Which hubs do flights to Chile go through?

According to FlightConnections, Santiago has nonstop flights to Madrid, Barcelona, Paris and London; to Miami, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, New York, Toronto, Montreal and Los Angeles; and to Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland. From the US, Miami–Santiago at around 8 h 30 min is the shortest route, while Sydney–Santiago at around 15 h 20 min is the longest. There are no nonstop connections from Asia or Africa.

How long can you stay in Chile as a tourist?

At most 90 days. The date is printed on the Tarjeta Única Migratoria; if lost, the PDI police issue a replacement. Anyone wanting to stay longer applies online for a visa with the Servicio Nacional de Migraciones before entering.

What does entry to Torres del Paine cost?

Adult foreigners pay 32,400 pesos for one day and 48,500 pesos for a pass covering up to ten days; children under 12 pay nothing (as of September 2026). Tickets are available only online through Pases Parques, at least 24 h in advance.

How many days do you need for Chile?

Chile Travel suggests four to five days for San Pedro de Atacama, the same for Santiago with Valparaíso, five to seven for Pucón, Llanquihue and Chiloé, ten to twelve for the Carretera Austral, and five to nine for Torres del Paine. With two weeks, it's better to choose two or three zones.

When can you see penguins in Chile?

Boats run to Isla Magdalena near Punta Arenas from October to mid-April. On the Islotes de Puñihuil near Ancud, Humboldt and Magellanic penguins nest side by side, while king penguins live at Bahía Inútil on Tierra del Fuego.

How cold does it get at night in the Atacama?

In San Pedro de Atacama, temperatures often drop below 0°C at night and to around −10°C in winter, and at the Géiseres del Tatio in the early morning to as low as −20°C. During the day it's warm and sunny, so light clothing plus warm layers are needed.

Does the altitude in San Pedro de Atacama cause problems?

The town sits at roughly 2,400 m, just below the threshold of about 2,500 m at which healthytravel.ch expects altitude sickness to appear. Excursions above 4,000 m are more critical. Take the first days easy, drink plenty of water, and save the highest destinations for last.

Can you pay by card almost everywhere in Chile?

Almost everywhere, says the Auswärtiges Amt. The BMEIA additionally recommends US dollars as a cash reserve, and there are no ATMs in Torres del Paine.

What time zone applies in Chile?

Mainland Chile with Santiago switches: from September to April, daylight saving applies with UTC−3, and UTC−4 for the rest of the year. The Aysén and Magallanes regions, including Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales, stay on UTC−3 year-round, putting them an hour ahead of Santiago during the southern winter.

What kind of outlets does Chile use?

The national standard is plug type L; flat Europlugs (type C) also fit. Voltage is 220 V at 50 Hz. Devices with other plug types need an adapter.

Can you bring food into Chile?

Fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy products, meat and cured meat are prohibited. Anything of animal or plant origin, including packaged nuts, belongs on the SAG declaration. Even a forgotten apple can result in a hefty fine.

How do you get to Easter Island?

Only by flight from Santiago, around 5 h 30 min. Archaeological sites such as Orongo and Rano Raraku can only be visited with an accredited guide, and park entry is purchased online in advance.

What should you watch out for in Valparaíso?

The EDA reports frequent thefts and assaults in the lower town and on the touristy streets on the hills. Chile Travel advises using only lit, busy streets in the evening or taking safe transport.

Is a rental car worthwhile in Chile?

For Chiloé with its church route, Chile Travel recommends a rental car or a tour, as well as for the wine valleys. The Auswärtiges Amt warns of tricks involving alleged flat tires; it's safer to keep driving to the next gas station.

Are earthquakes common in Chile?

According to the Auswärtiges Amt, minor tremors are a daily occurrence, and buildings and hotels in city centers are built to be earthquake-resistant. In the event of a strong coastal earthquake, follow the marked tsunami evacuation routes and the instructions of the civil protection authority SENAPRED.

