The 5 Best Places in Chile to Explore

I spent over 6 months traveling around Chile and it quickly became my favorite country! The incredibly kind people and the extremely beautiful nature make Chile a must visit country. The whole country is great but in this post I will outline the BEST places in Chile. If you love the outdoors, vibrant cities, and adventure then this guide is for you!

I miss Chile already and I really hope to return one day. It is a really long skinny country so I would allocate at least 2 weeks, but preferably a lot more to explore the whole country. Whatever you do, don’t miss the 5 best places in Chile.

Valparaiso Sunset

5 Things I never Travel Without

Travel Insurance – Heymondo has been my go-to for the last few years. I love how reasonable the prices are and how easy it is to sign up. They also include coverage of a bunch of adventurous activities! Click here for 5% off your policy.
Travel Credit Cards – Having a good travel credit card is a game changer! Not only do you get the benefit of zero transaction fees, but these cards provide other benefits such as, free Priority Pass, free TSA Pre-check/Global Entry, annual travel credits, great point earnings and travel partners. My two favorite cards are the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Capital One Venture X.
Kindle – I love reading and Kindle makes it so easy to download new books on the go!
Osprey Backpack – whether I’m hiking in Patagonia or backpacking Europe, Osprey offers versatile backpacks for any type of travel
AirPods – These are a total game changer for traveling. I love the noise cancelling capability because it makes airplanes silent and blocks out unwanted noise. They are so much easier to wear around than normal headphones.

1. Valparaiso

Valparaiso is a super bright, energetic city nestled on the coast of Chile. Rainbow colored houses dot the hillside and bright street art can be found all over the city. I loved exploring the nearby beaches of Viña del Mar, Concon and Reñaca. I also found some of the best empanadas (Delicias Express) and completos (Chile’s specialty hot dog) to feast on. There is also a great nightlife scene and most of the bars are multi-story with rooftop views.

How to Get to Valparaiso:

Valpo is located a little over an hour from Santiago, Chile and is easily reached by car or bus. You can catch the bus from the Central Terminal in Santiago or Pajaritos. It costs 5 – 10 USD each way.

Valpo Street Art

Top Things to Do:

Free Street Art Walking Tour
Sandboarding and sunset in Concon
Enjoy the Beach in Viña Del Mar
Find a cute cafe on one of the many hills
Go have a fun night out!
Get “lost” wandering the colorful streets
Go to a wine tasting

Where to Stay:

Budget: Hostal Po – l stayed here for a few weeks in total and it had such a great vibe. The hostel is located in a great part of the city and has a really nice rooftop hang out zone. It is a very social place to be and they organized events each day and night. The breakfast was also really yummy!

Luxury: Augusta Hotel – I did not stay here but it looks amazing and has a really high score on Booking.com! It is in a great location on Cerro Alegre

Airbnb – There are a lot of great Airbnb locations in Valparaiso that are worth checking out if you enjoy having an apartment to yourself!

We are not Hippies, We are Happies

Places to Eat:

Delicias Express Empanadas – $
Otro K-nibal – super cheap and delicious completos – $
ANA Sushi Reñaca – $$$
Restaurant La Concepcion – $$$

Key Tips:

Keep a close eye on belongings and keep phones and cameras very close
Be especially careful at night – take a taxi home and avoid isolated streets
Valparaiso is super hilly so expect to get a good butt workout. There is plenty of transportation but it’s not the most disabled friendly place
If you prefer a more chilled out vibe, Viña Del Mar, Reñaca and Concon are also nice places to stay and you can still explore a lot of Valparaiso
There are a lot of free walking tours that are all really cool – just make sure you leave a good tip at the end.

2. Pucon

Pucon is the adventure Capital of South America and a second home for me. I spent over 3 months volunteering at Chili Kiwi Hostel in Pucon and it was the best part of my trip. Pucon is perfect for anyone who loves nature, hiking, water sports and relaxed mountain vibes. It is most popular for the active Villarrica Volcano which can be climbed year round. In the summer Pucon is a Chilean vacation hot spot and perfect for lake activities, rafting, trekking and waterfall chasing. During the winter the town transforms into a ski resort and people come to ski on the Villarrica Volcano. The endless adventure opportunites is what makes Pucon one of the best places in Chile.

