de Armas
Santiago's main square, lined by the cathedral, the old post office and the National History Museum.Entry: Free to visitSky Costanera
A 360-degree viewing deck 300 m up on floors 61 and 62 of the Gran Torre Costanera.Entry: Buy at the ground-floor ticket officeSearch tickets and tours on TiqetsQuestions travelers ask
What are the best things to do in Chile for a first trip?
Pair Santiago with the Atacama Desert. In Santiago, ride up Cerro San Cristóbal, walk from La Moneda to the Plaza de Armas, see Neruda's house La Chascona and eat at the Mercado Central, then spend a day in Valparaíso's hills and elevators. In San Pedro de Atacama, watch sunset at the Valle de la Luna, float in Laguna Cejar, visit the high lagoons and Piedras Rojas, see the Tatio Geysers at dawn and join a stargazing tour. Patagonia needs extra days and flights through Santiago.
Sources: Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur)How many days do you need in Chile?
About a week covers the classic first trip: two or three days in Santiago, with Valparaíso as a day out, then a flight north for three to six days in San Pedro de Atacama, where you also need time to adjust to the altitude. Combining the desert with Patagonia takes at least 12 days, because you fly back through Santiago between them, and a road trip between the two needs at least three weeks.
Sources: Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur)When is the best time for sightseeing in Chile?
Santiago and Valparaíso have a cool Mediterranean climate and can be visited all year, but summer, December to March, is the best time for Valparaíso's weather, and from September to March the hills are warmer for walking. The Atacama has hot days and freezing nights in every season. Summer is busy there, so book ahead, while in winter temperatures drop sharply, which matters for dawn and night tours, and the Valle de la Luna's hours are earlier from April to early September.
Sources: Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); CONAF (Corporación Nacional Forestal)Which Chile attractions should you book ahead?
Book the Atacama first. Valle de la Luna tickets must be bought at least a day ahead, Miscanti and Miñiques tickets are reserved on the Socaire community's website, and Laguna Chaxa sells through the Ckapin Ticket app; capacity is limited, so buy park tickets several days before. Stargazing tours can fill months ahead. Aldea de Tulor needs an email reservation. In Santiago and Valparaíso, Neruda's houses take no bookings, and the San Cristóbal cable car and funicular sell tickets on their own official sites.
Sources: CONAF (Corporación Nacional Forestal); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Fundación Pablo Neruda; Teleférico Santiago; Teleférico SantiagoHow do you get around Chile?
In Santiago, the Metro is the fastest way across the city, and direct buses link the airport, 17 km from the center, with Pajaritos and Los Héroes Metro stations. Buses to Valparaíso leave often from the Alameda and Pajaritos terminals, and in Valparaíso local buses and shared taxis called colectivos climb between the hills. For the desert, fly about two hours from Santiago to Calama, then take a bus or transfer about 100 km to San Pedro, where tours or a rented 4x4 reach the sights.
Sources: Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel (official tourism site of Chile, Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur)Do you need cash in Chile, and how do you stay safe?
Carry some Chilean pesos. In San Pedro de Atacama card signals can be unreliable, and many Valparaíso elevators do not take cards. In Santiago, keep valuables out of sight in busy areas, and in Valparaíso keep to lit, busy streets at night. In the desert, the main risk is altitude: drink plenty of water, rest on arrival, avoid alcohol the first night and use only tour services registered with SERNATUR, which ensures certified guides and formal transport.
Sources: Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel (official tourism site of Chile, Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur); Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur)