Chile stretches more than 2,600 miles along South America’s western edge, giving groups access to an extraordinary range of landscapes. From the driest desert on Earth in the north to glacier-carved fjords in the south, with a fertile wine-growing heartland and a rugged Pacific coastline in between, Chile rewards travelers willing to venture beyond city life.

Santiago, the cosmopolitan capital framed by the snow-capped Andes, makes an ideal jumping-off point, with a thriving arts scene and colorful historic neighborhoods. Beyond Santiago, groups can explore the otherworldly salt flats and geysers of the Atacama Desert, the windswept granite towers of Patagonia, and the mysterious moai statues of Easter Island, thousands of miles offshore in the Pacific.

Chile offers hikes through national parks, horse riding with Chilean cowboys known as “huasos” and a chance to taste world-class wines alongside seafood pulled fresh from the Pacific. Chile’s warmth, both in climate and in culture, makes it a welcoming destination for travelers eager to explore a country still relatively undiscovered by mass tourism.

can’t miss DESTINATIONS

Santiago

Cradled in a valley beneath the soaring Andes Mountains, Santiago is a blend of colonial history and cosmopolitan flair. Groups can wander the cobblestone streets of Barrio Lastarria, browse the stalls of the Mercado Central for fresh fruits, and ride the funicular up Cerro San Cristóbal for panoramic views of the city and the mountains beyond. Plaza de Armas and La Moneda Palace offer a closer look at the capital’s past, alongside cafes, galleries and busy public squares. World-class museums, nearby ski slopes and the vineyards of the Maipo Valley give groups plenty to explore beyond Santiago’s historic neighborhoods.

Atacama Desert 

Located in northern Chile, the Atacama is recognized as the driest non-polar desert on the planet, where salt flats, geysers and red-rock canyons create some of the country’s most dramatic scenery. San Pedro de Atacama, a small adobe town, serves as the gateway for excursions to the Valle de la Luna, or Moon Valley, where wind-sculpted dunes and ridges glow pink and gold at sunset. The region’s high altitude and famously clear, dry air also make it one of the world’s premier destinations for stargazing, with several observatories open to visitors. Groups can soak in natural hot springs, watch flamingos wade through the Salar de Atacama salt flat and visit El Tatio, one of the highest-altitude geyser fields on Earth.

Chilean Patagonia

Shared with neighboring Argentina, Chilean Patagonia is a vast wilderness of glaciers, fjords and jagged peaks at the southern tip of South America. Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is the crown jewel, where three granite towers rise dramatically above turquoise lakes and windswept steppe. Groups can hike sections of the park’s famous trails, spot guanacos and Andean condors, and cruise past the Grey Glacier as chunks of blue ice calve into the water below. Further south, the town of Puerto Natales offers a comfortable base, while boat excursions through the Strait of Magellan reveal penguin colonies and remote glacial channels rarely seen by visitors.

signature EXPERIENCE

Wine has deep roots in Chile, and just outside Santiago, the Maipo Valley stands as the country’s oldest wine region. Groups can tour estates like Casillero del Diablo, wandering through candlelit cellars once rumored to be haunted to deter thieves, before tasting a crisp Pinot Grigio alongside bolder reds. Many groups pair tastings with vineyard-view lunches or wine-blending workshops.

unforgettable FLAVOR

Empanadas de pino are one of Chile’s beloved national snacks: a golden baked pastry filled with chopped beef, onion, a hard-boiled egg slice, a black olive and a raisin. Sold at bakeries, markets and roadside stands across the country, they offer groups a quick, satisfying bite that captures the heart of Chilean home cooking.

hidden TREASURE

Some 2,300 miles off Chile’s coast, Easter Island is home to nearly 900 monumental moai statues standing watch over the landscape, carved by the Rapa Nui people centuries ago. Groups can tour the quarry at Rano Raraku where the statues were made and then watch the sunrise over the 15 restored moai at Ahu Tongariki.

favorite SOUVENIR

Chile is one of only a few countries in the world where lapis lazuli is mined. Local artisans often set the deep-blue, semiprecious stones in silver to create earrings, pendants and rings, making the jewelry sold in Santiago’s markets a keepsake with a strong connection to the country.

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