What to see in Chile: 10 must-sees
Discover what to see in Chile: 10 must-see destinations, from Torres del Paine to Valley of the Moon. Predominantly city and national park; each entry includes the best time to visit and the link to its official source.
City(3)
Step into San Pedro de Atacama and wake up at dawn among columns of steam at the El Tatio geysers, more than 4,000 meters above sea level. Walk through the village of dirt streets and adobe walls, browse the craft market and sample cuisine made with highland ingredients, and explore Lake Tara among rock formations. As evening falls, wait for night under one of the clearest skies in the world, where the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye and several observatories offer guided visits.
Discover Santiago from Cerro San Cristóbal, where the cable car and the summit reward you with the best view of the city, with the Andes Mountains in the background. Head down to the Bellavista neighborhood to try an Italian-style completo, wander through the Central Market among fresh fish and seafood, and set aside an afternoon for the vineyards of the Maipo Valley, less than an hour from downtown. Between the historic quarter around the Plaza de Armas and the towers of Providencia, the Chilean capital blends tradition and modernity without ever rushing you.
Discover Puerto Natales, the gateway to Torres del Paine, strolling along the waterfront facing the Señoret Channel while cormorants perch on the old piers. Have breakfast at one of the cafés around the main square, browse wool and leather crafts at the Municipal Market, and compare tour prices at the agencies on Bulnes and Baquedano streets. At sunset, try spit-roasted lamb at a local restaurant before heading off to the park.
National Park(2)
Sail among icebergs to the face of Grey Glacier and follow the trails of the W Trek on foot, the park's most popular route. Spot condors, rheas, and guanacos among the steppes and lenga forests, with the three granite towers silhouetted against turquoise lakes. The Magellanic wind sets the pace of each day. Torres del Paine protects a fragile Patagonian ecosystem, so it's best to stay on the marked trails and respect the wildlife.
Admire the Llaima Volcano rising above thousand-year-old araucaria forests in Conguillío National Park, in the Araucanía. Follow trails that cross solidified lava flows, glacial lakes such as Conguillío and Verde, and ravines that are home to black woodpeckers, foxes, and condors. Go hiking and birdwatching among coigüe and lenga trees, and discover the volcanic character of southern Chile in one of the country's most visited parks.
Natural(2)
Stand before the rock formations of the Valley of the Moon, sculpted by the wind over millions of years in the middle of the Atacama Desert, the driest place on Earth. Walk its trails among salt ridges and dunes, observe the flora and fauna adapted to extreme dryness, and watch how the evening light tints the terrain in coppery hues until it looks like a science-fiction landscape.
Look out over the driest desert in the world, in the Antofagasta region, where the El Tatio geysers release steam at dawn and the Licancabur and Láscar volcanoes keep watch over the altiplano. Walk through the Valley of the Moon among salt ridges and sand, cross the Salar de Atacama, and spot flamingos in the high-altitude lagoons. At night, the clear sky lets you see the Milky Way with the naked eye from San Pedro de Atacama.
UNESCO Heritage(2)
Follow the trail to Orongo and marvel at the moai, stone statues carved by the Polynesians 1,000 years ago on this Pacific island. Explore the quarries of Rano Raraku, where unfinished figures still lie, and discover the history of Rapa Nui, the culture that raised these ceremonial platforms. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it stands as an exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition and to a civilization that has vanished.
Ride up to Cerro Alegre or Cerro Concepción on one of the century-old funiculars that have been running since the 19th century, and wander through alleys where every façade bears a different mural. Valparaíso was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its port architecture and its street layout adapted to the hillsides. From the Paseo Yugoslavo or the Atkinson Viewpoint, take in the bay and the Pacific, with colorful houses stacked down the hillside and the constant movement of cranes and ships in the port.
Intangible Heritage(1)
Explore the wooden churches of Chiloé, where architecture, legends, and landscape come together to create a unique culture. Visit Castro and Achao and discover the Chilote culture that has survived for 400 years. Experience the tradition, where culture, art, and customs form a living legacy passed down from generation to generation. Take part, learn, and feel the connection to history.
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