Chile in brief
- The Atacama Desert in northern Chile is the driest non-polar desert on Earth.
- It’s also one of the world’s best places for stargazing.
- Chilean Patagonia means Torres del Paine, glaciers and pumas.
- Add the moai of Easter Island, five and a half hours from Santiago.
Chile is about 4,300 km long and rarely more than 200 km wide, so one trip can take you from the driest desert on Earth to the glaciers of Patagonia, by way of vineyards, volcanoes and the Pacific. Add the stone giants of Easter Island and you have one of the most varied countries in the world. This guide covers the Atacama Desert and its stargazing, Santiago and the wine valleys, the Lake District, Chilean Patagonia, Easter Island and the best places to visit in Chile.
The Atacama Desert
Where is the Atacama Desert? In northern Chile, between the Pacific coast and the Andes, stretching about 1,000 km south from the border with Peru. It’s the driest non-polar desert on Earth, and parts of it go years without measurable rain.
Getting there: fly from Santiago to Calama in about two hours, then drive about an hour and a half to San Pedro de Atacama, an adobe oasis town at about 2,400 metres that is the base for exploring.
Altitude: many sights are much higher, up to 4,300 metres at the El Tatio geysers, so spend your first day or two on gentle trips and drink plenty of water.
Best things to do in the Atacama
- Valle de la Luna: wind-carved ridges, salt caves and dunes, best at sunset.
- El Tatio geysers: one of the largest geyser fields in the southern hemisphere; go at dawn, when the steam columns are tallest.
- The altiplano lagoons: the deep-blue Miscanti and Miñiques lakes below snow-capped volcanoes.
- Flamingos on the Salar de Atacama: three species feed in the Chaxa lagoon on the great salt flat.
- Floating in Laguna Cejar: the water is saltier than the sea.
- Uyuni, Bolivia: a three-day 4×4 crossing links San Pedro with the Uyuni salt flats.
Atacama Desert stargazing
With its dry air, high altitude, clear skies and very little light pollution, the Atacama is one of the best places on Earth to see the stars. That’s why some of the world’s biggest observatories are built here, including ALMA on the Chajnantor plateau.
Night tours: local astronomers set up telescopes outside San Pedro and guide you around the southern sky: the Milky Way, the Magellanic Clouds, Saturn’s rings and the Southern Cross.
When to go: stargazing is possible all year. Plan your stay around the new moon for the darkest skies, and bring warm layers: desert nights are cold, often near freezing in winter.
Best places to visit in Chile
Santiago and the wine valleys
Chile’s capital sits right below the Andes. Explore its markets and museums, ride up San Cristóbal hill, and visit the wineries of the Maipo, Casablanca and Colchagua valleys.
Valparaíso
A UNESCO-listed port city of colourful houses climbing steep hills, linked by old funicular lifts and covered in street art. It’s about an hour and a half from Santiago.
The Lake District
Snow-capped volcanoes above blue lakes, with a German-influenced heritage. Puerto Varas is the base for the Osorno volcano, the Petrohué falls and boat crossings into Argentina.
Chiloé Island
A misty island of colourful stilt houses, wooden churches listed by UNESCO, myths and seafood, just south of the Lake District.
Chilean Patagonia
Torres del Paine National Park, with its granite towers, glaciers and turquoise lakes, is the highlight of Chilean Patagonia. Fly to Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales.
Easter Island
Rapa Nui, about five and a half hours’ flight west of Santiago, is one of the most remote inhabited islands on Earth, famous for its giant stone moai.
Chilean Patagonia
Patagonia is shared by Chile and Argentina. The Chilean side is wetter and wilder, with fjords, glaciers and the jagged peaks of Torres del Paine:
- Hiking: the famous W Trek takes four to five days, staying in refuges or campsites; day walks lead to the base of the towers and to Grey Glacier.
- Wildlife: guanacos are everywhere, Andean condors circle overhead, and Torres del Paine is one of the best places in the world to see wild pumas, tracked on foot with specialist guides.
- Beyond the park: boat trips to glaciers from Puerto Natales, Magellanic penguins near Punta Arenas from about October to March, and the remote Carretera Austral road further north.
Comparing Patagonia tours on both sides of the border? See our Patagonia tours compared.
