Chile travel guide

Find out what to see and do when travelling or backpacking around Chile.

Chile highlights

	Destination	Make a reservation
	Santiago The capital of Chile, Santiago is also the cultural centre with districts such as Bellavista and Providencia offering visitors a choice of lovely small restaurants, cafes and art galleries. With the magnificent Andes mountain range as a backdrop, Santiago is an amazing place to explore with many beautiful churches and museums to visit. The mountains also provide a brilliant escape from the city as skiing, trekking and climbing are all available nearby.	Flights Hotels Hostels Tours
	Easter Island (Rapa Nui) Although over 3000km off Chile's coast, Easter Island was annexed in the nineteenth century as a special territory of Chile. Famous for the hundreds of ancient stone statues known as Moai, Easter Island is also an amazing destination for diving and surfing due to its isolation and clear waters.	Flights Hotels Hostels Tours
	La Serena This town in Northern Chile offers an amazing coastline with mile after mile of sandy shores but it is not just for beach-lovers. The town itself has some charming architecture and there are a number of astronomical observatory tours available nearby in the Elqui Valley.	Flights Hotels Hostels Tours
	Parque Nacional Lauca Situated in Northern Chile, this National Park is worth visiting due to its high altitude and the multitude of sights on offer. Visitors are spoilt by a variety of lakes, hot springs and volcanoes and many species including flamingos, rheas, vicuna (a type of Llama) and the rat-like viscacha.	Flights Hotels Hostels Tours
	San Pedro de Atacama This is the ideal base for exploring the Atacama Desert and the many beautiful sights on offer in the region. Do visit the large salt flats teeming with flamingos, amazing rock formations and geyser fields. The town itself is a relaxed and picturesque destination but is heavily set up as a tourist destination.	Flights Hotels Hostels Tours
	Valparaiso This small city is built on two levels, with the port district joined by the funicular elevators that take you to the old city in the hills. Valparaiso is the perfect place to explore on foot with the old, brightly coloured houses and chaotic streets the main draw for visitors.	Flights Hotels Hostels Tours

Map of Chile

Main travellers routes

• If arriving from overseas, visitors will pass through the international airport in Santiago. There are a number of regional airports covering most areas of the country from this hub.
• Bus travel is popular in Chile, with numerous routes entering the country from Argentina, Bolivia and Peru. Most routes into Chile mean crossing the Andes so be prepared for a bumpy yet scenic journey! Once you're in Chile, bus travel is relatively easy with a decent network covering the entire country
• Car hire is widely available and most cities have decent road networks. The more remote and mountainous areas can have substandard surfaces so some caution is required.
• Chile has land borders with Argentina, Bolivia and Peru.

Capital and main cities

• Santiago
• Other main populated areas: Valparaiso, Concepcion and Antofagasta.

Languages

• Spanish
• Some English in larger cities.

Currency

• Chilean Peso
• Currency converter

Visas (always check with your embassy)

• British citizens do not require a visa for trip to Chile.

Foreign Office Advice

• Chile foreign office advice

Flights and accommodation

• Flight prices to Chile
• Hotel and hostel prices

Tours and day trips in Chile

• Responsible Travel in Chile - Trips and accommodation from the main tourist routes to off-the-beaten track places.

Next: Planning a trip to Chile

• Europe
• Africa
• Asia
• Australasia
• Latin America