Chile travel guide
Chile is a long, narrow country that runs from desert to glacier, and its scenery changes almost by the day. You can stargaze above the salt flats of the Atacama, stand beside the moai of Easter Island, hike beneath the granite towers of Torres del Paine and drink wine in valleys within reach of Santiago. The north is dry and otherworldly, with San Pedro de Atacama and Iquique as bases. The centre holds Santiago, Valparaiso and Vina del Mar, plus wine country and the Andes. The south opens into the Lake District around Puerto Montt, Valdivia and Temuco, then the islands of Chiloe and the wilds of Patagonia, reached through Puerto Natales. The seasons are reversed from the northern hemisphere, so December to March is summer and the main time for Patagonia, while spring and autumn are good for the centre and the Lake District. Chile suits hikers, food and wine lovers and curious road-trippers, and you can plan the itinerary city by city with Zippy Trips.
Capital: Santiago.
Before you go to Chile
- Currency
- CLP $
- Card networks
- Visa, Mastercard, Amex (limited)
- ATM fees
- Around CLP 5,000-8,000 per withdrawal, with foreign cards capped near CLP 200,000 per transaction
Cities in Chile
- Santiago Chile's sprawling capital sits in a valley between the Andes and the coastal range. A world-class city of striking modern skyscrapers…
- San Pedro de Atacama A small adobe village at 2,400 m altitude perched at the edge of the world's driest desert. Gateway to ethereal landscapes: the salt flat,…
- Easter Island Rapa Nui, the most remote inhabited island on Earth, sits 3,700 km off the Chilean coast. Its 900+ towering moai stone statues and…
- Valparaíso Chile's "Jewel of the Pacific" cascades across 42 hills above a working port. Its UNESCO-listed historic quarter bursts with funicular…
- Torres del Paine One of the world's great national parks, Torres del Paine protects a dramatic landscape of granite towers, turquoise lakes, hanging…
- Puerto Natales A wind-swept Patagonian town on Última Esperanza Sound and the main gateway to Torres del Paine National Park. A lively base for hikers…
- Viña del Mar Chile's "Garden City" stretches along the Pacific coast just 7 km from Valparaíso. Its wide sandy beaches, flower-clock, casino, and…
- Chiloé Island Chile's second-largest island is a misty, myth-soaked archipelago of 14 UNESCO-listed wooden churches, colourful palafito stilt-houses over…
- Iquique A Pacific port city squeezed between the Atacama Desert cliffs and the sea. Its Victorian-era nitrate-boom heritage, long beach strip,…
- Valdivia A lush river-delta city famous for its German settler heritage, craft beer scene (the highest density of breweries per capita in Chile),…
- Puerto Montt The main hub of Chile's Lake District and gateway to Patagonia. Its busy Angelmó seafood market is legendary, and the charming…
- Temuco The capital of La Araucanía and the heart of Mapuche indigenous culture. Its covered municipal market is one of Chile's finest for crafts…
Frequently asked questions about Chile
- What currency is used in Chile?
- The currency in Chile is the Chilean Peso ($). ₹1 is about 10 $.
- Can I use cards and ATMs in Chile?
- Accepted card networks: Visa, Mastercard, Amex (limited). Decline dynamic currency conversion at ATMs and card machines.
- What is the capital of Chile?
- The capital of Chile is Santiago. Time there: IST - 8 h 30 min.