When is the best time to drive the Carretera Austral?

Chile Travel recommends the southern summer from December to March, with long days and the best weather. The 1,247 km route has gravel sections and several ferry crossings, for example at Caleta La Arena and Puerto Yungay. Since some stretches offer little service, it's wise to bring supplies.

Which wine region is closest to Santiago?

The Valle del Maipo: the first wineries are about 50 km and an hour's drive from the airport. Casablanca lies 80 km west on the road to Valparaíso, and Colchagua around 3 h to the south.

Chile: Best Time to Visit, Entry Requirements, Regions and Torres del Paine

What kind of travel destination is Chile?

In short

Chile stretches more than 4,300 km from the Atacama Desert to Tierra del Fuego, yet averages only 177 km in width. A trip is therefore best planned by zone: desert and highlands in the north, Santiago, Valparaíso and the wine valleys in the middle, lakes, volcanoes and Chiloé in the south, Patagonia with Torres del Paine at the far southern tip.

Add to that Easter Island, around 3,700 km off the coast. The Chile Travel tourism board reckons on at least a month for a well-rounded overview, since many legs require domestic flights with a connection in Santiago.

This page shows which region suits what, when each zone is in season, what applies for entry, and where reservations are mandatory, for instance on the W trek in Torres del Paine.

Sources: Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Wikipedia · Chile Travel (Sernatur)

What does traveling through Chile feel like?

In short

Chile combines extremes in a narrow space: in the north lies the Atacama, according to Chile Travel the driest desert in the world; in the south, more than 24,000 glaciers store 82% of South America's ice. In between lie a Mediterranean-climate heartland with wine country and a rain-soaked south of forests, lakes and volcanoes.

Distances set the rhythm: from Santiago to Calama on Route 5 it's around 1,530 km, to Puerto Varas over 1,000 km. The Auswärtiges Amt describes Chile as well served by rental cars, long-distance buses and flights; trains from Santiago run only southward, as far as Chillán.

Infrastructure thins out in the south. According to CONAF, the Southern Patagonian Ice Field covers 13,500 km² and, after Antarctica and Greenland, is the third-largest body of ice on Earth; Lago General Carrera, at 1,850 km², is the country's largest lake.

Chile is not cheap: the Auswärtiges Amt describes the price level as relatively high compared with other South American countries. Minor earthquakes are part of everyday life; buildings and hotels in city centers are built to be earthquake-resistant.

Sources: Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Auswärtiges Amt · Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF) · Chile Travel (Sernatur)

Which regions belong on a Chile trip?

In short

For a first trip, nine areas stand out: the Atacama around San Pedro, Santiago with Valparaíso, the wine valleys from Casablanca to Colchagua, the Lake District around Puerto Varas, Chiloé, the Carretera Austral, Torres del Paine with Puerto Natales, Punta Arenas with Tierra del Fuego, and Easter Island. A flight via Santiago usually connects north and south.

Atacama: San Pedro de Atacama

San Pedro sits at roughly 2,400 m and is the starting point for almost all excursions in the north; you fly to Calama and drive 100 km on Route 23. The Valle de la Luna lies 13 km to the west, and the Géiseres del Tatio, above 4,300 m, are considered the third-largest geothermal field in the world. The Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos protects over 73,000 hectares and three flamingo species. Chile Travel recommends four to five days.

Santiago and Valparaíso

Santiago, founded in 1541, lies at the foot of the Andes; you pay with the Bip! card on the metro and buses. From Cerro San Cristóbal, reachable by funicular and cable car, you overlook the city, and the Mercado Central is one of its best-known dining destinations.

Valparaíso lies 120 km to the west, around 1 h 30 min via Route 68. Its historic port quarter has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003: the city was the first and most important trading port on the Pacific route through South America until the Panama Canal opened in 1914. Funiculars such as Reina Victoria and El Peral climb the hills; Cerro Alegre and Concepción are known for their colorful houses and galleries, and La Sebastiana is Pablo Neruda's house museum.

