11 Days in Chile - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Santiago, Casablanca Valley, & Relaxed Patagonia

This traditional trip is a great way to experience the best of Chile. Enjoy the food scene of Santiago, a day trip to the Pacific Coast, and a wine tasting tour of the Casablanca Valley. Then, spend seven days discovering the highlights of Chilean Patagonia—the Strait of Magellan, Torres del Paine National Park, Ultima Esperanza Sound, and a working estancia.

Arrive in Santiago, and head out on a half-day food tour to the markets and the trendy Barrio Bellavista area. Then, embark on a day trip to two towns along the Pacific Coast. First, visit Viña del Mar, with its high-end shopping complexes and great food by the water. Then, make the trip to neighboring Valparaíso, a colorful town filled with street art, bohemian soul, and colorful, old plazas. In the morning, wake up and drive to Casablanca Valley to enjoy a wine tour of the organic, all-natural vineyards. Stop at Casa Marín and Viñedo Matetic, and purchase a few bottles of your favorite varietals.

Fly to Punta Arenas for your first glimpse of Patagonia. Stroll Plaza Muñoz Guerrero, tour Palacio Sara Braun, and watch the sunset at Mirador Cerro de la Cruz. For dinner, indulge in the local, fresh seafood. Wake up and board a zodiac boat for a wildlife tour of the Strait of Magellan. Visit San Isidro and spot the native Austral dolphins, along with sea lions and various sea birds. Next, make the transfer to Puerto Natales. Walk around the waterfront promenade along the Ultima Esperanza Sound. In the morning, continue exploring the sound by boat—stop glaciers and waterfalls, and walk through the native forests of Bernardo O'Higgins National Park. The journey ends in Pueblo Serrano, with an overnight in Torres del Paine National Park.

Discover Torres del Paine on a private, full-day tour. Learn about the Patagonian flora and fauna that inhabits the region, and embark on a few short hikes, with a picnic lunch stop along the way. Next, hike to the base of Paine Massif on an 11-mile, 9-hour trek. Pass over the Ascencio River and continue through the lenga forest to the lagoon at the base of the mountain. Take in the views complemented by a picnic lunch, before descending 4 hours. Take a field trip by boat to a Patagonian estancia to close out the trip. Get a taste of the ranch life among the working sheep herds, and go hiking or horseback riding before enjoying an authentic lamb barbecue for lunch and transporting back to Punta Arenas for a final night at your leisure. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Santiago, Torres del Paine & Easter Island

This cultural tour of Chile covers four versatile regions. Start in Santiago for some sightseeing. Then, head to Viña del Mar and Valparaíso along the coast. Next is Patagonia to adventure through incredible Torres del Paine National Park, followed by a few days in historical Easter Island to tour the beaches and ancient stone moai figures.

Get to know the capital city of Santiago by touring at your leisure. Snap photos in front of the Palacio de la Moneda, stroll through Barrio Bellavista and enjoy a delicious dinner among the trendy vibe. Continue the exploration on a guided tour that stops at the local markets, the historic Plaza de Armas, and atop Cerro San Cristóbal for beautiful views of the city below. Next, take a day trip to two coastal towns. Viña del Mar offers and upscale ambiance and great shopping, while Valparaíso is artsier in nature, with its colorful plazas all around.

Hop a flight to Punta Arenas, and make the transfer to Puerto Natales, the launching point for your adventure through Torres del Paine National Park. In the morning, take the 2-hour ride to the park, with a short stop at Cerro Castillo Village. Enter the park at Laguna Amarga and shuttle to Las Torres. Hike up Mt. Almirante Nieto and take in the valley and lake views. Continue on to Mirador Base Torres to experience the incredible Patagonian panorama of a collection of five peaks. The next day includes more exploration of the park—this time on a private, guided tour to learn all about the native plants and animals. Fly back to Santiago, and spend the night by the airport.

In the morning, catch a flight to the ancient Polynesian wonder known as Easter Island, or Rapa Nui. Upon arrival, do some self-exploration. Visit Hanga Roa, the main town, and enjoy the local cuisine. Stroll Museo Antropológico Sebastián Englert to get a history lesson on the island and the moai stone figures, followed by a hike outside of town at Ahu Tahi to view some caves.

