The Chile Travel Guide

Santiago, Chile (2004 American Capital of Culture; pop: 6.03M)

• Pre-Columbian Art Museum, Santiago
• Maipo Valley, Santiago area, Chile (Major wine producing region, specializing in big-bodied reds)

 

Che Guevara Scenic Drive, Rosario to Santiago (1520 miles)

 

Morado National Monument, Chile

 

Valparaíso, Chile (pop: 264,000; Poets, painter, philosophers long been drawn to this port city)

 

Negra Island, Chile (easy half day trip from Valpo to spectacular wind swept island)

 

Vina del Mar, Chile (one of the most popular beaches in the country)

 

Concon, Chile (great seafood restaurants)

 

Horcon, Chile (Chile’s first hippy town)

 

Maitencillo, Chile (long, sandy beaches)

 

Cachagua, Chile (beach town with penguins)

 

Zapallar, Chile (unspoiled beaches, most exclusive Chilean coastal resorts)

 

Fray Jorge National Park, Chile (UNESCO; Cloud forest in semi-desert surroundings, remote)

 

La Serena, Chile (pop: 198,200; Coastal town, some of the longest stretches of beach in Chile; neocolonial architecture)

 

Elqui Valley, La Serena (incredible clear night skies)

 

Bahia Inglesa, Chile (great beach town, very busy in summer, but cheap in offseason. Turquoise water, long white-sand beach, rock outcrops)

 

San Pedro de Atacama, Chile (laidback otherworldly landscape. Southwest like, but wilder with geysers, 5 peaks over 18,300’ and Chile’s biggest salt flat. Could easily spend a week here exploring, wouldn’t be near enough. Atacama Desert)

• Gustavo Le Paige Museum, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile (Nirvana for archaeologists, areas rainless environment has turned up all sorts of interesting and puzzling artifacts)

 

Moon and Mars Valley, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile (13km from San Pedro, Driest place on Earth, colorful sandstone formations)

 

El Tatio Geyser, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile (world’s highest geyser field)

 

Atacama Salt Flats, Flamingos National Reserve, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

 

Antiplanic Lagoons, Flamingos National Reserve, San Pedro de Atacama (at over 13,000’, this mix of desert, mountains and ice is unique attracting a wide variety of birds.

• Chaxa Lagoon, Atacama Salt Flats, San Pedro de Atacama (3 different types of flamingos: Andean, Chilean and James)

 

Tudor Ruin, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

 

Cejar Lagoon, San Pedro de Atacama (can float just like the dead sea)

 

Pukara de Quitor ruins, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

 

Arcoiris Valley, San Pedro de Atacama (rainbowlike multicolored rock formations)

 

Ojos de Salar, San Pedro de Atacama (swimming hole in the middle of the desert)

 

Salar de Tara, San Pedro de Atacama (200km round trip from San Pedro, spectacular area with flamingo lagoons, penis rock, and other rock formations at 14,100’)

 

 

Termas de Puritama volcanic hot springs, San Pedro de Atacama (Several falls and pools)

 

 

Hand of the Desert, Atacama Desert, Chile

 

Iquique, Chile (2001 American Capital of Culture)

 

Arica, Chile

 

Lluta Valley, Chile (Hillside geoglyphs – similar the Nazca area except these are on hillside and easier to view from ground)

 

Lauca National Park, Chile

 

Colchagua Valley, Chile (Chile’s most established wine region with over 20 wineries. Famous for its red white varieties)\

 

Pichilemu, Chile (unofficial surf capital of Chile, beach resort town of 12,000)

 

Maule Valley, Chile (High quality cabernet sauvignon vineyards, much of which is exported because can sell for more in US/European markets.)

 

Conception, Chile (Left leaning port and university town, with a good local music scene – many of the Chile’s best rock bands started here)

 

Laguna del Laja National Park, Chile

 

Nahuelbuta National Park, Chile

 

Conguillio National Park, Lakes District, Chile(UNESCO; monkey puzzle trees, old growth forest, alpine lakes)

• Sierra Nevada Trail, Conguillio National Park, Lakes District, Chile (7km, 3hrs to old growth Monkey Puzzle grove)

 

Villarrica, Lakes District, Chile (pop: 49,200; surrounded by lakes, volcanoes, caves and hot springs. Popular hiking destination)

 

Pucon, Lake Villarrica, Lakes District, Chile (pop: 22,100; adventure sports town.

 

Huerquehue National Park, Lakes District, Chile

• Los Lagos Trail, Huerquehue National Park, Lakes District, Chile (7kn, 4 hours RT through dense lenga forest to monkey puzzle trees surrounding a cluster of pristine lakes)

 

Villarrica National Park, Lakes District, Chile

 

Calafquen Lake, Lakes District, Chile (Black sand beaches and island studded lake)

 

Valdiva, Lakes District, Chile(2016 American Capital of Culture)

 

Puyehue National Park, Lakes District, Chile

 

Frutillar, Lakes District, Chile (German village)

 

Puerto Varas, Lakes District, Chile

 

Vincente Perez Rosales National Park, Lakes District, Chile

• Petrohue Falls, Vincente Perez Rosales National Park
• Lake Todos los Santos, Vincente Perez Rosales National Park
• Mount Osorno, Vincente Perez Rosales National Park (Year-round chairlift)

 

Chiloe Island, Chiloe Archipelago, Chile (Main island)

• Ancud, Chiloe Island, Chiloe Archipelago, Chile
• Castro, Chiloe Island, Chiloe Archipelago, Chile (regional capital)
  • Church of San Francisco, Castro, Chiloe Island (UNESCO)
• Dalcahue, Chiloe Island, Chiloe Archipelago, Chile
  • Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Dalcahue, Chiloe Island (UNESCO)
• Chiloe National Park, Chiloe Island, Chiloe Archipelago, Chile

 

Quinchao Island, Chiloe Archipelago, Chile

 

The Carretera Austral Road Trip, Patagonia, Chile (Hwy 7; Puerto Montt to Villa O’Higgins; 770 miles/1240 km, washboard road to nowhere, first built to connect countries most isolated towns. Offshoot roads head to glaciers, seaside villages and mountain hamlets)

 

Pumalin Park, Patagonia, Chile (kayak through Pumalin’s fjords)

 

Futaleufu, Patagonia, Chile

 

Puyuhuapi, Patagonia, Chile (Germanic influenced town)

 

Queulat National Park, Patagonia, Chile

 

Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile (Hiking best Oct-April)

 

W Trail Trek, Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile(5+ days, 44 miles through the world’s most breathtaking mountain scenery)

 

Z Trail Trek, Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile (

 

Patagonia Fjords boat/kayak trip, Chile

 

Caleta Condor coastline, Chile

 

El Colorado, Chile (budget friendly Andes ski-town)

 

Cochamo Valley, Chile

 

Puerto Natales, Chile

 

Bernado O’Higgins National Parks, Chile

 

Punta Arenas, Chile

 

Marble Caves (aka Cuevas de Marmol), Chile (accessible only by boat, caves sit in a solid marble peninsula)

 

San Alfonso del Mar Resort, Chile (biggest pool in the world at over 20 acres; 2 billion to construct)

 

Navarino Island, Chile

 

Easter Island (Rapa Nui), Chile

• Moai Statues, Easter Island
• Anakena Beach, Easter Island