Colorful houses on the steep hills of Valparaíso above the harbor — Photo: Loïc Mermilliod on Unsplash

Wine regions: Casablanca, Maipo and Colchagua

The cool Valle de Casablanca, 80 km from Santiago and 40 km from Valparaíso, is known for Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The Valle del Maipo is considered the cradle of Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon, with the first wineries roughly 50 km from the airport. In the Valle de Colchagua around Santa Cruz, about 3 h from Santiago, Carmenère and Cabernet Sauvignon dominate. Most wineries require advance booking.

Lake District: Puerto Varas and Lago Llanquihue

Puerto Varas and Frutillar on Lago Llanquihue show clearly German-influenced architecture. El Tepual airport lies 22 km from Puerto Varas, and the flight from Santiago takes 1 h 45 min. To the east lies Parque Nacional Vicente Pérez Rosales, founded in 1926 as Chile's oldest national park: 40 km along Route 225 to the Saltos del Petrohué, and 15 km further to Lago Todos los Santos with the Osorno and Puntiagudo volcanoes.

Chiloé

The ferry from Pargua across the Canal de Chacao takes around 30 minutes; the flight to Castro (Mocopulli) takes 2 h from Santiago. In Castro stand the palafitos, colorful stilt houses over the water. Sixteen wooden churches of the archipelago have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000; the tradition traces back to the Jesuit mission that began in 1608. Near Ancud, on the Islotes de Puñihuil, Humboldt and Magellanic penguins nest on the same rocks.

Carretera Austral

Route 7 runs 1,247 km from Puerto Montt to Villa O'Higgins, with gravel sections and ferries. Airports are El Tepual and Balmaceda near Coyhaique. Along the way lie Parque Nacional Pumalín Douglas Tompkins, the Ventisquero Colgante Queulat, and Lago General Carrera with the Capillas de Mármol. Chile Travel reckons on 10 to 12 days.

Torres del Paine and Puerto Natales

The national park covers 227,298 hectares, and the Paine massif reaches 3,050 m. Puerto Natales is the base, 250 km or 3 h from Punta Arenas; buses head into the park at 7:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. For the multi-day W and O routes, a confirmed reservation is mandatory for every refugio or camp, and park rangers check this. Bookings are made months in advance through Vértice Patagonia and Las Torres Patagonia; exceptions are day hikes such as Base Torres and the Serrano and Pehoé campgrounds along the road.

Punta Arenas and Tierra del Fuego

From Punta Arenas on the Strait of Magellan, boats run from October to mid-April to Isla Magdalena, home to around 7,000 breeding pairs of Magellanic penguins, according to CONAF. That figure counts only breeding pairs; Chile Travel puts the same colony at over 120,000 birds in total, which explains the much higher numbers that otherwise circulate. The ferry to Porvenir on Tierra del Fuego crosses in around 2 h, and a king penguin colony lives at Bahía Inútil. More on the Tierra del Fuego page.

Easter Island (Rapa Nui)

Flights depart only from Santiago and take 5 h 30 min. The Parque Nacional Rapa Nui has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995 and contains around 900 moai. Tourists may stay at most 30 days; Chile Travel recommends four to five days. More on the Easter Island / Rapa Nui page.

Destinations

Regions with their own page

Islands and regions

IslandEaster Island (Rapa Nui)Rapa Nui lies around 3,700 km off the coast of Chile and is reachable only by air from Santiago.

Cross-country

When is the best time to visit Chile?

In short

It depends on the zone. For the Carretera Austral, Chile Travel recommends December to March; in Torres del Paine, December to February is peak season; central Chile has warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters from June to August. In the Atacama, days are dry and warm while nights drop well below 0°C.

