Stretching from the Atacama Desert, the driest place on earth, to Patagonia’s ice-cold glaciers, 2,700 mile-long Chile is best described as the Switzerland of the south. With its rich history, vibrant culture, and plenty of outstandingly beautiful landscapes, Chile is, as of now, one of the most untouched and pristine places left in the world.

Climb an active volcano, trek through untamed terrain, surf in world-class waves, or indulge in some of the world’s best wines. Create your tailor-made journey with Recherché Journeys. Contact us for a FREE tour plan.

Why travel: 

Patagonia: Vast, exotic, wild, and infinite in its beauty. It is how the explorers that visited Patagonia 500 years ago described it. Little has changed since then. Breathtaking glacial lakes mirror the frost-capped tips of dormant volcanos in the beautiful Lake District in the north. Immense, granite towers with jade-green glacial waters form the stunning backdrop in Torres del Paine during a hike. The very tip of the South American continent, the windswept Tierra del Fuego archipelago is home to Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city, colonies of Magellanic and Humboldt penguins. Keep an eye out for humpback whales, sea lions, and dolphins.

Atacama Desert: With surreal views of the vast Mars and Moon valleys, Atacama Desert seems straight out of a sci-fi movie. The driest non-polar place in the world makes a unique holiday destination, where the unpolluted sky offers the best stargazing in the world, warm thermal baths soothe you, and colorful sunsets enthrall you!

Easter Island: Home to more than 800 Moai statues created by the early Rapa Nui people, Easter Island is among the world’s most remote inhabited islands. These 20-ton giant stone statues were moved and erected using only the tools and materials then available, which is still a mystery! 

Wine: With 14 wine regions growing wines for a long time, Chile entered the world market only in the 1990s. The Chileans take their wine very seriously and have spent years identifying the best vineyard sites, ideal harvest times, and exploring various winemaking techniques and blends, which has resulted in Chile’s best wines. Try a glass of Carménère, Syrah, and Pinot Noir, accompanied by a fine Chilean cuisine of local meat, fish, and vegetables.

Outdoor adventures: Chile has won the World Travel Awards with Leading Adventure Tourism Destination in 2016 & 2017. With incredible opportunities of hiking and trekking at the Atacama Desert and dozens of stunning national parks in Patagonia, traversing across ice fields of glaciers, finest stargazing in the world, skiing, heliskiing, sandboarding, mountain biking, and volcano boarding, it is a mecca for adventure seekers.

When to go:

The best time to visit Chile depends on whether you are visiting Patagonia, Atacama, or Santiago.

Best time to visit: Nov-Mar is the best time to visit southern Chile, including Torres del Paine, Easter Island, wine country, and Santiago. The Atacama is a year-round destination. Avoid January when most rain usually falls. In the north, summer brings afternoon rain showers. Central Chile is best during spring or fall. Winter is a good time to ski in the mountain resorts.

High Season: Nov-March. Summer months also bring the crowd. Wine harvesting festivals take place from late Feb to early May. Booking well in advance is recommended.

Low Season: Apr-Aug. Winter months being less crowd in Patagonia, and many hotels close for the season.