• 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

Chile in 1 Week - First Time Visit

Don’t be put off by the sheer length of Chile and its countless opportunities for sightseeing and adventure. A one-week guided Chile tour can immerse you fully in one chosen destination - say, Patagonia, the Central Region or the Atacama Desert - while offering an authentic Chilean experience. Venture out into one of these showy regions, bookend it with a Santiago stay and there you have it: a mind-blowing, memorable Chilean visit.

Day 1, Santiago: Settle in to this vibrant city, perhaps taking in the Andean views and beating jetlag with some vitamin D in leafy Cerro San Cristobal park.

Day 2, Andes: If it’s summer, whitewater raft on the Maipo River in the Cajon de Maipo mountain valley or trek to a glacier in El Morado National Park. Come winter, ski or snowboard at one of the three ski resorts within 90 minutes of Santiago.

Days 3-4, Wine Country: Take a drive through the Colchagua Valley, Chile’s answer to the Napa Valley, perhaps stopping in one of the region’s oldest wineries, Casa Silva.

Days 5-6, Central Coast: Drive approximately four hours north, then west from Santa Cruz, ending up in kooky Valparaiso.Perhaps you’ll stay at the fabulous Hotel Del Mar, near the pier and beaches.

Day 7, Valparaiso: Put the finishing touches on your trip with a scenic coastal drive or one more stop in a local winery (try House of Morande) on the drive back to the airport in Santiago.

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Chile in 15 Days

If you have two weeks to spare, your Chile guided tour can include quite a bit of this narrow coastal country, encompassing several of its distinct environments, from the world’s driest desert to the lush central valley to the dramatic Lake District and, finally, to remote Patagonia.

Days 1-2, Santiago: Get your bearings with a Santiago guided tour, including San Cristobal Hill, the colonial center and the Presidential Palace.

Day 3, Valparaiso: Explore this World Heritage City, a charming port town with a quirky atmosphere, colorful homes, a UNESCO-recognized historic city center and War of the Pacific memorial.

Day 4, To San Pedro de Atacama

Day 5, Salar de Atacama and Altiplano Lagoons: Visit the historic village of Socaire en route to the Altiplano Lagoons of Miscanti and Miniques, a completely silent atmosphere dominated by the two volcanoes of the same name in the distance. Continue to Salar de Atacama, a salt lake covered by snow-white salt crystals as far as the eye can see. Keep an eye out for the resident flamingos.

Day 6, Excursion to El Tatio geysers

Day 7, Fly to Lake District; Puerto Varas: Drive to Puerto Varas on the shores of Lago Llanquihue and take a tour of the “City of Roses.”

Day 8, Lago Todos los Santos: Drive the shoreline of Lago Llanquihue, within view of the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes. Cruise on Lago Todos los Santos, then hike in the lava fields of Osorno.

Day 9, Fly to Punta Arenas, transfer to Puerto Natales: Stroll through the main squares and historic sights of Puerto Montt. Fly to the southernmost city of Chile, Punta Arenas, then make your way to Puerto Natales.

Day 10, Torres del Paine National Park: Take a full day to appreciate the park’s grandeur, with unforgettable views of the Towers and the Torres Massif from the Cuernos viewpoint and the Salto Grande waterfall.

Day 11, Lago Grey, Torres del Paine National Park: Explore the western side of the park, including Lake Grey, filled with massive icebergs. Hike along the Pingo River and into a Legna forest.

Day 12, Excursion to Balmaceda Glacier; to Puerto Natale: Travel down the Rio Serrano by Zodiac and approach the Balmaceda Glacier.

Day 13, To Punta Arenas; fly to Santiago: Drive through the barren landscape of the Patagonian Pampas on the way back to Punta Arenas.

Days 14-15, Depart Santiago and journey home.

See all Chile 15 Day Guided Trips and Tour Packages »