North and Atacama

During the day, temperatures in the north often climb above 20°C, while at night they fall drastically below 0°C, especially in the highlands; rain is rare. In San Pedro, winter nights drop to around −10°C, and at the Géiseres del Tatio, sunrise temperatures can reach −20°C. No station data exists for San Pedro, so no table is shown here.

Center: Santiago, Valparaíso and the wine valleys

The Central Valley has a Mediterranean climate with rain almost exclusively in winter. From June to August, smog burdens the air in Santiago, and driving restrictions apply regularly during that period. In March, Colchagua celebrates the grape harvest, and on September 18 and 19 the whole country celebrates the Fiestas Patrias.

Santiago and Valparaíso: hot, dry summers inland, milder values on the coast, rain mainly from May to August

Santiago de Chile	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	31	31	29	25	21	17	17	19	21	24	28	30
Low °C	14	13	12	9	6	4	3	5	7	8	10	12
Rainfall mm	8	8	10	12	44	63	47	40	15	12	9	7

Valparaíso	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	23	23	22	20	18	17	16	17	18	19	21	22
Low °C	14	14	13	11	9	8	7	8	9	9	11	12
Rainfall mm	2	1	4	9	45	55	47	42	13	12	6	3

Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station QUINTA NORMAL (2 km, 520 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station VINA DEL MAR (16 km, 141 m), auf 40 m umgerechnet. Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.

South, Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego

In the Lake District and on Chiloé, rain is likely year-round, even in high summer; in Puerto Varas, May to August is noticeably wetter. In Torres del Paine, prices are lower from March to November, but it's colder and more restrictions apply: outside the main season, additional requirements such as a mandatory guide sometimes apply on the W, the O and to Base Torres; the current rules are published by CONAF and the ticket seller Pases Parques.

In Punta Arenas, gusts exceed 100 km/h mainly from October to March. On Easter Island, January to March are considered the dry months, and the Tapati festival takes place in February.

Puerto Varas, Puerto Natales, Punta Arenas and Porvenir: mild to cool summers, heavy rain in the Lake District during the southern winter, near-freezing winter nights in Patagonia

Puerto Varas	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	21	21	19	16	14	11	11	12	13	15	17	19
Low °C	9	9	8	7	5	4	3	4	4	5	7	8
Rainfall mm	65	57	86	113	163	181	166	161	91	99	84	72

Puerto Natales (Torres del Paine)	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	17	17	15	12	8	5	5	7	10	12	14	15
Low °C	11	10	8	5	2	-0	-0	1	3	6	8	10
Rainfall mm	119	98	110	110	97	101	85	86	77	82	95	108

Punta Arenas	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	16	16	14	11	8	6	5	7	9	12	14	15
Low °C	7	7	6	3	2	-1	-1	0	2	3	5	6
Rainfall mm	57	45	58	60	52	49	45	44	35	38	43	51

Porvenir (Feuerland)	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	16	16	14	11	8	6	5	7	9	12	14	15
Low °C	7	7	6	3	2	-1	-1	0	2	3	5	6
Rainfall mm	58	47	59	60	51	48	43	43	35	39	45	50

Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station EL TEPUAL INTL (16 km, 90 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station TENIENTE JULIO GALLARDO (7 km, 66 m), auf 10 m umgerechnet. Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station CARLOS IBANEZ DEL CAMPO INTL (18 km, 42 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station CARLOS IBANEZ DEL CAMPO INTL (46 km, 42 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.

Sources: Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Wikipedia · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Auswärtiges Amt · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF) · Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF) · Pases Parques (official ticketing channel) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur)

What do you need to enter Chile?

In short

Swiss, German and Austrian nationals need no visa as tourists and may stay up to 90 days (as of September 2026); Germans enter with a passport valid for at least six more months, while Austrians need, according to the BMEIA, a passport valid for the entire length of stay. Different rules apply to other nationalities, some of which need a visa or prior authorization.