Visiting Easter Island
Easter Island is home to nearly 1,000 moai, carved by the Rapa Nui people centuries ago. Watch sunrise at Ahu Tongariki, with its 15 standing moai, see the quarry at Rano Raraku, where the statues were carved, and swim at the palm-fringed beach of Anakena.
Entry rules: you need to complete a Rapa Nui entry form and show a return ticket and a registered booking. You also need a national park ticket, and the main sites must be visited with a licensed local guide.
How long: three or four nights is ideal. The island is subtropical and can be visited all year.
When to go to Chile
Chile’s seasons are the opposite of ours, and its length means each region has its own best time. As a rule, October to April works for a trip covering several regions. Patagonia is best from November to March; the Atacama and Easter Island are good all year; Santiago and the wine valleys are loveliest in spring (October and November) and at harvest time (March and April).
| Month | Atacama | Santiago | Lake District | Torres del Paine | Easter Island |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27°C | 29°C | 19°C | 14°C | 22°C |
| Mar | 26°C | 28°C | 17°C | 12°C | 23°C |
| May | 21°C | 19°C | 12°C | 7°C | 20°C |
| Jul | 19°C | 15°C | 10°C | 3°C | 18°C |
| Sep | 24°C | 18°C | 12°C | 6°C | 18°C |
| Nov | 27°C | 26°C | 15°C | 10°C | 19°C |
Average daily high, 10-year ERA5 data. Patagonia is windy all year; the Atacama has cold nights.
Classic routes
Chile top to toe
- Santiago (2 nights)
- Atacama (4)
- Lake District (3)
- Torres del Paine (4)
Desert, volcanoes and Patagonia, linked by flights.
Chile with Easter Island
- Santiago (2 nights)
- Easter Island (4)
- Atacama (4)
- Torres del Paine (5)
- Valparaíso (2)
Add the moai between the desert and the mountains.
Atacama and Uyuni
- Santiago (1 night)
- San Pedro de Atacama (4)
- Uyuni crossing to Bolivia (3)
- La Paz (1)
Salt flats, lagoons and flamingos across the border.
Ways to see Chile with us
Practical tips
- Entry: British citizens can visit Chile for up to 90 days without a visa. Keep the tourist card you’re given on arrival; you’ll need it when you leave. See the FCDO Chile advice.
- Altitude: take the Atacama slowly, and check with your doctor if you have heart or lung conditions.
- Layers: pack for four seasons, from desert sun to Patagonian wind and rain.
- Earthquakes: Chile is well prepared; note the safety instructions where you stay.
- Book early: Torres del Paine refuges and Easter Island fill up months ahead in peak season.
- Customs: Chile is strict about fresh food, plants and animal products; declare anything you’re unsure about.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Atacama Desert?
In northern Chile, between the Pacific and the Andes, stretching about 1,000 km south from the Peruvian border. The base for visitors is San Pedro de Atacama, reached via a flight from Santiago to Calama.
Why is the Atacama Desert good for stargazing?
Its air is extremely dry, it's high, the skies are clear on most nights and there's almost no light pollution. That's why many of the world's largest observatories are built there.
How many days do you need in the Atacama?
Three to four nights covers the Valle de la Luna, the El Tatio geysers, the altiplano lagoons and a stargazing tour, with time to adjust to the altitude.
What are the best places to visit in Chile?
The Atacama Desert, Santiago and the wine valleys, Valparaíso, the Lake District, Chiloé, Torres del Paine in Patagonia and Easter Island.
Can you see pumas in Chilean Patagonia?
Yes. Torres del Paine is one of the best places in the world to see wild pumas, usually by tracking them on foot with specialist guides.
How do you get to Easter Island?
Fly from Santiago, about five and a half hours. You need a Rapa Nui entry form, a return ticket and a registered booking, and the main sites must be visited with a licensed guide.
Do UK citizens need a visa for Chile?
No. British citizens can visit for up to 90 days without a visa.
When is the best time to visit Chile?
October to April suits most trips. Patagonia is best from November to March, while the Atacama and Easter Island can be visited all year.
Keep planning
- Chile holidays
- Escorted tours of Chile
- Patagonia tours compared
- Argentina holiday guide
- South America tours
- Peru holiday guide
- Brazil holiday guide
- Tailor-made holidays
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