Next is a full-day tour of the island. Start at Ahu Te Pito Kura, then visit the volcanic crater of Rano Raraku. Stop at Ahu Tongariki and Ahu Akahang, two ceremonial platforms, in the afternoon, and end the day on the white-sand beach of Anakena. Then, head out on two, half-day tours. The first covers Orongo, located on the rim of an active volcano, along with a visit to a nearby sea cave. Then, make the 1-mile trip to Ahu Akivi, home to seven moai, and known as a celestial observatory. Close out the trip with hikes to archaeological sites, and enjoy your last moments on the island in the morning before catching your flight home out of Santiago. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Chilean Patagonia: Wildlife, W Trek, Ice Hiking, & Kayaking

This Patagonian adventure is a fantastic way to experience the highlights of Chile. The trip begins in Punta Arenas and sends you out on two days of wildlife excursions before hitting the W Trek in Torres del Paine National Park. End the trip by kayaking along Patagonian glaciers for two days and paying a visit to a typical estancia.

Touch down in Santiago and immediately hop a domestic flight to Punta Arenas, the major transport hub of Chilean Patagonia. Take some time to explore the small city—walk the Plaza Muñoz Guerrero, visit Reserva Nacional Magallanes, and catch the sunset from Mirador Cerro de la Cruz, all the way out to the Strait of Magellan. Continue exploring the strait tomorrow, with a 10-hour adventure aboard a zodiac boat. Keep a close watch for native dolphins and other wildlife. Wake up and embark on another boating excursion, this time to Magdalena Island to visit a colony of Magellanic penguins. Then, visit a sea lion colony at Marta Island and make the late-day transfer to Puerto Natales to spend the night.

Next, make your way to Torres del Paine National Park for the four-day W Trek journey. On the first day, highlights of the 9.6-mile hike include glacial views at Mount Almirante Nieto and full panoramas of several peaks from Mirador Base Torres. Then, it's onward to Lake Nordenskjöld with a hike to Refugio Cuernos to enjoy the iconic peaks. Next, trek to Campamento Italiano and toward the French Valley, and camp by Lake Pehoé for the night. Glacier Grey and Lake Grey are next to discover—hike for 2 hours and take in the jagged ice walls, then hike to the lakeshore until you reach camp. Wake up and make your way to Bigfoot Basecamp for an ice hiking excursion across Glacier Grey. After the adventure, board a catamaran to get up-close views of the glacier, which makes for a great photo opp.

A driver will transport you to Pueblo Serrano for the final leg of your trip—a two-day kayaking excursion among more glaciers. Paddle past a beautiful waterfall and head toward Serrano Glacier for a scenic lunch break. Then, head toward Mount Balmaceda and camp out in Puerto Toro for the evening. Continue on to Serrano Lagoon, and paddle alongside fresh, blue icebergs. Board a large vessel to get close to Balmaceda Glacier, followed by a stop at an estancia for a traditional lamb barbecue. Return to Puerto Natales in the evening, and enjoy your final night in Patagonia before traveling back to Santiago to catch your onward flight. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Atacama Desert & W Trek Excursion

On this desert-meets-Patagonia tour of Chile, experience the incredible outdoor regions of the country. Do some sightseeing in Santiago, and spend three days discovering the lagoons, salt flats, rock formations, and valleys of the Atacama Desert. Then, fly to Patagonia to embark on a five-day W Trek through Torres del Paine, where the views are worth every mile clocked on foot.

Land in Santiago and head out to explore the sights on your own time. Hike to the top of Cerro San Cristóbal, stroll the cobblestone streets of Barrio Bellavista, and visit historical sites like Plaza de Armas and Palacio de la Moneda.

Wake up and fly to Calama to begin your journey to San Pedro de Atacama. Upon arrival, enjoy some downtime, followed by an Altiplano stargazing tour. Then, visit the lagoons and salt flats of the desert and the Los Flamencos National Reserve, where the pink birds stand out against the blue water. Continue the lagoon tour into the afternoon, and visit Toconao to shop for produce or handicrafts. In the morning, discover the rock art of Yerbas Buenas, the colorful and mineral-rich Rainbow Valley, and Moon & Death Valley’s craters and rock formations. Watch the sunset on your last night in the desert over wine and cheese.