Chile's Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists Switzerland, Germany and Austria as visa-exempt for 90 days; the stay may not extend beyond the passport's expiry date. On arrival you receive the free Tarjeta Única Migratoria, which must be handed back on departure. According to the BMEIA, a return ticket and proof of at least USD 46 per day may be requested; Austria's ID Austria card is not accepted. Swiss nationals should confirm accepted travel documents with the Chilean representation, per the EDA.

The rules for a given nationality are shown by the consular portal of Chile's Ministry of Foreign Affairs after selecting the country, along with costs and documents; for individual cases it refers to the consular system SAC. The Servicio Nacional de Migraciones is responsible for tourist stays.

All products of animal or plant origin must be declared on the Agricultural Service's (SAG) form; fresh fruit, dairy products and cured meat are prohibited. Cash over USD 10,000 must be declared. Minors traveling alone or with only one parent need a notarized travel authorization from the other parent.

A separate procedure applies for Easter Island: the FUI entry form must be completed within 48 h before the flight, the return flight must be within a maximum of 30 days, and accommodation must be registered with Sernatur.

As of September 2026. The official bodies are authoritative: the EDA, the Auswärtiges Amt, the BMEIA and, for all nationalities, the Chilean authorities and consulates. The EDA refers binding inquiries to Chile's representations, and for minors to the embassy in Bern.

Sources: Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Chile, Consulado.gob.cl · Servicio Nacional de Migraciones (SERMIG) · Auswärtiges Amt · Bundesministerium für europäische und internationale Angelegenheiten (BMEIA) · Eidgenössisches Departement für auswärtige Angelegenheiten EDA · Chile Travel (Sernatur)

What vaccinations and health precautions make sense for Chile?

In short

healthytravel.ch recommends up-to-date routine vaccinations, hepatitis A for all travelers, and rabies for most; a yellow fever vaccination is, according to the CDC, neither required nor recommended. Key risks are altitude in the north, dengue on Easter Island, and rare rodent-borne infections such as hantavirus.

healthytravel.ch recommends hepatitis B for risk groups and typhoid for long-term travelers. According to the CDC, rabid dogs are rare in Chile, but the virus occurs in bats. Which vaccination is needed in a given case should be clarified with a doctor.

Altitude sickness, according to healthytravel.ch, begins around 2,500 m; the Auswärtiges Amt advises altitude-medicine consultation before trips above 2,300 m. Day trips from Arica at sea level to Lago Chungará at 4,500 m have already resulted in deaths. It's better to ascend slowly, drink plenty of water, and spend a night in a place like Putre at 3,400 m.

On Chiloé and in the Los Lagos region, mite-borne scrub typhus occurs. Care is good in major cities but, according to the EDA, not guaranteed everywhere outside the capital; many hospitals require a payment guarantee. The Auswärtiges Amt recommends insurance that includes helicopter mountain rescue.

Sources: HealthyTravel.ch (Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine) · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Auswärtiges Amt · Eidgenössisches Departement für auswärtige Angelegenheiten EDA

How safe is Chile for travelers?

In short

The EDA describes travel to Chile as fundamentally safe, and the Auswärtiges Amt counts Chile among the safer countries in South America. All three bodies (EDA, Auswärtiges Amt, BMEIA) warn of robbery and theft in Santiago and Valparaíso and of a tense situation in the Araucanía and Biobío regions.

According to the Auswärtiges Amt, pickpocketing and robbery occur in central Santiago, at the airport, and in Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Calama and San Pedro de Atacama, increasingly involving violence; drink spiking and rental-car break-ins are also mentioned. The situation in the Araucanía and Biobío regions is structurally tense; rural highways there are best avoided after dark. Demonstrations occur mainly in Santiago and Valparaíso, particularly, according to the Auswärtiges Amt, around March 29, May 1, September 11 and October 18.

Border areas with Peru, Bolivia and Argentina are still partly mined. Chile lies in an earthquake and volcanic zone, and in summer large wildfires can occur in many areas. Drug offenses are punished with long prison sentences even for the smallest quantities. Current situation: EDA, Auswärtiges Amt, BMEIA.

