Chile is a country famously known for its gorgeous landscapes, rich culture, and incredible food. It is often described as the land of contrasting landscapes, with the country divided into five geographical zones featuring arid deserts, volcanoes, beaches, lakes, forests, snow-capped mountains, and much more, including glaciers and icefields. These sights and more make Chile a tourist's favorite South American destination, especially for photographers and adventure seekers.
#1. Landmarks
Chile is home to various distinctive landmarks that enrich your time in the country. You can:
Take a walk in the driest place in the world: The Atacama Desert, where scientists theorize parts of it have never seen rain.
Travel underground in the largest open pit copper mine in the world.
Peer out from the tallest building in South America, the Grand Tower Santiago.
Extreme adventurers from far and wide attempt to climb the world’s tallest volcano: Ojos del Salado (Eye of the Salty One). For those of us who are less adventurous, viewing it from the bottom is a great option.
Other reputed landmarks include: Christ the Redeemer of the Andes
The mysterious statues on Rapa Nui, popularly known as Easter Island, which are on par with the Pyramids of Giza and Stonehenge. To date, no one has truly discovered how these stone monoliths were constructed.
#2. Chilean Gastronomy
The cuisine of Chile is a rich melting pot of old ingredients and ancient traditions used by the natives. You can feast on an array of seafood, available in abundance due to the country’s extensive Pacific coastline.
Charquican: a beef stew with squash and potatoes, topped with an egg.
Pastel de Choclo: a corn casserole stuffed with meat.
Cazuela: a big bowl of beef or chicken stew typically eaten with rice, corn, and potatoes.
Choripan: a sandwich made with sausage or chorizo, found on almost any street in Chile, usually loaded with condiments like Pebre or green sauce, chimichurri, and mayonnaise.
If you enjoy cooking or experimenting with different cuisines, consider joining a cooking class. You and your group will work together to recreate simple Chilean dishes and even shop for your menu at the market, giving you an authentic experience of the food scene in Chile.
#3. Sippin’ Chile
You can’t complete a delightful Chilean meal without a glass of wine. The country is home to many wine valleys and excursions that take you deep into the history and beauty of the different wine routes. There are 11 of them: Aconcagua Curico Elqui Limari Itata Maipo Alto Cachapoal Leyda Colchagua Maule
Casablanca Valley, known for its Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay white wines.
Since wine is one of Chile’s biggest industries, don’t miss out on the wine tasting and tours offered in these regions. Chile is also the leading manufacturer of the long-lost Carmenere wine, which originated in France but was abandoned until farmers brought it to Santiago.
Santiago Metropolitan has a vibrant nightlife where you can sip some of the finest craft beers in South America. The bar scene ranges from: Old-school favorites like Liguira
The satirical bar: Bar The Clinic, owned by the cheeky magazine, The Clinic The Asian-themed speakeasy, Ky
Tramonto Bar and Terrace, attracting the upper echelon of Chilean society
For exciting music scenes, the Opera-Catedral bar is the place to be with live acts on most nights. Don’t miss out on Chile’s most patriotic drink: Terremoto (translates to an earthquake in Spanish). The best place to try it is at the city’s oldest dive bar: La Piojera.
#4. Adventure Sports
Chile offers a variety of activities and sports for you to try while in the country, with adventure sports being a main attraction. You can: Go sandboarding in Death Valley Hike in Moon Valley Explore the lake district Scuba dive on Robinson Crusoe Island
Face an active volcano and toboggan back down in Pucon
Trek through gorgeous Patagonia for breathtaking scenery
Kayak at Lago Gral Carrera, the biggest lake in Chile The options are endless and so worth it!
#5. Stargazing
Chile has some of the planet’s clearest skies, with over 300 clear nights a year and very slight light pollution in the Atacama Desert. Due to these incredible atmospheric conditions, it is home to one of the world’s largest astronomical centers.
It also houses the largest radio telescope in the world: ALMA (Atacama Large Military Array). The observatories here operate throughout the year, and many offer stargazing tours for you to experience the universe through a different lens.
You can visit Valle del Elqui, a great spot for stargazing. Consider spending the night in a private dome at Elqui Domos, where you can watch the stars through a hatch.
#6. Museums and History
The history and culture of Chile are fascinating to explore as you travel through the country. You can learn about the Pinochet regime at the Museo de Derechos Humanos. This museum carefully curates the 17-year rule of their regime and pays tribute to the thousands of lives lost during this time. It is a chilling experience but one that enlightens you about the somber history of this country.
For literary buffs, your trip to Santiago wouldn’t be complete without visiting Casa Museo de La Chascona, the former residence of Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda. Named La Chascona (the Woman with Tousled Hair) for Neruda’s third wife, the museum offers a highly recommended audio-guided tour.
Other sites worth visiting include:
The wooden Churches of Chiloe to learn about mestizo culture
Humberstone & Santa Laura Saltpeter works, an abandoned saltpeter refinery described as an eerie ghost town
The Settlement and Artificial Mummification of the Chinchorro Culture to see the world’s oldest mummies, predating even the Egyptian ones!
#7. Cool Hotel Stays
A first-class way to spend your time in Chile would be a few nights at these eccentric hotels. You can:
Spend the night in WineBox Valparaiso, a container hotel with its own wine store.
Experience comfort, good service, and fine dining at Ecocamp in Torres del Paine National Park.
Sleep in the Montana Magica hotel, shaped like a volcano with daily eruptions.
Try out the Reino Fungi hotel, shaped like fungus.
#8. Mesmerizing Patagonia
This region is one of the most popular in Chile. Complete with gorgeous lakes and rivers, its undomesticated nature attracts explorers of all kinds who wish to experience nature in its truest form.
Four national parks protect the wildlife, glaciers, and mountains: Torres del Paine Laguna San Rafael Alberto de Agostini Bernardo O’Higgins
You can enjoy the stunning visuals of the deep oceans below the snow-capped Chilean mountains and white glaciers.
#9. Urban Life
The Chilean day-to-day life is truly underrated, with its bustling nightlife, modern shopping malls, and typical Chilean textiles. If you are a fan of local products, visit the arts and crafts fairs that offer handmade works from every area in Chile.
You can also explore La Vega Central, a local market. Don’t miss a street art tour down Valparaiso street. Luxury boutiques await if you love fashion and design.
For family recreation, visit the condor and the puma at the Metropolitan Zoo. For more direct contact with animals, the Safari Park in Rancagua or Granjaventura are good options. There are also several amusement parks like Fantasilandia.
#10. Unique Chilean Experiences
While in Chile, you are bound to come across experiences that aren’t on your usual tourist list. You could: Check out Valle de Elqui for a bicycle tour.
Relax on Chile’s very own Miami: Vina del Mar.
Experience the famous Lollapalooza Chile for some entertainment.
Find your way around the city using local transport like the Metro in Santiago. You can even sharpen your photography skills on a photo tour of Santiago. Don’t forget to head down south to visit more than 120,000 penguins at Los Pinguinos Natural Monument.
In Conclusion
Chile is a country of great history and picturesque nature. You will find the people to be friendly and welcoming. The lifestyle and culture of this charming country will make it very hard for you to get on a plane returning home. So go and book those tickets to Chile!
