Desert, glaciers, wine valleys and Easter Island.
Chile is a long, thin country running down South America's Pacific coast. It suits travellers who love dramatic landscapes, trekking and wine. It is known for the Atacama Desert, Torres del Paine in Patagonia, Easter Island and colourful Valparaíso. Flights link the regions, as the country is over 4,000 kilometres long.
Tap a card or a pin. Add a place to a day of your trip, or look for tours.
Torres del Paine has granite towers, glaciers and lakes. The W Trek is the famous multi-day hike.
San Pedro is an oasis town in the world's driest non-polar desert. Tours visit salt lakes, geysers and moon-like valleys.
Rapa Nui is a remote Pacific island famous for its moai statues. Most of it is a national park.
Valparaíso is a port city of hills covered in colourful houses and street art. Old funiculars climb the slopes.
This valley has salt and clay formations that look lunar. Sunset is the popular time.
El Tatio is a high geothermal field with steaming geysers at dawn. It is one of the highest in the world.
The Southern Highway runs through remote Patagonia past fjords and glaciers. Marble Caves are on the route.
The Marble Caves are swirling rock formations on General Carrera Lake. Boats or kayaks go in.
Chiloé has wooden churches, stilt houses and its own folklore. The churches are UNESCO listed.
Chile's wine valleys produce Carménère and fresh whites. Tours run from Santiago.
Santiago is a modern capital below the Andes. Cerro San Cristóbal gives city views.
Pucón is an adventure town by a lake below an active volcano. Hot springs and hikes are nearby.
Lauca is a high-altitude park with volcanoes and Lake Chungará. Vicuñas graze there.
Elqui is a valley known for pisco and very clear night skies. Observatories run stargazing tours.
Humberstone is an abandoned nitrate mining town in the desert. Its buildings show workers' lives.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it: pick cities, add places to days, see the weather for your dates.
Each city with a guide opens its own page: map, where to stay, what to eat.
Capital and gateway.
culture, gateway · Open the city guideColourful port.
culture · Open the city guideDesert base.
nature · Open the city guideTorres del Paine gateway.
hiking, gateway · Open the city guideLakes and volcano.
adventure · Guide comingEaster Island base.
history · Guide comingLake town with volcano views.
lakes, food · Guide comingSouthern gateway city.
gateway · Guide comingBeach city and gateway to the Elqui Valley.
beach, stargazing · Guide comingDesert and high plateaus.
Atacama, El Tatio, Lauca
Capital, wine and coast.
Santiago, Valparaíso, Colchagua
Lakes and volcanoes.
Pucón, Chiloé
Glaciers and peaks.
Torres del Paine, Carretera Austral, Marble Caves
Remote Pacific island.
Moai, Rano Kau
Capital, vineyards and coast.
Santiago, Valparaiso, Colchagua
Choose how long you have, then add the whole route to a trip as places and nights.
Best: October to April. Spring and summer suit Patagonia and the south.
The Atacama is good all year, while Patagonia is cold and partly closed in winter; Santiago is hot in January.
January. Busy season. Higher prices, bigger crowds.
85°F daily high, 72°F average, 0.3 in
Average of past years from NASA POWER, worked out at each city's position. A place far from these cities can be quite different.
US State Department Level 2 (exercise increased caution) for crime and unrest; petty theft is common in cities.
Domestic flights and good long-distance buses connect the country.
Moderately priced, with Patagonia expensive.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Members see the rules for their own passport here.
Passport and visa rules change often and without notice. Always check the official pages before you book and again before you travel.
| Entry | Check current visa and entry rules on Chile's National Migration Service (serviciomigraciones.cl), and your own government's travel advice, before you book, as rules change. |
| Plugs | Type C, L; 220 V, 50 Hz |
| Tap water | varies |
| Tipping | 10 percent tip is suggested on the bill. |
| Payments | Cards are widely accepted. |
| Emergency | 133 police, 131 ambulance, 132 fire |
| Etiquette | Chileans are polite and greet with a kiss. Respect moai rules on Easter Island and do not touch them. |
| Driving | On the right |
| Between cities | Domestic flights save huge distances. Buses are comfortable for medium routes, and cars work in the south. |
| Main airports | SCL, PUQ, CJC, IPC |
| Ride apps | Uber |
The Mapuche and other Indigenous peoples lived here before Spanish colonisation in the 16th century. Chile became independent in 1818. A military coup in 1973 led to the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet until 1990. Since then Chile has been one of the region's more stable democracies.
Researched 2026-10-13. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.