Sources: Eidgenössisches Departement für auswärtige Angelegenheiten EDA · Auswärtiges Amt · Bundesministerium für europäische und internationale Angelegenheiten (BMEIA)

How do you get to Chile and travel around the country?

In short

The most important arrival airport for international flights is Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL), also called Nuevo Pudahuel, in Santiago. Nonstop flights from Europe run from Madrid (around 12 h 40 min), Barcelona, Paris (around 14 h) and London; from North America from Miami, Atlanta, Houston, New York and Toronto, among others; from Oceania from Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland (as of September 2026). Within the country, LATAM, SKY and JetSMART connect Santiago with the regions; LATAM flies to Easter Island (as of September 2026).

Arturo Merino Benítez Airport (SCL) lies 17 km from downtown; buses run to the Pajaritos and Los Héroes metro stations, and official transfers are booked at the exit of Terminal T2.

Nonstop routes to Santiago with approximate flight times according to FlightConnections (as of September 2026):

Europe: Madrid 12 h 40 min, Barcelona 13 h 35 min, Paris-Charles de Gaulle 14 h, London-Heathrow 14 h 10 min.
North America: Miami 8 h 30 min, Houston 9 h 20 min, Atlanta 9 h 40 min, Dallas 9 h 55 min, New York-JFK and Toronto both around 10 h 45 min, Montreal 11 h 5 min, Los Angeles 11 h 20 min.
Latin America: Buenos Aires around 2 h, Lima 3 h 45 min, São Paulo 3 h 55 min, Rio de Janeiro 4 h, Bogotá 5 h 50 min, plus Panama City, Mexico City, Cancún and Punta Cana.
Oceania: Auckland 12 h 40 min, Melbourne 15 h, Sydney 15 h 20 min.
Asia, Africa, Middle East: no nonstop flights; connections run via Europe, North America, Australia or New Zealand.

Travelers arriving overland from Argentina, Bolivia or Peru should check which border crossings are open beforehand: Chile Travel refers to the Interior Ministry's map for this, since crossings can change their opening hours depending on weather.

Domestic flights from Santiago (flight times rounded)
Destination	Flight time	Onward to
Calama (CJC)	around 2 h 10 min	San Pedro de Atacama, 100 km
Puerto Montt (PMC)	1 h 45 min	Puerto Varas, 22 km
Castro (MHC)	2 h	Chiloé
Balmaceda (BBA)	around 2 h 20 min	Carretera Austral
Punta Arenas (PUQ)	around 3 h 30 min	Puerto Natales, 250 km
Easter Island (IPC)	5 h 30 min	from Santiago only

Long-distance buses depart Santiago from the Alameda, San Borja, Los Héroes and Terminal Santiago stations. The main long-distance rail connection runs to Chillán, around 400 km in 4 h 40 min. Chile recognizes the German driving license for 90 days; the Auswärtiges Amt recommends carrying a Spanish translation or an international driving permit alongside it. On the Carretera Austral, a four-wheel-drive vehicle is needed because of gravel sections, and there is no gas station in or around Torres del Paine. Ferries connect Puerto Montt through the channels with Puerto Natales, Pargua with Chiloé, and Punta Arenas with Porvenir.

Sources: FlightConnections · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF) · Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF) · Auswärtiges Amt · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur)

What does Chile cost and how do you pay?

In short

Payment is in Chilean pesos (CLP), with notes of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000 pesos. The Auswärtiges Amt describes the price level as relatively high compared with other South American countries; cashless payment works almost everywhere, and in Santiago even on the metro with Visa or Mastercard.

Some benchmark figures, as of September 2026: Torres del Paine costs adult foreigners 32,400 pesos per day and 48,500 pesos for a pass valid up to ten days, needed for the W and the O. Chile Travel puts the cost of simple set menus in Santiago at roughly 5,500 to 7,300 pesos (at the exchange rate of 183 pesos per real cited there).

