What if we told you there was a place where you could visit a barren desert, a sumptuous wine region and epic glaciers, all in the one place? Add in some amazing cultural history and stunning natural vistas as well. It’s adventurous, but safe. It can also range from affordable offerings to truly luxurious experiences. And all in the one country? It’s possible, and it’s easier to travel than you think. It’s Chile!

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Visiting Chile and Easter Island

Chile and Easter Island is perfect for a tailor-made, multi stop itinerary. Famously long and skinny, this 4,300km long country is bordered by the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Andes Mountains on the other. This enormous length however means it spans multitudes of environments, from the far north to the frozen south of Patagonia, and there are so many places to visit in Chile. Away from the mainland in the Pacific Ocean you can also find the famed Easter Island as well. Chile is well developed, but not overcrowded. This means you can make your way around the country with ease, and combine the perfect holiday of your dreams. In fact, with so many places to visit in Chile, the hard part can be knowing what to do first!

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Places to Visit in Chile

So, what to do in Chile? Most trips usually start in the capital, Santiago. Almost located in the centre of the country, Santiago is a great base to start your explorations. Apart from the capital itself, Santiago is well located for day trips to a famed Chilean winery. Between Santiago and the coastline there almost seems to be another Chilean winery every kilometre, each serving world class wine and produce. The famed Maipo valley is south of the city, where you can stop in at a mixture of famed labels and newcomers.

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If wine isn’t your thing, and you aren’t too tempted by the other gourmet foods on offer, then maybe the nearby city of Valparaiso. A UNESCO World Heritage listed site, this coastal city all seems to be spilling into the sea from the nearby hills. This port city was a major financial centre in Chile’s early years, but financial losses saw it claimed by artists and creative types. The city transformed in a colourful explosion of creativity, fused in with the grandeur of the past. As you walk around the city and ride it’s funicular up the steep streets, you have something to look at on every corner. You can even join in yourself and leave some artwork for the next visitors to see. Sitting amongst the artwork in a cafe whilst you sample the local food and drink the wine from a Chilean winery is a wonderful experience to understand the history of this location.

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Patagonia

It’d be hard to look at the places to visit in Chile and not include the amazing Patagonia region. Spread out across the border of Argentina and Chile, Patagonia is (a lot like Chile) much larger and more varied than people think.  The northern sections of Patagonia are full of forest, stunning lakes and snow covered mountains. This section is probably closer in style to something like Alaska, and is a common spot for people to visit for winter activities. As you head further south, the road gives way to epic fjords and stunning mountain ranges. This region of Patagonia is wild and feels a million miles away from the rest of the world. Southern Patagonia however gives way to large flat ‘pampas’ grasslands, ringed by stunning mountain ranges like the Torres del Paine. This region of Patagonia by itself is a great example of the richness of experience available when you are contemplating what to do in Chile. In just this one place, you can hang out with Patagonian cowboys (’gauchos’), trek truly stunning hiking trails, visit giant glaciers, track endangered puma in their environment, paddle across an alpine lake or even just go for a bike ride. And not too far further south, you can head off for a trip to Antarctica on any one of the voyages departing from the region. From the north to the south of just Patagonia alone, there is so much to do in this region.

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Atacama Desert

That would almost be enough for other countries, but we still have plenty more places to visit in Chile. Sticking to the mainland, we can fly to the north of the country and visit the Atacama desert. The Atacama desert is the driest in the world, and this barren landscape provides a backdrop for more creative expression. You can spend time in this stunning vistas, look through any number of local art installations, take a local tour through the indigenous culture or perhaps take part in any one of the wellness treatments on offer. Indeed, after time spent at any Chilean winery and then feasting on the famed lamb of Patagonia, you might need some way to detox. At night though, this region becomes one of the greatest star-gazing spots on earth. With the sense of space extending up into the universe, you really understand the vastness of this country and the planet we inhabit.

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Easter Island

Last, but not at all least, you have the famed Easter Island or ‘Rapa Nui’. Chile and Easter Island are separated by ocean but part of the one country, and any visit to Chile is made infinetely better with a visit to EI. A short flight across the Pacific, you then have the opportunity to take in the local Rapa Nui culture and see the famed moai, massive stone behemoths dotted across the island. These mystical statues have long captivated the world and are the main Easter Island attraction. Apart from the moai there is also far more to see. In recent years there has been a local cultural renaissance, allowing visitors to be drawn into the traditional way of life on such a remote and windswept place.

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Travel to Chile and Easter Island

Indeed, rather than just looking for places to visit in Chile, there has been a change in who is coming to visit Chile and Easter Island. It’s not only just Chilean winery lovers, adventurous hikers and people passing through. A new type of traveller is coming to Chile and Easter Island, one that is interested in the story of the first peoples prior to the Spanish arrival. Similar to the Incan tourism further north, these travellers want to learn more about the original cultures of Chile and Easter Island and can be found taking part at any number of indigenous offerings along the length of the country, from the Rapa Nui and Licanantay to the Mapuche. This adds another dimension of travel in Chile, tying these stunning landscapes into a human experience.

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Knowing when to travel to Chile is tricky. In a country so long and with such diverse regions, there is no perfect time to visit all of it. In fact, knowing when to travel to Chile comes down more to what you want to do. For example, if you want hiking then that would be at the opposite time of year to winter activities. Some areas in the far south of Patagonia close during the winter when conditions become difficult, whereas it might be a more moderate time to visit other regions further north. Knowing what you want to do in Chile will help to determine when you should go.

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The best way to figure that out is to get in touch with people who can help, like us. Reach out and let us know what interests you and we can make it happen!