Custom travel planning to Chile

Adventure travelers, nature lovers, families, and anyone ready to be genuinely astonished by a landscape. Chile runs the full length of a continent and feels like several countries in one: the Atacama's alien desert in the north, the Lake District's volcanoes and forests in the middle, and the raw Patagonian wilderness of Torres del Paine in the south. It is also one of the most accessible entry points into South America, which makes it a natural first trip for travelers new to the continent. Awesome first trip for travelers in this region!

Quite a bit. Chile stretches nearly 3,000 miles from north to south, so different regions shine at different times of year. Patagonia is best from November through March, when hiking trails and lodges are fully open. The Atacama Desert can be visited year-round, while Santiago and wine country are especially beautiful in spring (September–November) and fall (March–May). Rather than picking destinations first, we usually start with your travel dates and guide you toward the regions that are at their best during your trip.

The Atacama is the driest non-polar desert on Earth, and that bone-dry air gives it some of the clearest night skies anywhere, home to the ALMA observatory on the high Chajnantor Plateau. San Pedro de Atacama sits around 8,000 feet, so days deliver surreal moonscapes, geysers, and flamingo-filled salt lagoons, while nights serve world-class stargazing. Most guests rate it the highlight of their Chile trip.

Absolutely. Chile's Colchagua Valley is the country's premier red-wine region and the home of Carmenere, a Bordeaux grape rediscovered thriving in Chile in 1994, while cool, Pacific-breezed Casablanca leads on whites. Both sit within easy reach of Santiago against an Andes backdrop. Time your visit for the late-March-to-April Vendimia harvest festivals and you'll catch the valleys at their liveliest.

It's infamously… not good. But we are here to challenge that! Santiago has also emerged as one of South America's most exciting food cities, with everything from traditional markets to innovative restaurants like Boragó. Chile is a great destination for travelers who enjoy seafood and wine, with amazing vineyards close to Santiago like Matetic Vineyard (one of our favorites!).

That said, some Chilean stereotypes are absolutely true. Chileans are obsessed with sandwiches (seriously, there are sandwich crawls like bar crawls), and they put mayo on just about everything. The food scene can be quirky, but that's part of the fun. Come with an open mind, order the seafood, drink the wine, and you'll probably leave impressed!

Chile has more than enough to fill a trip on its own, from the Atacama Desert, wine country, lake district, and Patagonia. That said, Argentina is often a natural addition, especially for travelers interested in Patagonia. The Chilean side offers dramatic wilderness, luxury lodges, and Torres del Paine, while the Argentine side is known for glaciers, mountain towns, and iconic hiking landscapes. Many of our favorite Patagonia itineraries include both countries, allowing travelers to experience two very different sides of the region.

For most travelers, we recommend planning Chile 6–12 months in advance, especially if Patagonia is part of the itinerary. The best lodges near Torres del Paine often sell out well before the November–March season, and popular Atacama Desert properties can book up surprisingly early as well. If you're traveling during the holidays or have specific hotels on your wish list, the earlier the better. We also recommend making restaurant reservations in advance for sought-after dining experiences like Boragó in Santiago, widely considered one of the best restaurants in Latin America. Chile rewards advance planning!