The BMEIA recommends holding US dollars as a cash reserve, and the EDA advises never exchanging money on the street. In Torres del Paine there are no ATMs; withdraw cash beforehand in Puerto Natales.

Sources: Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Auswärtiges Amt · Bundesministerium für europäische und internationale Angelegenheiten (BMEIA) · Eidgenössisches Departement für auswärtige Angelegenheiten EDA · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur)

Where is best to stay in Chile?

In short

Cities and resort towns offer hotels of every class, and Patagonia additionally has estancias, mountain huts (refugios) and campgrounds. Availability tightens in the southern summer: on the W in Torres del Paine, refugios and camps require reservations, and Puerto Natales, San Pedro de Atacama and Chiloé are also worth booking early.

In Torres del Paine, Hostería Pehoé, Hotel Lago Grey and Explora lie along the road; the refugios Paine Grande, Grey, Dickson and Los Perros, run by Vértice Patagonia, have no road access, and the remaining sites are allocated by Las Torres Patagonia. In the Magallanes region, estancias offer country life with horseback riding, while on Easter Island only accommodation registered with Sernatur is permitted.

Sources: Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF) · Vértice Patagonia · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur)

What do people eat and drink in Chile?

In short

Chilean cuisine follows the geography: the north mixes desert ingredients with Andean heritage, the center cooks with the valleys' produce, and the south relies on fish, seafood and Patagonian lamb. Add to that wine from Maipo, Casablanca and Colchagua and pisco from the Valle del Elqui.

The Completo is Chile's hot dog, with avocado, tomato and mayonnaise, classically served in the Portal Fernández Concha at the Plaza de Armas in Santiago. In summer there's mote con huesillo, dried peaches in cinnamon-chancaca syrup over cooked wheat, while in the rainy south there are sopaipillas made from fried pumpkin dough.

Empanadas and asados belong to the Fiestas Patrias, and in Puerto Natales, lamb and king crab (centolla). Pisco, the national spirit, comes from the Valle del Elqui, with Pisco Elqui and Vicuña. In the O'Higgins region, the Ruta de los Abastos, Chile's first gastronomic touring route, leads to producers, fishermen and salt makers.

Sources: Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur)

What culture and traditions shape Chile?

In short

Chilean culture combines indigenous roots with European immigration: the Mapuche in the south, the Polynesian Rapa Nui culture on Easter Island, the Jesuit-mission wooden churches of Chiloé, German-influenced towns on Lago Llanquihue, and Croatian traces in Porvenir. The high point of the year is the Fiestas Patrias on September 18 and 19.

The Mapuche, with nearly two million members, are South America's largest indigenous people. Easter Island was settled toward the end of the first millennium by people from Eastern Polynesia; its moai stand 2 to 20 m tall. The Rapa Nui National Park is managed jointly with the indigenous community Ma'u Henua. Besides Easter Island (1995), the churches of Chiloé (2000) and Valparaíso (2003), the Humberstone and Santa Laura saltpeter works (2005) are also UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

For the Fiestas Patrias, fondas and ramadas open across the country, people dance the cueca and fly kites; the celebrations last several days around September 18. In Porvenir, a monument commemorates the Selk'nam, the first inhabitants of Tierra del Fuego.

Sources: Wikipedia · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF) · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur)

What experiences are especially worthwhile in Chile?

In short

Among the strongest experiences are the hike to Base Torres or the W in Torres del Paine, sunrise at the Géiseres del Tatio above 4,300 m, the boat trip to the Capillas de Mármol, and the penguins of Isla Magdalena. Add to that stargazing in the north and the wooden churches of Chiloé.

