- Riding a cable car to reach the summit of Cerro San Cristobal hill
- Seeing the largest penguin colonies in Los Pinguinos Natural Monument
- Walking the cobblestone alleyways of Valparaiso and looking at its colorful houses
- Taking a boat ride to view the San Rafael Glacier located within the Laguna San Rafael National Park
- Looking at the sand dunes of Valle de la Luna
- Trekking in Torres del Paine national park
- Visiting Lauca National Park to see the Lago Chungara lake and dormant volcanoes: Volcan Parinacoa and Volcan Pomerape
- Sand boarding in the Atacama desert
- Exploring Pablo Neruda’s imaginative and whimsical homes
- Meandering the open air art alleys of Valparaiso
- Star gazing in the Elqui Valley
- Spotting all kinds of diverse wildlife on nature excursions
Best Things to Do in Chile
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Things to do in Chile - Expert's guide
1. Torres del Paine National Park
It’s little wonder Patagonia is known as “The End of the Earth.” Here, at the southern end of Chile, the incredible Torres del Paine National Park showcases 598,338 acres of granite pillars, azure blue lakes and verdant valleys. Hike the French Valley between 10,000-foot Paine Grande and Torres del Paine and Los Cuernos mountains. Peer - if you dare - into the deep crevasses of Grey Glacier. Make like a gaucho and horseback ride through the park, covering more territory than on foot and perhaps visiting a working estancia.
2. Perito Moreno Glacier
A glacier to beat all glaciers, Perito Moreno in Los Glaciares National Park is the one to visit if you’ve only the time for one in your life. We dare you to look away from the mesmerizing white and cold blues of this expansive ice field, all told, covering approximately 121 square miles.
Feel the bracing cold breath of the glacier as you view it from a platform at a safe distance, overlooking Lake Argentino. Wait a bit and you may just be lucky enough to witness calving ice chunks, shaking you to the very core with their mighty roar and resulting splash into the water.
3. Easter Island
Far, far from home, you’ll come face to face with the mystical moai of Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui. Tour Anakena to see examples of unrestored religious platforms, including Akahanga, where the famous king Hotu Matua is said to be buried.
In Rano Raraku, photograph some of the nearly 900 stone statues - there are 397 of them still lying or standing on the slopes of an extinct volcano. Learn about the ceremonial village of Orongo, site of the island’s “birdman cult” and linked to the god Makemake back in the 18th and 19th centuries - look for the birdman petroglyphs.
4. Santiago
Santiago is a boon for museum-lovers, art aficionados and finicky foodies. One can spend days strolling through its many distinct neighborhoods, breaking for alfresco picnics in one of the verdant hillside parks (including the renowned Cerro San Cristobal, in view of the striking Andes).
Check out the exuberant bohemian district, Barrio Bellavista, where Chilean artists and intellectuals live and play. The hum of art and music vibrating from open galleries and bars is palpable as you saunter down the rows of venues, looking for your next drink, and the next dance.
5. Valparaiso
The quirky port town of Valparaiso is comprised of steeps hills jutting almost immediately from the shoreline. Many brightly colored boxy houses are stacked one on top of the other, lackadaisically, all along the hills, tilting so perilously on stilts, like a child’s imaginative diorama.
Here, high up on a ridge overlooking the entire town and the endless stretch of the Pacific Ocean, is where Chilean Nobel Laureate Pablo Neruda’s house sits. Making your way back down the steep streets, you are surrounded by brilliant murals, taking up entire walls. Each turn, another piece of art made for and by the public.
6. Atacama Desert
The driest desert on Earth, the Atacama is lunar-like and definitely parched - it hasn’t seen rain for three centuries. Within this stark landscape, you’ll explore by foot, on bike or by vehicle, marvel at the southern constellations in the clearest night sky you may ever witness and, in stunning contrast to its arid areas, find yourself at the base of a lush river canyon, blessed by flash rainstorms.
7. Lauca National Park
Running through the Chilean altiplano, Lauca National Park was declared a Global Biosphere Reserve due to its rich diversity of flora and fauna. Look for more than 130 different bird species and don’t miss one of the highest lakes in the world - Lake Chungará, at the base of the Payachata twin volcanoes.
8. Colchagua Valley
Oenophiles won’t want to miss the Colchagua Valley, one of the most important in Chile for its high-quality wine production. The “wine route” makes its way through the region, landing one at numerous vineyards, wineries and farms. One of the most emblematic vineyards in the area is Santa Cruz. For fine dining and amazing wine tasting, this is your place.
9. Pucón
There aren’t many outdoor enthusiasts who wouldn’t also call themselves foodies. After all, with days full of fresh air and miles of trekking or paddling, appetites soar. Here in Pucón, savor your mouth-watering meal with a side of stunning landscapes and plot your next day’s adventures, whether rafting, canopying or canyoning. Restaurants, markets
10. Vina del Mar
With more than 2,500 miles of coastline, there had to be a beach town in Chile as endearing at Vina del Mar, the “Garden City.” Modern architecture abuts white-sand beaches and grassy green parks. Historic castles and mansions evoke images of yesteryear’s wealthy families - today they are elegant museums and community centers. Stroll the promenade and cath an multi-colored sunset before dipping into a cosmopolitan restaurant for haute cuisine.
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