Chile Travel Guide
Priya Nair· Asia Editor
Updated September 20, 2026 · 8 min read
Chile is 4,300 kilometers of extremes: Santiago's Andes-backed capital, the Atacama's driest desert and clearest stars, Patagonia's Torres del Paine towers, and the Maipo valley's Cabernet. Planning figures: Santiago ~$90/day, San Pedro $130+, Patagonia $150+.
The classic route: Santiago (2) → San Pedro de Atacama (3) → Torres del Paine (4) — flown between, with Patagonia booked months ahead.
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San Pedro de Atacama is the desert base — the Valley of the Moon, the Tatio geysers, the star tours. Torres del Paine's W trek (4–5 days) is Patagonia's classic. Valparaíso's hills and the Casablanca wine route serve the Santiago days.
- Desert: Santiago 2 → San Pedro 3.
- Patagonia: Santiago 1 → Puerto Natales 1 → the W trek 5.
- Wine: Santiago 2 → the Casablanca or Colchagua valleys 2.
The Atacama Nights
The Atacama's skies are the clearest on earth — the observatory star tours book out, and the salt-flat sunsets at sunset-time competitions with the stars that follow.
Desert & Patagonia
The two extremes in two weeks.
Day 1 · Santiago — arrival
The Andes backdrop and the Lastarria barrio.
Day 2 · Valparaíso day
The hills, the funiculars, the murals.
Day 3 · Fly to San Pedro
The Valley of the Moon at sunset.
Day 4 · The Tatio geysers
The 4,300-meter dawn; the star tour.
Day 5 · Fly to Patagonia
Puerto Natales and the basecamp.
Day 6 · Torres del Paine — the towers
The mirador trek or the W's start.
Day 7 · The glaciers & farewell
The Grey Glacier boat; Puntas Arenas.
Practical planning info
Money
- Santiago ~$90/day, San Pedro $130, Patagonia $150+.
- The W trek's refugios book 6 months out.
When
- Patagonia: December–February (summer).
- The Atacama: year-round, with the clearest skies March–May.
Frequently asked questions
Chile or Argentina for Patagonia?
Chile has Torres del Paine; Argentina has Fitz Roy and the cheaper trekking. Two weeks can do both.
Is Chile expensive?
The most expensive tier in South America: $90–150/day depending on region.
How many days for Chile?
Ten days for Santiago, the Atacama and one Patagonia leg; two weeks does both extremes.
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