Chile Vacations

Chile is an amazing and diverse country; from north to south tip the best times to visit vary with the region. Visit the north of the country throughout the year, but expect unpredictable rain (the Bolivian Winter) between December and February in the middle of summer. These rains wash away roads and communication lines on the antiplano. The centre and south are perfect for skiing from June to September, but heavy snowfall closes entrances to many of the national parks. January and February are peak times, but you'll find lower rates and fewer crowds during November, December, or March, and the weather during these times is almost as good.

A cute little village on the road between the Tatio Geysers and San Pedro; the small white church is the oldest in the area.

This little ice cream and sandwich shop offers amazing handmade ice cream with flavours like rose petal and choco-chili.

Named for his mistress's wild hair, Pablo Neruda built this secret hideaway for their trysts. Take the guided tour of the collection and unique space.

Grab an earthy vegetarian lunch at this popular local Santiago restaurant, or sneak next door to the Café La Huerta for a sandwich.

Catch a movie by a local director or an international independent film. The low prices and intimate setting in Santiago attract the local art crowd.

Chile has character and imagination. It's a dreamer's paradise where friendly people make family out of lost tourists. Despite its long narrow shape, the diversity of Chile is legendary. From the ultra-dry desert in the north, to the glacial fields in the south, this country fills the middle with everything a visitor could want, from epic volcanoes to the most beautiful beaches.

If you have to pick destinations for a limited trip, don't miss the penguins at Isla Magdalena or the city of Valparaíso as it perches on the steep hills over a wide bay. What isn't to like about Chile?

This park in the south of Chile, with its spectacular landscape, vegetation and wildlife doesn't leave visitors disappointed.

Active volcanoes, and deep tones of multi-coloured water create a surreal backdrop for hot springs in which a visitor can rest for hours.

Down the road from the town of San Pedro, this geyser field created by the Tatio Volcano offers a different perspective on desert landscapes.

These moai statues sit on Chile's Easter Island. Going to Chile and not seeing these giant heads standing on the island's slopes would be a huge mistake.

Hike the granite mountains around the clear lakes on well-maintained trails with many different degrees of difficulty.

Chile's most inspiring museum, where over three thousand pieces represent the many Latin American peoples of the 10,000 year pre-Colombian era.

This Elqui Valley observatory lets you be the astronomer and look up into Chile's northern skies, which are some of the clearest in the southern hemisphere.

This small museum is an exact replica of the ship in Magellan's fleet of five that actually survived the entire trip around the world.

Relax and surf in this little town, maybe visit the ruins of the grand old 19th century casino to dream about the seaside resort that once was.

Don't forget to see the largest geoglyph in the world. A full 86 meters long, this giant artwork looks like a stylized alien when seen from about 200m up the hill.