In-depth travel guides, itineraries, and honest advice for planning your trip to Chile. Every article is based on personal experience and real research.
Itineraries
Two Weeks in Chile: A First-Timer's Itinerary
I spent two weeks traveling Chile from the Atacama to Patagonia. Here's the itinerary I'd recommend,...
Two Weeks in Patagonia: Chile and Argentina Combined
I spent two weeks crossing Patagonia from Torres del Paine to El Chalten, through Tierra del Fuego a...
10 Days in Chile: The Perfect Itinerary
I spent 10 days in Chile from the Atacama to Patagonia. Here is the tight itinerary that covers the ...
One Week in Chile: The Best Itinerary
I squeezed the Atacama, Valparaiso, and Torres del Paine into seven days. Here is the itinerary, wha...
Chile Road Trip: The Best Routes from North to South
I have driven five routes across Chile from the Atacama to Patagonia. Here are the best road trips r...
3 Days in Santiago: The Perfect Itinerary
I spent three days in Santiago and nailed the itinerary. Day-by-day guide covering Lastarria, Cerro ...
Patagonia & Torres del Paine
Hiking the W Trek: The Complete Guide
I spent five days on the W Trek in Torres del Paine. Here is the day-by-day route, what it costs, wh...
The Best Day Hikes in Torres del Paine
I spent eight days hiking Torres del Paine without a tent. Base Torres at sunrise, Grey Glacier by b...
Things to Do in Puerto Natales: More Than Just a Gateway to Torres del Paine
I spent three nights in Puerto Natales expecting a transit town and found glacier boat trips, the be...
Things to Do in Punta Arenas
I planned one night in Punta Arenas and stayed three. Penguins on Isla Magdalena, king crab on the w...
Hiking the O Circuit in Torres del Paine: The Complete Guide
I spent eight days hiking the O Circuit in Torres del Paine. Here is the day-by-day route, what the ...
The Navimag Ferry: The Slow Route to Patagonia
I spent four days on the Navimag cargo ferry from Puerto Montt to Puerto Natales through the Chilean...
Torres del Paine Camping Guide: Everything You Need to Know
I camped the W Trek and the O Circuit in Torres del Paine. Here is every campsite, the booking night...
El Chalten: Argentina's Trekking Capital (From Chile)
I hiked Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre, and the trails around El Chalten from a Chile Patagonia trip. The hik...
Tierra del Fuego: Chile's End of the World
I spent five days on Chilean Tierra del Fuego — ferry across the Strait of Magellan, king penguins a...
Patagonia on a Budget: How to Do It Without Going Broke
I spent three weeks in Patagonia on $60 a day. Here's exactly how — camping vs refugios, cooking you...
How to Get to Patagonia: Every Route Explained
I have taken flights, buses, ferries, and driven to Patagonia multiple times. Here is every route wi...
Driving in Patagonia: How to Plan the Perfect Road Trip
I drove 3,200 km through Patagonia on gravel, in wind, and nearly ran out of fuel. Here's everything...
Best Time to Visit Patagonia: A Month-by-Month Guide
I have been to Patagonia in three different months. Here is what each one is actually like — weather...
The Marble Caves of Patagonia: How to Visit
I visited the Marble Caves twice — once in grey wind, once in morning sun. Here is how to get the tu...
Grey Glacier Day Hike: Walking to the Ice
I hiked 22 km to Grey Glacier in Torres del Paine and the blue ice stopped me in my tracks. Here is ...
Where to See Penguins in Chile: Every Colony, Ranked
I have visited all six penguin colonies in Chile, from Isla Magdalena's 60,000 Magellanic pairs to K...
Santiago
The Best Things to Do in Santiago, Chile
I spent five days in Santiago and barely scratched the surface. Here are the neighborhoods, markets,...
The Best Day Trips from Santiago
I have done every day trip from Santiago — Valparaiso, Cajon del Maipo, wine valleys, ski resorts, N...
Where to Stay in Santiago: A Neighborhood Guide
I have stayed in six Santiago neighborhoods across four trips. Here is what I actually think about e...
Where to Eat in Santiago: The Best Restaurants for Every Budget
I have eaten $3 picada lunches and $150 tasting menus in Santiago across four trips. Here is where t...
Cajon del Maipo: Santiago’s Best Day Trip
I drove ninety minutes from Santiago into the Andes and found turquoise reservoirs, glacier hikes, w...
Atacama & Northern Chile
Touring the Atacama Desert: 5 Days of Salt, Stars, and Altitude
I spent five days in Chile's Atacama Desert — geysers at dawn, flamingos in salt lakes, and the clea...
Things to Do in San Pedro de Atacama: The Honest Guide
I spent six days in San Pedro de Atacama doing every major excursion. Here is what is worth the earl...
The Elqui Valley: Pisco, Stars, and Desert Vineyards
I spent four days in Chile's Elqui Valley tasting pisco at the source, stargazing through observator...
Northern Chile: Beyond the Atacama
I spent three weeks exploring northern Chile from Arica to La Serena. The Chinchorro mummies, paragl...