Lago Caburga

How to Get to Pucon:

You can easily access Pucon by bus or plane. It is an overnight (12 hour) bus ride from Santiago and costs anywhere from 20 – 50 USD depending on the time of year. You can also find cheap flights from Santiago to Temuco and then you can catch a shuttle to Pucon.

Top Things to Do:

Climb Villarrica Volcano
Visit Geometricas Hotsprings
Skydive over an active volcano
Hydrospeed down Rio Turbio
Visit Huerquehue National Park

**I wrote a post called “21 Adventurous Things to do in Pucon, Chile” that you can check out for a full list of activities **

Chili Kiwi Hostel

Where to Stay:

Budget: Chili Kiwi Hostel – There is an amazing backpacker vibe at Chili Kiwi Hostel and you are sure to make a lot of friends. It is located right on the lake and has a spectacular sunset view from the treehouse bar. There is a wide range of accommodation from budget dorms to private treehouse rooms. There are 3 kitchens so you can save some money cooking your own food

Luxury: Hotel Casa Solaria – A friend’s mom stayed here when she visited and really enjoyed it. Apparently the breakfast is amazing.

Where to Eat:

Casis – the best desserts and a wide range of menu options
Trawen – delicious upscale cuisine
Pizza Cala
Cookeez – ice cream sandwiches!
Rostock – bakery

Huerquehue National Park

Key Tips

Plan to spend a few days in Pucon to explore a good amount
It is not the cheapest place and some of the awesome activities do cost money $$ so make sure to budget for it
Book everything when you arrive
Cook food at your accommodation to save a lot of money
Weather is important for a lot of the activities so plan out your stay accordingly.
Hitchhiking is possible in this part of Chile but there are also a lot of local buses
There is not a lot of nightlife in Pucon because it is much more of an activity destination.

3. The Atacama Desert

The Atacama Desert is one of the most unique places I have ever been. The volcanos nestled on the horizon and the salt lagoons spread across the desert are picturesque. There are so many adventurous things to do in the Atacama. Make sure you check out my other post on the Atacama Desert for a full list of activities.

San Pedro de Atacama is the small dusty town that allows you to adventure to all the amazing sites in the Atacama Desert. The unique desert landscape and exploring opportunities make San Pedro de Atacama one of the best places in Chile.

Valle De La Luna

How to Get to San Pedro de Atacama:

The easiest way to get to San Pedro de Atacama is by flying from Santiago. You have to fly to Calama first and then take a 2 hour bus to San Pedro de Atacama. Another option is taking an overnight bus from your previous destination. Keep in mind its about 24 hours bus ride from Santiago.

Top Things to Do:

Laguna Cejar
Valle de la Luna
Astrology tour
Lagunas Escondidas
Laguna Miscanti and Miñiques

Stargazing Atacama Desert Chile

Where to Stay:

Budget: Hostal Pangea – good social backpacker vibe. They allow you to bring your own alcohol on the premises and they offer a lot of discounted tours around the Atacama.

Luxury: Hotel Cumbres San Pedro de Atacama. 3 swimming pools, saunas and jacuzzis tucked away in the desert.

Where to Eat:

La Picada Del Indio
Roots Cafe Pizza
Solcor

Laguna Cejar

Key Tips:

San Pedro de Atacama is expensive
Renting a car is the best way to explore and is cheaper than taking a tour for everything
The tours usually don’t include the entrance fee
Highly recommend an astrology/astrophotography tour
Hiring a bike is fun to explore the local attractions
Download Maps.me or Google Maps Offline

4. Torres Del Paine National Park

Torres Del Paine National Park is a major highlight of Chile and probably the most popular destination. Due to some injuries we never made it to Torres Del Paine but I will definitely go back one day. You can access Torres Del Paine via Puerto Natales and Punta Arenas. The best way to see the park is by completing the “W Trek“ or the “O Circuit.“ Check out this blog for more details on the different hikes in Torres Del Paine.

Torres Del Paine is one of the best places in Chile. It is the symbol of Chilean Patagonia and the number one visited destination in Chile.

Torres Del Paine

How to Get to Torres Del Paine:

The easiest way to get to Torres Del Paine is by flying to Punta Arenas. From here you can take bus transportation to Puerto Natales and then to the park. If you are coming from Argentina you can take a bus from El Calafate. It is also possible to take a 3 day ferry from Caleta Tortel to Punta Arenas.