Base Torres: from Hotel Las Torres, 9.4 km to the viewpoint, around 4 h 30 min each way, with the last stretch steep over moraine. Only in daylight and never alone: most fatal accidents have involved solo hikers off the trails.
The W: a multi-day route via Paine Grande, Camp Italiano with the climb to Mirador Británico (5.4 km, 3 h), and the Glaciar Grey (11 km, 3 h 30 min from Paine Grande), with reservations required for every night.
Géiseres del Tatio: departure from San Pedro around 5 a.m., 80 km of gravel road, arrival at sunrise between 6 and 7 a.m.
Valle de la Luna: 13 km from San Pedro, around 40 min by bike, most striking at sunset.
Stars: the Valle del Elqui counts over 300 clear nights a year and has public observatories; visits to the ALMA radio telescope require registration.
Capillas de Mármol: by kayak or boat from Puerto Río Tranquilo, 240 km or around 5 h from Coyhaique; only with a booked tour.
Isla Magdalena: at most 1 h on the island, only with CONAF-certified guides.

Sources: Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF)

How can you travel responsibly in Chile?

In short

Strict rules apply in the protected areas: in Torres del Paine, any heat source outside the marked cooking spots is prohibited, with violations costing up to 2 million pesos or up to three years in prison, and foreigners risk deportation. Waste must be carried out of the park yourself, and drones are banned without a CONAF permit.

Do not feed wildlife. Isla Marta, next to Isla Magdalena, may not be set foot on by anyone, and on Easter Island it is forbidden to touch or feed marine animals, especially turtles.

Sources: Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF) · Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF) · Chile Travel (Sernatur)

What pairs well with Chile?

In short

The most natural pairing is Argentina: in Patagonia, the Río Don Guillermo border crossing near Cerro Castillo lies just 52 km from the Sarmiento entrance to Torres del Paine. Easter Island is reachable only via Santiago, as a four- to five-day extension.

From Punta Arenas, buses run to Río Gallegos in Argentina; for the whole south, the pages on Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego help. In the north, Bolivia and Peru border Chile; crossings, according to the EDA, can close on short notice.

Sources: Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Eidgenössisches Departement für auswärtige Angelegenheiten EDA · Chile Travel (Sernatur)

Who is Chile a good fit for, and who might it suit less?

In short

Chile suits travelers who value nature, hiking, wine and long distances and bring time for it; the tourism board reckons on at least a month for a well-rounded overview. It suits less well those planning a short multi-stop tour, working with a tight budget, or hoping for spontaneous hiking plans during peak season.

Anyone wanting to see the Atacama, Patagonia and Easter Island in two weeks will spend most of the time in planes and buses. Anyone who tolerates altitude poorly should check excursions above 4,000 m with a doctor, and anyone wanting to hike the W should book months in advance.

Sources: Chile Travel (Sernatur) · Auswärtiges Amt · Chile Travel (Sernatur)

Chile

What kind of travel destination is Chile?

What does traveling through Chile feel like?

Which regions belong on a Chile trip?

Atacama: San Pedro de Atacama

Santiago and Valparaíso

Wine regions: Casablanca, Maipo and Colchagua

Lake District: Puerto Varas and Lago Llanquihue

Chiloé

Carretera Austral

Torres del Paine and Puerto Natales

Punta Arenas and Tierra del Fuego

Easter Island (Rapa Nui)

Regions with their own page

When is the best time to visit Chile?

North and Atacama

Center: Santiago, Valparaíso and the wine valleys

South, Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego

What do you need to enter Chile?

What vaccinations and health precautions make sense for Chile?

How safe is Chile for travelers?

How do you get to Chile and travel around the country?

What does Chile cost and how do you pay?

Where is best to stay in Chile?

What do people eat and drink in Chile?

What culture and traditions shape Chile?

What experiences are especially worthwhile in Chile?

How can you travel responsibly in Chile?

What pairs well with Chile?

Who is Chile a good fit for, and who might it suit less?

Worth combining

Routes through Chile

Frequently asked questions

Where this information comes from

Plan Chile with AVA