How to travel a country that has so much to do but is so narrow and extremely long? You really are reaching the end of the world on this side, and it’s time to make some hard choices!
(you can also check the quick guide for Chile)
Where to start?
Well, unless you are coming by car or bus from another country (Argentina, Bolivia and Peru are the neighbors) you will most likely arrive in Santiago. If you want to acclimatize a bit and explore the city, it is recommendable to stay two or three nights here. If you are really in a hurry, you can immediately take a connecting flight, but that is extremely tiring.
From Santiago you basically have three options: a quick detour to the coast, to Valparaiso and Vina del Mar. Or go northwards the long trip to Calama. Or start your journey south. Either the slow way (by car or bus through the wine region, the lake district, and the Carretera Austral) or the quick way (by plane directly to southern Patagonia).
Where should I definitely go?
There are two regions that are a must-see, and unfortunately enough they are at opposite ends of the massive (4.000 kilometres from north to south) country. The Atacama desert in the north can be reached from the nearby industrial town of Calama, which is served by buses and planes.
The other part is Patagonia. Whether you do the northern part (the amazing roadtrip called Carretera Austral) or the southern part (the remote and world famous national park Torres del Paine) or both is up to you.
What more options are there?
In the north an excursion to the Elqui valley, closer to Santiago, is a good option. Didn’t visit it myself. In the described slow way to the south there are many wine regions to visit (a famous one is between Santiago and Valparaiso in the west, but it might be more convenient to visit Talca on your way south). After that you can enter the lake district, from Villarrica and touristy adrenaline capital Pucon to Puerto Varas, before reaching Puerto Montt as the gateway to Patagonia and the Carretera Austral.
A possible detour is especially Chiloe, the vast island southwest of Puerto Montt, with lots of local culture. Valdivia is good for craft beer and more, the coast nearby has some great beaches.
Before I forget: Easter Islands is several hours of flying. And in the far south you can go to Tierra de Fuego
So what about getting there and getting around?
Interesting and varied. To the north as said by long-distance bus or plane. To Valparaiso by bus. To the south by bus (and initially by train as well). Beyond Puerto Montt are boat options as well: to Chaiten (in the northern part of the Carretera Austral) or Puerto Natales (the gate to Torres del Paine). There is also a boat from the southern edge of the Carretera Austral (a place called Tortel) to Puerto Natales. You can connect by bus through Argentina in the south. And there are flights from, amongst others, Santiago and Puerto Montt to Puerto Natales and Punta Arenas in the south.
| Center / north | Center / south | Patagonia | Full tour |
| Santiago 3 nights | Santiago 3 nights | Santiago 3 nights | Santiago 3 nights |
| Atacama 4 nights | Maule valley 3 nights | Puerto Montt 1 night | Atacama 4 nights |
| Valparaiso 3 nights | Villarrica / Pucon 3 nights | Carretera Austral 8 nights | Valparaiso 3 nights |
| Maule valley 3 nights | Puerto Varas 3 nights | Boat Tortel-Natales 2 nights | Maule valley 3 nights |
| – | Carretera Austral 8 nights | Puerto Natales 3-7 nights | Puerto Varas 3 nights |
| – | To Santiago 1 day | – | Carretera Austral 8 nights |
| – | – | – | Boat Tortel-Natales 2 nights |
| – | – | – | Puerto Natales 3-7 nights |
| Arrival / departure 2 days | Arrival / departure 2 days | Arrival / departure 2 days | Arrival / departure 2 days |
| Total length 16 days | Total length 23 days | Total length 19/23 days | Total length 32/36 days |
If you need help putting the different ‘building blocks’ together, don’t hesitate to reach out!