Things to Do:

A lot of hiking
Glacier Grey
Sunrise at Torres Del Paine
O or W Trek

Where to Stay:

Budget: Yaganhouse, Puerto Natales. Cozy hostel with comfy beds and warm, friendly atmosphere

Luxury: Toore Patagonia, Puerto Natales. Beautiful location and cozy bungalows in a good location.

Where to Eat:

Mesita Grande
La Guanaca Pizzeria
Patagonia Food

Key Tips:

Reservations for campsites and accommodation in Torres del Paine must be made 3 – 6 months in advanced
The reservations system is very confusing
The best time to visit is January and February
It is expensive in the very south of Chile. Save money by cooking for yourself.
Torres Del Paine park is also the priciest in Chile and even campsites cost a lot.
The treks are a lot more crowded than other parts of Patagonia
The beauty is unparalleled
It is possible to do day hikes in Torres Del Paine

5. The Carretera Austral

The Carretera Austral is an amazing section of Chile, and definitely one of the best places in Chile. It’s not a singular destination, but a 1200 km stretch of road that connects the most beautiful sections of Chilean Patagonia. The Carretera Austral starts from Puerto Montt and stretches to Villa O’Higgins. Along the way you will find hanging glaciers, beautiful fjords, incredible waterfalls, turquoise rivers, incredible mountains and so much more! It is the best part of Chile and should not be missed! Read my complete Guide to the Carretera Austral for all the details.

The variety of natural landscapes and the sheer beauty of the region make The Carretera Austral one of the best places in Chile.

Marble Caves, Puerto Rio Tranquillo

How to Get to The Carretera Austral:

Puerto Montt is the start of the Carretera Austral and is easily accessed by flight or bus. It is a transportation hub so there are many ways to arrive. From Puerto Montt you can take a bus or drive to Hornopiren where you will take the ferry to Caleta Gonzalo and legitimately begin the Carretera Austral adventure.

Things to Do:

Pumalin Douglas National Park
Futaleufu
Raul Marin Balmaceda
Quelat National Park
Cerro Castillo Trek
Marble Caves in Puerto Rio Tranquillo
Patagonia National Park

Cerro Castillo

Where to Stay:

Budget: You will mostly want to camp along the Carretera Austral. You will either be traveling with a tent or a camper van and the camping options are amazing. In the bigger towns you can stay in Airbnb or book a hostel on Booking.com. We also had to use the app iOverlander to learn about accommodation in small towns that aren’t advertised on the internet.

Luxury: Puyuhuapi Lodge and Spa. Absolute luxury on the Carretera Austral with natural hotsprings overlooking Lago Puyuhuapi.

Chelenko Lodge, Puerto Rio Tranquillo. Lakefront accomodation with private spas.

Sunset in Raul Marin Balmaceda

Where to Eat:

We mostly cooked on our camp stove throughout our journey on the Carretera Austral but there were a couple stand out restaurants that we got to try.

Pizzeria Reconquista – Chaiten, Chile: Really yummy pizzas
Casa Tropera – Coyhaique, Chile: Yummy burgers and cool brewery
Mama Gaucha – Coyhaique, Chile: Popular Italian Restaurant
Restaurant Las Parvas – Puerto Rio Tranquillo: Great views and yummy traditional food.
Restaurant Los Leones – Villa O’higgins, Chile: Good French Cuisine

Cerro Castillo National Park

Key Tips:

You need at least 2 weeks to properly enjoy the Carretera Austral
Download Maps.me for navigation
Hitchhiking the Carretera Austral is really popular
Hiring a campervan is another great way to explore the Carretera Austral
Read my Complete Guide to Hitchhiking the Carretera Austral
The best weather is January and February

Overview of the Best Places in Chile

Chile is such an incredible country and no matter what part you choose to explore you will have an amazing experience. The natural beauty that I witnessed was unlike anything I have ever seen before. The Chilean people are so friendly and helpful and allowed us to hitchhike our way across the country. My adventurous spirit came alive in Chile and I am so thankful I got to spend over 6 months exploring. If you are planning a trip to Chile, make sure you don’t miss these 5 epic places.