Chile Tour: Desert, Moais & Vineyards

We recommend, at the very least, a 2-weeks tour of Chile to explore the blue glaciers and emerald forests of Torres del Paine, the enticing landscapes of the Atacama desert, and similar must-see destinations. You will be left with enough time to add a few more delightful places like capital Santiago, Valparaiso, and one or two world-class vineyards. A three-week tour will allow you to linger longer in all your favorite places. But if you have only 5 to 7 days, it’s best to focus on Santiago, the nearby colorful towns, and the wine valleys. Add a few more days, and you can squeeze in Patagonia, Atacama, Easter Island, or the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes. To get more details on how many days to spend in Chile, see here.

Chile is not the cheapest place to visit in South America. But the kind of trip you have in mind will determine your budget. Typically, most tourists like to hike in the Torres del Paine and explore the desert landscape of Atacama during a 10 to 15-day trip. It is possible to do a trekking-heavy trip on a budget of USD 90 to 100 per day per person. Basic accommodation and food costs are higher in Chile than in other South American countries. So be ready to spend at least USD 75 daily for a non-luxurious trip.

Chile is well connected from north to south via flights and buses. But it’s trickier to travel from east to west, and south of Puerto Montt because of the unusual landscape comprising glaciers and mountains. Long-distance buses are the best way to go up and down the country. For travelling to remote areas, you can hire your own car. Trains are useful only in certain parts, like Central Chile. You can also consider low-cost airlines: they are sometimes cheaper than long-distance buses—if you don’t mind missing out on the scenery on the way.

Chile is best known for its diverse landscapes. It is home to incredible glaciers and fjords, the driest of deserts, superb rock formations, and ancient forests. Chilean hospitality is well known, and the people like to bond over maté tea. You’ll find buena onda (good vibes) wherever you go. The world has woken up to the exquisite taste of Chile’s wines. In fact, Latin America’s largest winegrower is in Chile’s countryside. Capital Santiago has some of the finest art galleries in South America like the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes and the Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino. Neighborhoods like Bellavista in Santiago and Concepción in Valparaíso have a very vibrant street-art culture. 

Traditional Chilean cuisine is hearty and winsome, imbibing many European and South American influences. Some famous dishes include Plateada (soft-cut beef), Chorrillana (French fries with meat and seasoning); Empanada (baked or fried puff pastry with salty or sweet fillings), Pastel del choclo (a sort of shepherd’s pie made using corn mash), Pastel de jaiba (crab pie), Machas a la parmesana (a clam dish topped with cheese), and Completo (Chilean-style hot dog that is bigger than its American counterpart). And you must try Terremotos, a rather potent alcoholic drink, and the many excellent Chilean wines