Stargazing in the Atacama: The Ultimate Guide
I spent three nights under the Atacama sky with telescopes, laser-guided tours, and an ALMA visit. H...
Lake District & South
Chiloe Island: Churches, Curanto, and Mythology
I spent five days on Chiloe Island — fog-wrapped ferry crossings, UNESCO wooden churches, curanto co...
The Carretera Austral: Chile's Greatest Road Trip
I spent twelve days driving the Carretera Austral from Puerto Montt to Villa O'Higgins. Here is the ...
Things to Do in Pucon, Chile
I spent five days in Pucon across two trips. Here is every activity worth your time, honest prices, ...
Chile's Lake District: The Complete Travel Guide
I have been through Chile's Lake District three times. Here is everything — Pucon, Puerto Varas, Val...
Things to Do in Puerto Varas — Volcanoes, Kuchen, and the Quieter Side of the Lake District
I spent four days in Puerto Varas exploring Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes, Petrohue waterfalls, Germa...
Cochamo: Chile’s Yosemite — A Guide to the Valley, the Trail, and the Granite
I trekked five hours through mud and river crossings to reach Cochamo Valley. Here is what to expect...
Things to Do in Valdivia: Beer, Rivers, and Sea Lions
I went to Valdivia for the beer and stayed for the sea lions, the river boats, and the best seafood ...
Frutillar: Chile's Prettiest Lakeside Town
I came for the kuchen and stayed for the volcano. Frutillar on Lago Llanquihue might be the most pho...
Valparaiso & Coast
Valparaiso Street Art: A Walking Tour of the Cerros
A self-guided walking tour of Valparaiso street art. The best cerros, staircases, murals, and tips f...
The Complete Guide to Valparaiso
I spent four days getting lost in Valparaiso's painted cerros, riding century-old funiculars, and ea...
The Best Beaches in Chile
I have swum in Chile's turquoise Atacama coves and shivered on Chiloe's wild coast. Here are the bea...
Surfing in Chile: The Best Breaks from Arica to Pichilemu
I spent five weeks surfing Chile from Arica to Buchupureo. Here are the best breaks, what gear to br...
Easter Island
Food & Drink
Chilean Food Guide: What to Eat and Where to Find It
I spent a month eating my way through Chile — empanadas, caldillo de congrio, curanto, pisco sours, ...
Chilean Wine Regions: A Complete Guide
I visited Chile's wine valleys from Maipo to Colchagua to the desert vineyards of Elqui. Here's whic...
The Chilean Pisco Sour: History, Recipe, and Where to Drink It
I have drunk pisco sours across Chile from Santiago dives to Elqui Valley distilleries. Here is the ...
Activities
Climbing Villarrica Volcano — Is It Worth It?
I climbed an active volcano with a lava lake in its crater. Here is what to expect, what to bring, a...
The Best Hikes in Chile: 15 Trails From the Atacama to Patagonia
I have hiked Chile across three trips. Here are the 15 best trails from the Atacama to Patagonia, wi...
The Best Hot Springs in Chile — Ranked by Someone Who Has Been to All of Them
I have soaked in hot springs from the Atacama to Patagonia. Here are the 10 best in Chile, ranked ho...
Skiing in Chile: The Complete Guide
I have skied Valle Nevado, Portillo, and the southern volcanoes across multiple trips. Here is the h...
The Best National Parks in Chile — A Personal Guide to 13 Parks Worth Your Time
I have visited 13 of Chile's 46 national parks across three trips. Here are the ones worth rearrangi...
Fly Fishing in Chile: The Best Rivers and Lodges
I have fished a dozen rivers across southern Chile, from the Lake District to deep Patagonia. Here a...
Wildlife in Chile: What to See and Where to Find It
Pumas in Torres del Paine, penguins at Isla Magdalena, blue whales in the Gulf of Corcovado, flaming...
Horseback Riding in Chile: Gaucho Culture and Mountain Trails
From Patagonia estancias to Atacama desert rides, I tried horseback riding across Chile. Here is whe...
Camping in Chile: The Complete Guide
I have camped across Chile from the Atacama to Torres del Paine. Here is what to expect, what to bri...
Practical Guides
Is Chile Safe to Visit? An Honest Guide
I spent three weeks traveling Chile from Santiago to Patagonia. Here is the honest safety breakdown ...
Backpacking Chile: The Complete Route Guide
I spent six weeks backpacking Chile from Arica to Patagonia on $45 a day. Here is the complete route...
Chilean Culture: History, Traditions, and What to Know Before You Go
I spent months in Chile learning the slang, surviving earthquakes, dancing cueca at Fiestas Patrias,...
Best Time to Visit Chile: A Complete Guide by Region
I have been to Chile across five months and three trips. Here is what each region is actually like, ...
Chile Honeymoon: The Most Romantic Destinations
I spent two weeks honeymooning across Chile, from stargazing in the Atacama to glaciers in Patagonia...
Chile Travel Tips: 25 Things to Know Before You Go
I have been to Chile four times and still learn something new every trip. These 25 tips cover money,...