After breakfast, hop a flight to Punta Arenas, the hub of Chilean Patagonia. Make the transfer to Puerto Natales and explore the local sights along the Ultima Esperanza Sound. Then, it's off to Torres del Paine to hit the W Trek. First, walk the Cuernos Trail and take in turquoise Lake Nordenskjöld. Then, take a catamaran across Lake Pehoé to trek through the French Valley, all the way to Refugio Pain Grande to camp for the night. In the morning, discover Lago Grey and Glacier Grey, and take a boat ride around the massive ice wall.

Wake up and venture out on one of the most famous nature treks in the world—the intense hike to Paine Massif—with a descend landing you at Ascencio Valley. The final day of the W Trek takes you to Laguna Azul for a stunning look at the lagoon and granite towers. Take note of the native plants and animals on the Fauna Trail and enjoy a celebratory, grand finale dinner before departing from Santiago tomorrow. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Natural Wonders of Chile & Bolivia

This crossover journey spans desert regions and two capital cities, from Chile to Bolivia. Start off in Santiago to explore the capital, and take a day trip to the sparkling streams of the Maipo Valley. Visit the coast for a wine tour and a stop in colorful Valparaíso. Head out to the Atacama Desert to visit the lagoons, salt flats, geysers, and more. Then, cross the border into Bolivia to visit the salt flats and volcanic ruins of the desert, followed by a visit to sites in and around La Paz.

Touch down in the Chilean capital, and head out to explore Santiago. Take a cable car ride or a hike to gain access to spanning views, browse the shops and street art in Barrio Bellavista, and stroll the historic plaza. Indulge in nice welcome dinner to get a taste of Chile’s progressive culinary scene. Wake up and journey to the Maipo Valley to take in the gorgeous waterways and snow-capped peaks all around, and enjoy a picnic along the stunning Yeso River. Next, go wine tasting in Casablanca Valley en route to Valparaíso, a town along the Pacific Coast. Stroll the colorful plazas, stroll the hilly streets, and take a ride up the Reina Victoria for gorgeous views.

Next, make the transfer to Calama to access San Pedro de Atacama. Relax and settle in before it’s time to head out on a stargazing excursion. Then, check out the various lagoons and the Atacama Salar salt flats, and pay a visit to a flamingo reserve. Visit two more lagoons in high elevation, a quaint village for lunch, and stop in Tocanao to shop the local crafts. Get an early start to tour the Tatio Geyers. Enjoy the sunrise, breakfast on site, and a morning geothermal soak. Stop in the small village of Machuca, followed by a visit to Moon Valley to see the craters and rock formations and watch the sun go down.

Make the transfer from Chile to the largest salt flat in the world, Uyuni, which is across the border in Bolivia. After crossing the border, visit the colorful Green Lagoon and take in views of Licancabur volcano. Continue on to Valle de las Damas del Desierto, with a stop to see some geysers, Red Lagoon, and Stone Tree along the way. Next, embark on a guided tour of San Pedro de Quemes. Visit several beautiful lagoons inhabited by different types of flamingos, and take in the view from Ollagüe Viewpoint. Discover Pueblo Refugio before spending the night in a small town surrounded by more incredible scenery.

Drive to Pueblo Quemado and stop at Chullpares Bridge, followed by a visit to Incahuasi Island—a former island located on an ancient volcano. Near Tahua, tour the caves and rock formations with solidified magma remnants, and the ruins of an ancient village and burial grounds surrounded by artifacts. The journey concludes in the Bolivian capital of La Paz to visit the church and a salt lake before heading to Challapata to enjoy the local market. Back in the capital, explore Sopacachi—known for its upscale restaurants, bars, and nightlife—for the last hurrah. In the morning, fly back to Santiago to catch your flight home out of Chile. Learn more

More Great 11-Day Chile Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your Chile trip? Check out these other 11-day Chile itineraries, ranging from active, to cultural, to luxury, or family-friendly trips.

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